9 Fish For Your First Freshwater Aquatecture Fish Tank 

Thinking about creating your own freshwater aquatecture fish tank? Imagine colorful fish darting between plants, exploring hidden caves and playfully interacting – right in your own living space. It’s fairly easy to accomplish with a thriving freshwater aquatecture fish tank! But before creating your underwater paradise, choosing compatible fish is crucial.

Much like college roommates, fish have different personalities, needs, and habits. For example, some are social creatures, while others prefer to be alone. Understanding different types of fish temperaments is key to building a peaceful and balanced underwater aquarium.

While local fish stores offer the benefit of face-to-face interaction, websites like AquaHuna.com have a huge searchable database of fish. This allows you to research all kinds of fish breeds, compare compatibility information, and discover unique options that might not be readily available in your local store. This online resource is a powerful tool for beginners and helps you make informed decisions when selecting fish for your first freshwater aquatecture fish tank.

This guide introduces you to 9 captivating fish species that can add life and vibrancy to your tank. We’ll categorize them by temperament, as well as how big of a fish tank they will need, what kind of food they eat, and what their lifespan is (with proper care).

• Size: Up to 5 inches long
• Diet: Leftover food, bloodworms, algae wafers
• Temperament: Peaceful, bottom feeders, scavengers, social 
• Friends: Groups of 5+ (same species)
• Tank size: At least 24 inches long
• Lifespan: 5-10 years with good care

Corydoras Catfish, also known as Cory Cats, are a great choice for beginners. These peaceful bottom dwellers are known for their whiskered faces and playful scavenging habits. They’re relatively adaptable, thriving in a range of water conditions (pH 6.5-7.8, temperature 72-82°F). 

A tank with smooth gravel and hiding spots like live plants or driftwood is ideal for Cory Cats. Since they are social fish, keeping a group of at least 5 of the same species is recommended. They’re excellent scavengers, but providing sinking algae wafers or bloodworms will ensure they get all the nutrients they need. With good care, Corydoras Catfish can live for 5 to 10 years(!), making them a fun and long-lasting addition to your aquatecture tank.

• Size: Up to 2 inches long
• Diet: Omnivorous (flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, algae)
• Temperament: Peaceful, active schooling fish, social 
• Friends: Groups of 6+ (same species)
• Tank size: At least 10 gallons
• Lifespan: 3-5 years with good care

Ever noticed those fun striped fish darting around colorful tanks at the aquarium store? They are most likely Zebra Danios and they’re perfect for beginner aquatects. Known for their hardiness, they can tolerate a range of water conditions (pH 7.0-8.0, temperature 70-78°F) and don’t require anything fancy. 

A minimum 10-gallon tank with plenty of horizontal swimming space is ideal since these energetic fish love to zoom around. Zebra Danios are happiest in groups of at least 5, forming a school of fish that adds a lively touch to your tank. Feeding is simple; they love flakes, pellets, and even brine shrimp. With proper care, Zebra Danios can live for a good 3 to 5 years, making them a colorful and low-maintenance choice.

• Size: Up to 2 inches (5 cm)
• Diet: Omnivorous (flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, micro worms)
• Temperament: Peaceful, mid-water to top swimmers, social 
• Friends: Groups of 6+ (same species)
• Tank size: At least 10 gallons
• Lifespan: 5-8 years with good care

The Harlequin Rasbora is a vibrantly colored little fish that’s ideal for a beginner’s first freshwater aquatecture fish tank. These resilient fish are adaptable to a range of water conditions, not minding minor fluctuations in temperature and preferring a neutral pH. Their small size allows them to thrive in tanks as small as 10 gallons. 

Harlequin Rasboras are happiest when kept in schools of at least 6 and their peaceful nature makes them good tankmates for other calm community fish. With proper care, including a healthy diet of flakes, frozen foods and occasional treats like brine shrimp, you can expect your Harlequin Rasboras to live in your tank for 5 to 8 years.

• Size: Up to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm)  
• Diet: Omnivorous (flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, micro worms)
• Temperament: Peaceful, schooling fish, active swimmers
• Friends: Groups of 6+ (same species)
• Tank size: At least 10 gallons 
• Lifespan: 5-10 years with good care

Another fantastic fish for beginners is the Neon Tetra. These shimmery fish are known for their electric blue horizontal stripe and bright red belly, adding a vibrant splash of color to your aquarium. Neon Tetras are comfortable in a range of water conditions, though slightly acidic water is ideal. 

A well-maintained starter tank with a good filtration system is perfect for Neon Tetras. They’re happiest in schools of at least 6. With a balanced diet of high-quality flakes and occasional treats like bloodworms, Neon Tetras can live for an impressive 5-10 years.

• Size: Up to 2 inches (5 cm)
• Diet: Omnivorous (flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, micro worms)
• Temperament: Peaceful, active schooling fish, can be nippy towards fins of slow moving fish
• Friends: Groups of 5+ (same species)
• Tank size: At least 20 gallons 
• Lifespan: 5-7 years with good care

The Cherry Barb brings a fiery personality to your tank. These little fish are very easy to care for. They’re fine in a range of water conditions, tolerating slight fluctuations in temperature and preferring slightly acidic to neutral water. Their small size makes them perfect for tanks as small as 20 gallons. 

