The 39 Most Colorful Freshwater Aquarium Fish | AquAnswers (2024)

As hobbyists, we know how it feels when passing by a beautiful fish tank full of healthy, unique fish.

You’d be amazed to learn how many colorful fish types are suitable for a freshwater home aquarium.

At one point in my fish-keeping journey, I had the goal to find the most brightly colored species and to add them to my aquarium.

During my research, I stumbled upon many stunning breeds and each of them was a worthy candidate for a cool-looking centerpiece specimen.

I have so many favorite freshwater fish with bright, pretty colors that I can’t miss the chance to share at least half of them with you.

So let’s find out what fish are the most colorful in the freshwater aquarium hobby!

The Top 39 Most Colorful Freshwater Aquarium Fish

For this list, I’ve managed to collect photos of fish who have at least three body colors, including on their fins.

Have a look at the most colorful freshwater fish for your aquarium:

1. Blue Gularis Killifish

By ZaevaSarain

If you are looking for a multi-colored tropical fish for your aquarium, the Blue Gularis Killifish is one of the best choices.

The Blue Gularis Killifish belongs to Fundulopanchax genus of egg-laying killifish.

Have in mind that though they can live among other tank companions, these colorful fish feel best when having their own, planted tank.

2. Eggersi Killifish

By WitchSlap

The Eggersi Killifish species are known among hobbyists for their bright blue-ish and red coloration and have a reputation of a peaceful freshwater fish. The Eggersi Killifish is one of more than 70 species from the Nothobranchius genus of small killifish.

If you consider adding this species to your colorful community aquarium, remember that male Eggersi Killifish tend to show aggression toward other male Killifish.

3. True Red Terror Cichlid

By WarStrategy

Coming from the Mesoheros genus, the True Red Terror Cichlid is, in my opinion, the prettier alternative to the more popular Green Terror Cichlid.

This species grows large and is territorial, so I would not ever recommend it to a beginner in the hobby.

Once you get the experience, however, do give the Red Terror Cichlids a try as it’s very entertaining to watch them color up when guarding their spawn.

By Andy woods cichlids uk

The colors of the males become really intense when “patrolling”.

4. Paradise Gourami Fish

By Spike240sx

I stumbled across the Paradise Gourami, a member of the Macropodus genus, when I was searching for an aquarium fish with bright orange or red colors.

They immediately caught my attention with their pretty, rich orange and blue color patterns.

Another advantage of theirs is that they can tolerate cooler water temperature, but be careful with their violent attitude towards other male Gourami fish.

5. Apistogramma Macmasteri

By Chritterr

The Apistogramma Macmasteri is an excellent example of an eye-catching, exotic fish that will bring vivid colors to your tropical freshwater aquarium.

These Apistogramma species from the large genus Apistogramma have yellow, blue, reddish, and orange color patterns. These fish are among the smallest species of dwarf cichlids, which makes them an ideal addition to a smaller planted aquarium.

However, be careful when placing males together with other males, as they can be quite territorial.

Creating lots of hiding places in a 20-gallon aquarium is a good idea for helping these beautiful fish settle.

6. White Cloud Mountain Minnow

By CMReaperBob

If you are in search of a small yet colorful fish for your home aquarium, the White Cloud Minnow comes to mind as a fantastic option.

Tanichthys, the name of their genus, has its origins in the name of the Chinese Boy Scout, Tan, who discovered the first specimen.

These minnows grow to a tiny size of 1.4 inches and have lively silver stripes, contrasted by a dark green body and bright red dorsal and caudal fins. They are also a great choice as non-aggressive fish that can live in coldwater freshwater aquariums and are a suitable schooling species for beginners.

7. Chili Rasbora Fish

By amanofscience

The Chili Rasbora is a nano freshwater fish which belongs to the small genus known as Boraras. Those specimens usually grow to about 0.8 inches and petrify with beautiful color patterns and contrasting bright stripe that crosses the length of their bodies.

Chili Rasboras are a great addition to a colorful community aquarium with small and peaceful inhabitants, as these fish are very tiny, and timid.

Chili Rasboras feel best in tropical waters and when in a school of at least 6.

