GOURAMI
Gourami fish are known for being relatively intelligent, and they can often be trained to follow some simple visual commands. Gourami fish are very fun to care for, and make great pets for small children as a training project. They are also very visually appealing, with russet or blue stripes. Though Gourami fish are usually very peaceful, they can sometimes become very aggressive towards smaller fish, or male fish of the same species. It’s common for this fish to become aggressive in smaller tanks, especially tanks that only have a limited amount of shelter.
INDIAN GLASSY FISH
The glass fish is a very well-known aquarium fish that is especially popular among small aquarium owners. The appearance of the glass fish is the main appeal, with the fish’s body being almost entirely transparent. Most Indian glassy fish are ‘painted’ with fluorescent colors in order to be more visually appealing. Male fish of this species have a dark edge to their dorsal fin, while the female glassy fish are almost entirely transparent. The largest an Indian glassy fish will grow is approximately 3.1 inches, or 8.0 cm. These fish make great pets, though have specialized pet care needs, and are more sensitive to any changes in their environment.
DANIO
Danio fish are very alert, energetic and can be very entertaining to watch. They make great pets because of their hyperactive demeanor, often participating in underwater acrobatic maneuvers. These fish are often sometimes casually referred to as “Zebra” fish, due to their black and white striped appearance. The main setback of this breed of fish is that they tend to be slightly aggressive, mostly due to their energetic temperament. However, due to their small size, most Danio fish will thrive in a tank that consists of other larger species of fish. Danio fish can eat flaked food, and tend to easily survive any changes to their environment.
PLECOSTOMUS
Plecostomus, or pleco fish are great bottom-feeding fish that are native to Central and South America. Pleco fish make great pets due to their voracious appetite for algae, which helps to keep home aquariums free from excessive algae growth. Pleco fish are omnivorous, and will thrive off of a diet that includes both plant and meat ingredients. They primarily feed at night, and are not incredibly active during daylight hours.
GOLDFISH
Goldfish are an extremely popular breed of fish for home aquariums, due to their hardiness and general lack of specialized fish care needs. Goldfish were the earliest breed of fish to be domesticated for indoor keeping, and are the domesticated descendants of the Prussian carp fish. Goldfish are commonly bred for selective characteristics, and are available in a variety of different color patterns as a result. Some goldfish may be the typical golden orange color, while others may have white, yellow, orange and black color variations. In some goldfish, the color silver or gray is a sought-after characteristic, since these fish tend to produce unique color patterns when bred.