Top 10 Large Community Fish for a Freshwater Aquarium:
Large freshwater fish look more
attractive than smaller fish & it quickly grabs your attention. There are
many large freshwater fishes available but web research is required before
selecting the fish that suits your aquarium & ensure that any fish does not
grow too big because it will eat smaller fish in the aquarium. We can help you
find large freshwater fish that can be kept in community tanks & they do
not grow large enough to become dangerous for its tank mates.
1. Freshwater Angelfish:
Marine Angelfish are very famous
in the aquarium hobby but freshwater angelfish are available too. Angelfish
falls into the Cichlids family & they are available in many colors &
patterns. Freshwater Angelfish are very popular because they are peaceful
unlike most of the Cichlids. They need a 55-gallon aquarium. Keep Angelfish in
a heavily planted aquarium, add driftwood & provide a free swimming area
for the fish. Planted tank looks natural & it seems like their wild
habitat. Do not keep fish that nip fins of the Angelfish in the aquarium. Also
avoid adding aggressive fish because they can kill your Angelfish. Angelfish
are slow moving species & they can’t save themselves from fin nippers.
Max. Size of Freshwater Angelfish:
Freshwater Angelfish grows up to twelve
inches in height
Min. Aquarium Size for Angelfish:
Fifty-five gallons of aquarium is
suitable for freshwater Angelfish
Aquarium Setup for Freshwater Angelfish:
Provide a heavily planted aquarium
with driftwood, river rocks, lots of free-swimming area, & slow-moving
water.
Aquarium Mates for Angelfish:
- Big, non-aggressive species
- Schooling fish that grows to a medium size
- Bottom dwelling fish including Cories
2. African Leaf Fish:
African Leaf is one of the top
freshwater fish & they are the most colorful fish in the freshwater
aquarium hobby. Its camouflage can help in trapping other fish. It waits in the
plants for other fish, & then silently attacks & devours its prey. Do
not mix it with fish that are smaller in size because it is a predator. African
Leaf fish like spending its time in plantations. Only add peaceful fish to
their tank. Even though it eats smaller fish it is a docile species.
Max. Size of African Leaf Fish:
African Leaf fish can grow up to eight
inches in size
Min. Aquarium Size for African Leaf Fish:
Fifty-five gallons of aquarium is
suitable for African Leaf fish
Aquarium Setup for African Leaf Fish:
Heavily planted aquariums with
lots of hiding spots. This fish loves to stay in plants.
Aquarium Mates for African Leaf Fish:
Big non aggressive fish that
African Leaf fish can’t eat.
3. Oscar Fish:
Oscars are aggressive &
territorial. They have striking colors & they are famous in aquarium hobby.
Oscars are intelligent species & they like an omnivorous diet.
Despite their large size, you can
buy this fish for less than 10$. If properly cared, they can live up to 20
years. They can show aggression when mating or eating. Oscar is a mid-level
aquarium swimmer. Oscars like fast moving water so it is a good idea to choose
a powerhead that creates strong current.
Max. Size of Oscar:
Oscar fish can grow up to fourteen
inches in size
Min. Aquarium Size for Oscar:
Fifty-five gallons of aquarium is
suitable for Oscar fish
Aquarium Setup for Oscar:
Keep driftwood in Oscar tank
along with river rocks with abundance of room for swimming. Oscars have the
problem of uprooting plants.
Aquarium Mates for Oscar:
Keep Oscar fish with the same
species. Aquarists often keep Oscar alone in aquariums.
4. Common Plecostomus:
Common Pleco needs a moderate
care level. They live peacefully in aquariums. They live for 10 to 15 years in
aquariums. They like omnivorous diets. They need a minimum aquarium size of 30
gallons but bigger aquariums are better.
Common Pleco is a nocturnal fish.
It means when it’s day, you will notice less activity. They hide during day
time in the caves or plantation & when it’s night, they come out. They are
bottom dwelling species & stay closer to the substrate.
Max. Size of Common Plecostomus:
Common Pleco grows up to twenty-four
inches in size
Min. Aquarium Size for Common Plecostomus:
One hundred & fifty gallons of
aquarium is best for this fish.
Aquarium Setup for Common Pleco:
Keep lots of driftwood &
resting places in Common Plecostomus aquarium. Do not add live plantations in the
tank. It will be better to add artificial plants instead.
Aquarium Mates for Common Plecostomus:
Keep big fish in Common
Plecostomus aquarium. This fish may get aggressive as it grows up.
5. Silver Dollar:
Silver Dollar is a non-aggressive
fish of the moderate size. They are best for community tanks. They are named
after their similar look to an old silver dollar because they look laterally
flattened.
Silver Dollar Fish needs a
moderate care level. They can live up to 10 years. They feed on omnivorous
foods. They are from the Characidae family. Unlike other fish of its family,
they live peacefully & are best for community tanks.
Max. Size of Silver Dollar:
Silver Dollar can grow up to six
inches in size
Min. Aquarium Size for Silver Dollar:
Setup a hundred-gallon tank for a
team of six fish
Aquarium Setup for Silver Dollar:
Big aquarium with not many
obstacles that can stop fish from swimming in school. Add river rocks in the aquarium.
Do not setup a planted aquarium because Silver Dollars feed on them.
