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 17 of 71 species

Boesemani Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia boesemani

Intermediate

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

BoesemaniTwo-toneRainbow

Cardinal Tetra

Cardinal tetra

Beginner

Similar to neon tetra but red band extends full length for more vibrant color. Stunning in large groups. Prefers soft water.

SchoolingMore vivid than neonsSoft water

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

Corydoras

Beginner

Cute small catfish that sifts through substrate. More active in groups. Peaceful for community tanks. Many collectors.

Bottom dwellerCuteSchooling

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon amandae

Beginner

Tiny tetra that glows ember-orange. Beautiful contrast against green plants. Perfect for small tanks.

TinyOrangePlanted tank

Fire Tetra

Hyphessobrycon flammeus

Beginner

Small tetra with vivid flame-like red rear half. Hardy and easy to keep, prefers slightly acidic water. Particularly beautiful in schools, popular beginner species that looks stunning in planted tanks.

TetraRedSchooling

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus vitreolus

Intermediate

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

Glass CatfishTransparentSchooling

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus erythrozonus

Beginner

A small tetra whose translucent body is crossed by a single glowing orange line. Hardy, peaceful, and beautiful in a school, it is an easy entry-level characin.

BeginnerSchoolingSmall

Harlequin Rasbora

Harlequin rasbora

Beginner

A beautiful small fish with orange body and black triangle mark. Schooling looks best in planted tanks.

HarlequinTriangle markSchooling

Hatchetfish

Intermediate

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

Hatchet-shapedSurface fishJumping risk

Neon Tetra

Paracheirodon innesi

Beginner

The quintessential tropical fish. Beautiful neon blue and red coloring. Stunning when kept in schools. Hardy and beginner-friendly.

Beginner-friendlySchoolingSmall

Norman's Lampeye

Poropanchax normani

Beginner

A tiny fish whose upper eye glows jewel-like blue. The luminous blue eye against a modest silvery body and its schooling shimmer make this hardy killifish relative a lovely beginner nano fish.

Blue eyesSchoolingNano

Rainbowfish

Beginner

Beautiful fish from Australia/New Guinea that shine rainbow colors in morning light. Spectacular in schools.

RainbowfishRainbowSchooling

Rasbora

Beginner

Small schooling fish from Southeast Asia. Espei and harlequin rasbora most popular. Perfect for planted tanks.

SchoolingSmallPlanted tank

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

Zebra Danio

Danio rerio

Beginner

A hardy small fish with beautiful stripes that adds energy to the aquarium.

Tropical FishDanioSchooling

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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.