Cherry Barbs are also a schooling fish, so keeping a group of at least 5 allows them to feel secure and exhibit their vibrant red color more intensely. They’re peaceful neighbors for other calm community fish and readily accept a variety of foods from flakes and pellets to frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms. With proper care, you can expect your Cherry Barbs to live for an impressive 5 to 7 years.

• Size: Up to 2.2 inches (5.5 cm) 
• Diet: Omnivorous (flakes, micro pellets, bloodworms, brine shrimp)
• Temperament: Peaceful, avoid multiple males, prefers calmer tanks
• Friends: Can be kept singly or in pairs. Avoid keeping multiple males together.
• Tank size: At least 10 gallons for a single fish, 20 gallons for a pair
• Lifespan: 4 years with good care

The Honey Gourami, which has a shimmering golden body, is a peaceful and easygoing addition to your beginner freshwater aquatecture fish tank. Gouramis prefer a range of water conditions, as long as the temperature stays within a comfortable range (74-82°F) and the water isn’t too soft. They’re not picky eaters either, also preferring flakes, pellets and even the occasional bloodworm or brine shrimp. Their small size allows them to thrive in tanks as small as 10 gallons, though a well-planted 20-gallon tank will give them even more room to explore. 

Honey Gouramis can be kept singly or in small groups and their peaceful nature makes them ideal for a community tank with other calm fish. These little gems have a lifespan of 4 years.

• Size: Up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) for males, 1.8 inches (4.5 cm) for females 
• Temperament: Peaceful, active swimmers, social
• Diet: Omnivorous (flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, micro worms)
• Friends: Groups with a ratio of 1 female to 1 male
• Tank size: At least 5 gallons 
• Lifespan: 2-3 years with good care

The Endler’s Livebearer, a close relative of the guppy, is a vibrant little fish that’s perfect for beginner aquatects. They are hardy fish and are tolerant of a wider range of water conditions than many tropical fish, making them less affected by changes in temperature and pH. Their small size allows them to flourish in tanks as small as 5 gallons. 

Endler’s Livebearers are peaceful community fish and are happiest in groups of at least one female to every male. This helps to balance out the males’ flashy displays towards the females. These livebearers are breeders, so be prepared for new baby fish if you keep both sexes. Feeding them a varied diet of flakes, frozen brine shrimp and infusoria for the baby fish is all you need to keep them thriving. With proper care, you can expect your Endler’s Livebearers to live for 2 to 3 years.

• Size: Up to 3-5 inches (7.6 – 12.7 cm) 
• Diet: Omnivorous (flakes, algae wafers, vegetables like zucchini and spinach)
• Temperament: Peaceful, active swimmers, social 
• Friends: Groups of 4+ made of a ratio of 2 females to 1 male
• Tank size: At least 20 gallons
• Lifespan: 3-5 years with good care

The Molly fish is a great choice for beginner aquatects who want a lively and easy-to-care-for addition to their tank. Mollys can thrive in a range of water conditions, although they prefer slightly hard, alkaline water – something to keep in mind if your tap water is very soft. 

Mollies are omnivores and will eat high-quality flakes, algae wafers and even blanched vegetables. Their larger size means they need a bit more space than some beginner fish. A 20-gallon tank is ideal, offering them room to swim and explore. Mollies are social creatures and do best in groups of at least 4, with a ratio of 2 females to 1 male recommended. 

Another thing to be aware of is that Mollies are known to be breeders (like Endlers Livebearers), so there’s a high potential for baby fish to appear if you keep both sexes. Mollies are relatively long-lived for a community fish, with a lifespan of 3-5 years possible with proper care.

• Size: Males: Up to 1.4 inches (3.5 cm), Females: Up to 2.4 inches (6 cm) 
• Diet: Omnivorous (flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, micro worms)
• Temperament: Peaceful, active swimmers, social 
• Friends: Groups of 5+ made of a ratio of 4 females to 1 male
• Tank size: At least 10 gallons 
• Lifespan: 2-3 years with good care

Lastly, the Guppy, is a true classic in the home aquarium hobby. This fish is an excellent choice for beginners for several reasons. First, they are incredibly hardy fish, adaptable to a range of water conditions as long as the temperature stays on the warm side (72-82°F).  Another big plus for beginners is their diet. Guppies are omnivores and will eat high-quality flakes, frozen bloodworms, and even occasional treats like chopped vegetables. Their small size allows them to thrive in tanks as small as 10 gallons.  

Guppies are social fish and do best in groups of at least 4 females to 1 male. Guppies are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live fish. If you keep both sexes,  you can expect new arrivals! The good news is that Guppy babies are relatively easy to raise if you provide them with hiding places and infusoria (their first food). With proper care, Guppies typically live for 2-3 years.

Setting up your first freshwater aquarium can be exciting, but choosing the right fish is key. Make sure you research the compatibility for every fish that you intend to include in your freshwater aquatecture fish tank. From the vibrant Harlequin Rasbora to the shimmering Neon Tetra, these finned friends are perfect for adding life and color to your starter tank. 

We hope that this guide equips you to make informed decisions on fish choices and create a thriving underwater world in your own home.