Related: 16 Tiny Freshwater Aquarium Micro Fish

8. Red Neon Stiphodon Goby

By animalia21

The neon Stiphodon Goby from the genus known as Stiphodon is equipped with a fascinating orange and reddish coloration (seen mainly in males).

In my opinion, the Red Neon Stiphodon Goby is one of the most interestingly colored fish, and in addition – they have a peaceful nature which makes them a preferred companion for a vivid community aquarium.

Related: Community Fish That Would Best Fit a Social Freshwater Aquarium

9. Snakeskin (Cobra) Guppy Fish

By TheJoshDillon

One of my favorite Guppies these days is the Cobra guppy because of the radiant red, blue, orange, and green patterns, which may even resemble a tiger in some specimens.

These livebearer fish are part of a genus named Poecilia.

Originating from South America, Guppies are known around the whole world, and lots of beginner hobbyists choose to add them to their peaceful fish tanks.

10. Celestial Pearl Danio

By IsaacMTSU

I’m deeply impressed by the beauty of the Celestial Pearl Danio fish, with the orange and violet dots, delicately crossing their distinctive silverish bodies.

The Celestial Pearl Danio is a part of the genus named Danio, meaning “of the rice field” translated from Bengali.

They’re not aggressive, and I recommend choosing them as a colorful schooling fish for your subtropical freshwater aquariums.

11. Clown Loach

By blobb123

Known also as a Tiger Boatia, the Clown Loach is the only member of the genus Chromobotia.

Their very cool stripes, which look much like those of an actual tiger, make this fish one of the most popular species for a vibrant aquarium.

They get along with other peaceful fish, can also eat pest snails, and are a perfect choice if you want to add some exotic presence in your tropical fish tank.

12. Chinese Hillstream Loach

By Bangshak

Sometimes called the Spotted Loach, the Chinese Hillstream Loach cannot stay out of your focus with its vivid dotted and labyrinth-like patterns.

This fish from the Pseudogastromyzon genus is well-known as a social and active species, so it is happy when in a group of at least three others of its kind.

13. Samurai Gourami Fish

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By myth1n

The Samurai Gourami fish are known for the dark red bars, covering the sides of their light blue bodies.

Samurai Gouramis like the ones from the Sphaerichthys genus are shy fish, and they feel best when kept in a group.

14. African Butterfly Fish

By ry5458

The African Butterfly Fish is one of the most captivating fish I have seen.

This water surface hunter is a member of the Pantodon genus.

The color combination of their dark patterned butterfly fins makes them a subject of curiosity amongst the other hobbyists as well.

15. Tropheus Kasanga Rainbow

By kilroy

Once you see this tropical fish, you can’t forget its beautiful, flamboyant rainbow tints.

The Tropheus Kasanga Rainbow, as the name suggests, belongs to the Tropheus genus which inhabit all regions of Lake Tanganyika.

Be careful when selecting tank mates, as sometimes the Tropheus Kasanga Rainbow Fish can be rather aggressive.

16. Red Phantom Tetra

By Waul

Unlike what their name suggests, the Red Phantom Tetras are quite easy to spot and recognize, thanks to their red and orange bodies.

Known generally as a peaceful fish, Red Phantom Tetras from the Hyphessobrycon genus get along with many other smaller and non-aggressive fish.

17. Pygmy Sunfish

By shinyshiny42

Looking for a cool nano fish with neon blue coloration that can fit in your new 5-gallon aquarium? No need to look further, The Pygmy Sunfish is exactly what you need to see.

Coming from the Elassoma genus, the Pygmy Sunfish also is liked for its charming breeding behavior.

The Pygmy Sunfish have a calm temperament, so mix them with other peaceful nano fish, in your heavily-planted fish tank. They also do great in a species-only aquarium setting.

18. Banded Rainbowfish

By Burningfyra

Depending on the area the Banded Rainbowfish is coming from, their bright colors may vary from red and green, to yellow and purple.

The Banded Rainbowfish is one of over 80 known species in the Melanotaenia genus.

Easy to take care of, friendly and calm, this fish is one of the best choices for a colorful and peaceful aquarium.

Related: 11 Easiest Fish to Take Care of in a Low Maintenance Aquarium

19. Bolivian Ram

By manuallaborsucks

Also known as Bolivian Butterfly Cichlid, the Bolivian Ram is an incredibly beautiful fish that never ceases to amaze with its intense and diverse pigmentation and color patterns.

