Large Aquarium Fish - Freshwater

Assorted large freshwater fish

Now that we’ve covered fish temperaments, let’s go into fish sizes. Fish come in many sizes, and there are plenty of fish that are far larger than that goldfish you had in 2^nd grade. This week, we’re going to go over several different breeds of large freshwater fish.

Discus

The Discus originated in the mixed tropical waters of the Brazilian Amazon River of South America. The Amazon and its tributaries contain water described as white, clear, or black. It is in the areas where these waters "mix" that Discus are found. Today, the Discus is a favorite among experienced freshwater aquarists that has surpassed the Angelfish as the most popular freshwater aquarium fish and does very well in planted aquariums.

Pigeon Blood Discus

The colorful fish pictured above is referred to as the Pigeon Blood Discus. The body of the Pigeon Blood Discus is bright orange with black marbling, and the fins are brown with a turquoise hue. The overall coloration of Discus will vary depending on the mood and overall health of the fish.

The Discus pictured below is called the Red Marlboro Discus; its name originates from its brilliant coloration. 

Red Marlboro Discus

Gold Veil Angel

Freshwater Angelfish

The Freshwater Angelfish, a breed belonging to the Cichlidae family, has an extremely wide variety of color forms and fin lengths. Through selective breeding programs, both standard fin varieties as well as veil fin varieties are available in many different colors. Angelfish generally prefer life in a well-planted tank of at least 30 gallons and a relatively low pH level. Rocks and driftwood can be added to the aquarium, but leave plenty of space for swimming. A few types of popular Angelfish are pictured below.

Marble Veil Angel

Koi Angel     

Extra Large Oddball Fish

“Oddball fish” is an all-encompassing general term for fish that are, well, rather odd, generally referring to some cichlids, catfish, and other strange-looking fish. Extra Large Oddball Fish, as the name would suggest, are the larger oddball fish. If looking to set up a new Oddball aquarium, choose the largest aquarium that will fit your budget, as many of these species require plenty of swimming room. Also, try to avoid placing them with smaller tank-mates; they tend to be rather aggressive, and may eat the smaller fish.

Red Tail Catfish

The Redtail Catfish is a fish with a broad head and a body that tapers towards its tail. It has a dark black body, white underbelly, and a bright red tail. These fish can grow impressively large in an aquarium setting and should be given plenty of room to swim due to their size and high energy. Since the Redtail Catfish is a highly active fish, their aquarium should be tightly covered to prevent them from jumping to their doom.

The Silver Arowana Fish

The Silver Arowana, or Arahuana, is known by many alternate names, sometimes making identification tricky. Among the group known as band fishes, the Silver Arowana is considered a true bony fish. Indigenous to the flood plains of the Amazon River Basin in South America, the Arowana can reach an intimidating 47 inches in the wild, and is often too much for all but the advanced freshwater aquarist to manage. It can survive short times out of the water breathing air by utilizing its swim bladder. The aquarium must be fitted with a tight, heavy cover because the Arowana will jump, particularly when after prey.

African Tiger Fish

The African Tiger Fish, also known as the Tiger Characin, is a predatory Characin from the river systems of Africa. This unusual looking species is silver in color with very large sharp teeth that can be easily seen. It prefers a densely planted aquarium with roots and driftwood in which to hide. Aggressive towards other smaller fish, this species should only be maintained in a species tank, or with other similar sized non-territorial species. This is a very active fish that may harm itself or others in the aquarium when startled. It is best kept in a wide aquarium and an almost square tank would be ideal.

Well, that’s it for this week; next time, we’ll go over some breeds of large saltwater fish.