Can beginners keep tropical fish?

Guppies, neon tetras, and corydoras are hardy and perfect for beginners. They can be kept in small tanks, and as long as you manage water temperature, it's relatively easy to get started.

How much do tropical fish cost?

Neon tetras cost 100-300 yen each, guppies 300-2,000 yen, bettas 1,000-10,000 yen, and premium discus 5,000-50,000+ yen depending on the species.

How long do tropical fish live?

Small tetras live 2-5 years, guppies 1-2 years, corydoras 5-10 years, and discus 10+ years, varying greatly by species.

What's the minimum equipment needed?

You'll need a tank, heater, filter, light, and water conditioner at minimum. A 30cm tank can house 5-10 small fish and doesn't take much space.

What should I check when buying tropical fish?

Check for vivid coloring, active swimming, and no signs of disease like ich. After purchase, acclimate carefully and avoid sudden temperature changes.

Tropical Fish Encyclopedia — 71 Species Directory

Encyclopedia of popular tropical fish species with care guides, traits, and water parameters.

Featured Tropical Fish

Ram Cichlid Endler's Guppy

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Schooling Small Planted tank Hardy Tetra Easy breeding Peaceful Colorful Algae cleaner Shrimp Ultra-small Unique Large Algae eater Red

Showing 6 of 71 species

Boesemani Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia boesemani

Intermediate

A vivid rainbowfish with blue front half and orange back half. Spectacular when schooling.

BoesemaniTwo-toneRainbow

Clown Loach

Clown loach

Intermediate

Beautiful bottom-dweller with orange and black bands. Sleeps on its side — unique behavior. Very active in groups.

Banded patternSleeping sidewaysSchooling

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Intermediate

A larger tetra that shimmers in iridescent blue, gold, and orange. Males develop flowing, feathery tail fins, making this dazzling schooler the flagship African characin.

SchoolingIridescentAfrica

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus vitreolus

Intermediate

A unique catfish with transparent body showing visible skeleton. Fantastical appearance when swimming in groups.

Glass CatfishTransparentSchooling

Hatchetfish

Intermediate

Distinctive hatchet-shaped body. Surface-dwelling fish that swims just below water line. Jumping risk — lid essential.

Hatchet-shapedSurface fishJumping risk

Rummy Nose Tetra

Intermediate

Red nose tip and black-white tail distinctive. Most uniform schooling among tetras. Better water quality means brighter red.

SchoolingRed noseWater indicator

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Tropical Fish FAQ

Can beginners keep tropical fish?: Guppies, neon tetras, and corydoras are hardy and perfect for beginners. They can be kept in small tanks, and as long as you manage water temperature, it's relatively easy to get started.
How much do tropical fish cost?: Neon tetras cost 100-300 yen each, guppies 300-2,000 yen, bettas 1,000-10,000 yen, and premium discus 5,000-50,000+ yen depending on the species.
How long do tropical fish live?: Small tetras live 2-5 years, guppies 1-2 years, corydoras 5-10 years, and discus 10+ years, varying greatly by species.
What's the minimum equipment needed?: You'll need a tank, heater, filter, light, and water conditioner at minimum. A 30cm tank can house 5-10 small fish and doesn't take much space.
What should I check when buying tropical fish?: Check for vivid coloring, active swimming, and no signs of disease like ich. After purchase, acclimate carefully and avoid sudden temperature changes.