These spawning fish from the genus Mikrogeophagus, are native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America.

Anyways, my experience has been that this fish is an excellent fit as a centerpiece species for a non-aggressive community in planted fish tanks.

Related: Cool and Pretty Freshwater Aquarium Fish from Around the Hobby

20. Kribensis Cichlid

By EmperorGestahl

The African Kribensis Cichlids, members of a genus known as Pelvicachromis, are one of my personal favorites because of their extraordinary coloration and patterns.

I find their rainbow-like appearance and dotted fins extremely interesting.

If kept with the right companions, they remain moderately aggressive, so keep them with other passive and peaceful species.

Suggested read: 10 Types of African Cichlids

21. German Blue Ram

By Jinxieruthie

The German Blue Ram is one of the few cichlids that would fit a medium-sized community tank with tropical temperatures.

Same as the Bolivian Ram, the German Blue Ram is a member of the Mikrogeophagus genus.

They do well with most other fish in their temperature range and have a stunning body coloration.

I would recommend trying them out as a centerpiece species in a tank with smaller, less colorful fish that school together.

22. Scarlet Badis

By kharma_chameleon_

The Scarlet Badis, which belongs to the Dario genus, is a small freshwater fish that displays bright neon-blue and red colors.

It is suitable for peaceful community aquariums, full of other tiny fish because other bigger species can make a snack out of the Scarlet Badis.

Keep in mind that the Scarlet Badis prefer mainly live food, and they like a lot of aquatic plants in their fish tank.

23. Glowlight Danio

By Sergev1001

The Glowlight Danio is an example of a nano fish with luminous colors, such as green, orange, turquoise, and green.

Both the Glowlight Danio and the Celestial Pearl Danio are part of the same Danio genus.

This brightly-colored fish is the schooling type, so it will be most happy in a group of at least 6 other Glowlight Danios.

24. North American Rainbow Darter Fish

By ZTHerper

Are you looking for a bright-colored and peaceful companion for your new fish tank?

The North American Darter Fish is a suitable option for you, as they get along with other tank mates and will make your aquarium even more vibrant with their neon blue fins and vivid body patterns.

This species is part of the very numerous genus known as Etheostoma.

Interesting fact: The Rainbow Darter fish do not have a swim bladder, and therefore you won’t see them floating here and there around the tank.

25. Pumpkinseed Sunfish

By EZaquaculture

The Pumpkinseed Sunfish has some radiant colors – bright yellow, orange, and sometimes even blue or green patterns.

The Pumpkinseed Sunfish is one of the recognized species in the Lepomis genus.

Before you get one, however, don’t underestimate the fact that they can become quite aggressive and dominant, regardless of gender.

Don’t keep them together with other larger and territorial fish.

26. Blood Parrot Cichlid

By Rafini

Although Blood Parrot Fish are mainly colored in intense orange or pink, sometimes they can come with a different pigment, such as yellow or even grey.

Presented as a man-made hybrid, they come from the Cichlidae family.

Keep them in a fish tank with large species who are equally peaceful, because the smaller ones could turn into prey.

27. Redfin Shiner

By double_chili_cheese

The Redfin Shiners are colorful fish from the genus named Lythrurus, and have bright and rich silver and green bodies, giving a finished vivid look to your aquarium.

Originating from Illinois, USA the Redfin Shiners are schooling fish, and a group of around 6 or 7 will live well among other fish with the same activity and temperament.

28. Roseline Shark

By Jose Cardona

The Roseline Sharks always amaze me with their unique, vivid body colors and the dark stripe that crosses them.

This fish comes from the Sahyadria genus, native to the Sahyadri Mountain in India.

If you want to keep a Roseline Shark, bear in mind that they need to be in groups of at least 5 in order to peacefully inhabit the tank, as this prevents aggression among them and the other fish.

Related:

29. Congo Tetra

By satansearthworm

Congo Tetras are another representative of the rainbow-colored fish, although they have some showy dominant colors in the orange spectrum.

The Congo Tetras species of the Phenacogrammus genus are also schooling fish.

