To be honest, an aquarium looks kinda good in the house or in an office or something like that, right? Well, that’s the very reason why keeping an aquarium has kinda become a popular hobby in India in recent times. And nowadays, more and more people are going towards keeping aquariums at their places. But before you do that, you’d have to learn a lot about aquariums, mostly which fish to include and how to take care of them. If you have already made your mind about keeping an aquarium at your place, then you must be looking forward to adding some fish that are common right here in India, correct? Well, that is precisely the reason we’re here with this list of the Top 10 Most Common Aquarium Fish In India. So, let’s just get to it then.
1. Guppies
At number one on our list is a fish that’s everywhere, and sure enough, we’re talking about Guppies. If you’ve ever walked into an aquarium store in India, you’ll probably see these little beauties first. What makes them so popular is their colours, low maintenance and ability to thrive in smaller tanks, quite literally! Just a heads up: they breed fast. So if you don’t want to turn your tank into a nursery, you might want to keep just one gender.
2. Betta Fish
At number two is the Betta Fish (also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish). Famous not just for their looks but for their personality too. Those long flowing fins and bold colours make them look like underwater royalty or something like that, you know? Bettas don’t ask for much, you know, just warm water and some peace and quiet. Since they can be aggressive towards their own kind, most owners prefer to keep them solo. Perfect for small tanks and even better if you want a pet with some attitude.
3. Zebra Danios
Oh, and coming in third is the Zebra Danio. Are they that common? Well, kinda yes, and these little striped swimmers are full of energy, you know like, most of the time you’ll observe them, they dart around the top of the tank like they’re on a mission. The best bit about these fish? They’re super hardy and can adapt to any water condition which is a big plus in India. Just make sure you keep them in groups of 6 or more. They’re schooling fish and don’t like to be alone.
4. Goldfish
In fourth place, we have the good old Goldfish. Probably the most common aquarium fish in India, and for good reason. They’re easy to find, easy to care for, and come in varieties like Comet, Fantail, and Oranda. But don’t be fooled by their small size at the store; you know like, they grow fast and need more space than most beginners expect. Also, goldfish are messy eaters, so regular tank maintenance is a must.
5. Corydoras
At number five, we have a fish that looks cute and actually helps clean your tank. What? Like, can Corydoras catfish actually do that? Oh yes, and these bottom-dwellers are peaceful, are small, and love to eat leftover food. Usually, though, they’re happiest in groups and get along with almost every other peaceful species. Most beginners overlook them, but trust us, once you add them, you’ll wonder why you didn’t sooner.
6. Swordtails
Coming in at number six are the Swordtails. And? Oh, they’re easy to recognize by their tail shape, which looks like, well, a sword. They’re peaceful, colorful, and do well in community tanks. They don’t need much attention, adapt easily, and are good for slightly larger tanks. Like guppies, they’re livebearers (which just means that these are kinda the fish that keep their eggs inside their bodies and give birth to live) and tend to reproduce often, so plan accordingly if you’re mixing genders.
7. Neon Tetras
At number seven are the ever-popular Neon Tetras. These little fish light up your tank with their blue and red stripes. They love being together, so keep them in groups of at least six. Because they’re so small, they don’t need a huge tank, but they do prefer calm water and warmer temperatures. They’re peaceful and get along with most nonaggressive fish.
8. Platies
Up next, well, if you’re out there looking for the easiest fish to take care of, like the one that needs super low maintenance, then this is the one fish species you should be considering. You see, in eighth place, we have Platies, one of the easiest fish to care for, and sure enough, one of the most common in Indian fish stores, so you can go in and buy a few whenever you want. If you don’t know anything about them yet, well, these fish are bright and peaceful and don’t need much beyond clean water and regular feeding. Like guppies and swordtails, they’re livebearers (we already told you what that means), so their numbers can grow fast. They’re best kept in small groups and work well in community tanks.
9. Cherry Barbs
Coming in at number nine are Cherry Barbs, often underrated but very colourful. So, if you’re out there building a colorful aquarium, why not add a few of these? Just so you know though, males turn deep cherry red during breeding time, which adds a pop of color to any planted tank. They prefer to be in groups and are relatively peaceful. Just be careful not to pair them with very slow or delicate fish, you know, their active nature might be too much for those.
10. Gouramis
At number ten, we have Gouramis, you know, especially the dwarf and pearl varieties. Just to be clear from the get-go, you see, these fish are peaceful, elegant, and low maintenance. They can breathe from the surface, thanks to their labyrinth organ, so they’re not fussy about strong filters. Gouramis do best in larger, calm tanks with a few plants around, and while they’re usually mellow, male gouramis can get a bit territorial in small spaces.
Conclusion
There you have it. By far, these are the most common aquarium fish found in India and can handle the regular Indian weather or temperature conditions. Though, these fish species still require some amount of care, so make sure you read a lot about individual species so that you can maintain the aquarium in good shape.