Aquarium Mates for Silver Dollar:
Keep Silver Dollar with more
South American fish. Add medium-sized species to aquariums that Silver Dollar
can’t eat.
6. Clown Loach:
Clown Loach is a peaceful fish
but they may be aggressive sometimes. If you keep them with other
non-aggressive species then they will live peacefully. They will eat snails so
do not introduce them to your aquarium. Clown Loaches are available in almost
any fish store because they are famous. You can get them for a low price but
they need moderate care level. Feed your Clown Loaches a few times a day. Adult
Clown Loaches might not eat every food but young ones will. They like swimming
against the water current.
Max. Size of Clown Loach:
Clown Loach can grow up to twelve
inches in size
Min. Aquarium Size for Clown Loach:
Setup a hundred & fifty gallon
tank for six fish.
Aquarium Setup for Clown Loach:
Keep driftwood & river rocks
in Clown Loach aquarium. Offer an abundance of space for swimming because they
love to swim in the lower levels of aquariums. Clown Loach is a nocturnal fish
that likes to rest in hiding places. They have the habit of uprooting plants so
avoid adding them to your aquarium.
Aquarium Mates for Clown Loach:
Keep Clown Loach with other large
& medium sized fast swimming fish.
7. Bala Shark:
Bala Shark is a non-aggressive
attractive species. It is a beautiful fish & people keep them in groups of
many sharks. They look similar to sharks but they are not an actual shark. They
are best for community tanks because of their beautiful look. When they grow
older, they will need more space so provide 300 gallons of space for a school
of 6 sharks. They need omnivorous food & may eat smaller fish. They need
simple to medium care levels.
Max. Size of Bala Shark:
Bala Shark can grow up to
fourteen inches in size
Min. Aquarium Size for Bala Shark:
Bala Shark needs three hundred
gallons of water for a team of 6 fish
Aquarium Setup for Bala Shark:
Bala Shark needs an abundance of
free-swimming space. Do not add pointed objects as they might hurt themselves
when startled.
Aquarium Mates for Bala Shark:
Keep Bala Sharks with more big,
non-aggressive species.
8. Tinfoil Barb:
Tinfoil Barb can reach a size of
14 inches so prepare a large aquarium for them. Also, keep at least 5 Tinfoil
Barbs in the aquarium. It is a schooling fish so keeping 5 of them will reduce
the stress on the fish in the tank & they will show better natural
behaviors. Tinfoil Barbs swim in the bottom & medium levels of the tank.
They are non-aggressive & you can keep them with other peaceful fish, but
make sure you choose a large tank. If properly cared, they can live up to 10
years.
Max. Size of Tinfoil Barb:
Tinfoil Barb can grow up to 14 inches
in size
Min. Aquarium Size for Tinfoil Barb:
Tinfoil Barb needs three hundred
gallons of aquarium
Aquarium Setup for Tinfoil Barb:
Tinfoil Barb needs an abundance
of swimming area. Add plantation, river rocks & driftwood in your aquarium.
Tinfoil Barb Aquarium Mates:
Keep Tinfoil Barb with other big,
non-aggressive species.
9. Iridescent Shark Catfish:
Iridescent Shark Catfish seem
similar to a shark & they grow to a large size. They are difficult to keep
in fish tanks due to their massive size & higher level of activity. They
are best suited for ponds rather than aquariums.
Young sharks can be kept in a
100-gallon tank but they need more space because they grow more than a foot
longer after their first year.
Iridescent Shark Catfish swim actively
during daytime, & requires a minimum 300 gallons of aquarium for one shark
& after adding another shark will need 150 gallons of more space.
Max. Size of Iridescent Shark Catfish:
Iridescent Shark Catfish can
reach up to 48 inches
Min. Aquarium Size for Iridescent Shark Catfish:
Iridescent Shark Catfish needs a
pond or a highly maintained fish tank
Aquarium Setup for Iridescent Shark Catfish:
Keep river rocks, plantation
& driftwood in Iridescent Shark Catfish aquarium
Iridescent Shark Catfish Aquarium Mates:
Add big fish in Iridescent Shark
Catfish aquarium.
10. Goldfish:
Goldfish is a famous fish that
can be kept in bowls, aquariums & ponds. Goldfish are recommended for
beginners because they need simple care & are able to tolerate harsh water
conditions. Still, they need quality food for better health & faster
growth. Also make sure you keep them in clean water. Feed your Goldfish 2 or 3
times a day. Offer food that the fish can eat in just 2 minutes & then
remove the leftover food. Avoid overfeeding your fish. Offer a balanced diet to
your fish that can prolong the life of your fish & keep your fish healthy.
Max. Size of Goldfish:
Fancy Goldfish can grow up to eight
inches, while comet & common Goldfish can reach a size of 18 inches.
Min. Aquarium Size of Goldfish:
Keep fancy goldfish in a twenty
or more gallons of aquarium, & keep comet & common goldfish in pond
Aquarium Setup for Goldfish:
Goldfish need an abundance of
swimming space.
Aquarium Mates:
Keep goldfish with the same species.
Or keep smaller peaceful fish that can’t fit in a goldfish mouth. Goldfish
swallow almost anything that fits in its mouth.
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