By keeping them in a group of 6, you will be sure that your aquarium remains a peaceful piece of colorful heaven.

30. Pearl Gourami

By yackim

The Pearl Gourami has its name well deserved, as the pearly appearance is the first thing you notice when you look at this magnificent fish.

The Pearl Gourami is from a genus named Trichopodus, the name of which is composed of two Ancient Greek words – “hair” and “foot”.

Pearl Gourami Fish are considered hardy because of their tolerance to low oxygen environments, and as long as you have 2 females for each of the male Pearl Gouramis, you can expect a harmonious atmosphere in the aquarium.

31. Peaco*ck Gudgeon

By wodesorel

Here we come to one of my personal favorites in this colorful list.

The Peaco*ck Gudgeon is an aquarium nano fish that has fantastic yellow, blue, pink, and silver markings all over its body.

This species is in the family Eleotridae the members of which are also known as “Gudgeons”.

These fish are also incredibly friendly and get along with a wide range of other species, especially when you keep them in a school.

32. Marble Betta Fish

By weebro55

The majestically-colored Marble Betta fish will catch your eye the second you look at it.

Depending on the breed, these tropical fish may have 4 to 5 different and bright colors placed all over their bodies, especially on the fins.

The Marble Betta fish belongs to the large and well-known Betta genus.

Moreover, the Marble Betta fish have a gene that makes the fish randomly change its entire body color every couple of months. This makes keeping a Marble Betta ten times as exciting.

Before taking one, though, don’t forget the Betta fish is one of the most territorial fish, so either keep it alone or be very careful when choosing its tank mates.

33. Spotted Rainbowfish

By mangroveassassin

Silverish with some blue marks and pinches of a glowing rainbow, the Spotted Rainbowfish from the Pseudomugil genus will enrich the brightness of your planted aquariums.

On top of that, this tropical fish is one of the most peaceful freshwater creatures you can stumble across, and they get along with almost any other fish.

34. South American Diadema Cichlid

Coming from the Aequidens genus, in different color variations, such as yellow, bluish, and reddish, with a dark strap in the middle, the Diadema Cichlid can be a colorful addition to a large community fish tank.

Although Diadema Cichlids stay relatively small in size, these fish can be quite aggressive towards their tankmates, so it’s best for them to be kept with large cichlids or other large predatory fish.
Related:

35. Flowerhorn Hybrid Cichlid

By xrhonzz007

Once you see a Flowerhorn Hybrid Cichlid, I guarantee that you won’t forget its distinctive, vivid colors, which may greatly vary from red, to orange and even blue.

The Flowerhorn Hybrid Cichlid belongs to the Cichlidae family, and they, like the blood parrot cichlids, are a hybrid species.

Despite their unique beauty, these tropical fish are aggressive, and the best decision here would be to keep them alone or with other aggressive species in a big enough tank with lots of hiding spots.

36. Discus fish

By AliNier23

Discus are quite the cool fish, immediately grabbing your attention with their various color patterns and interesting body shape.

A favorite among connoisseurs, this fish is from the genus known as Symphysodon.

Discus fish are most happy when they live in a group where the females will be slightly more than the males.

Also, suitable tank mates are fish with the same high water temperature tolerance.

37. Clown Killifish – Epiplatys annulatus

By gabibakos

This is one of the best fish to stock your 10-gallon aquarium with!

Tiny as they might be, clown killifish (Epiplatys annulatus) will rarely go unnoticed in an aquarium.

These cold water nano fish have a yellow body that’s covered in black stripes and boast a gorgeous multicolored tail.

To top it all off, they have striking azure eyes that neatly blend with the markings on their tail.

Even though their beauty isn’t fleeting, their stay in your aquarium might be if you don’t keep them under a tight lid.

38. True Freshwater Bumblebee Goby – Brachygobius xanthomelas

By JamesWoodsAllDay

The True Freshwater Bumblebee Goby from the Brachygobius genus is well deserving of its name.

This miniscule rascal won’t miss an opportunity to “sting” or rather nip at the fins of goldfish, tetras or other long-finned species.

Moreover, they have a bi-colored, blue and yellow body which is highly reminiscent of their terrestrial namesake.

Fortunately, you can mitigate the aggressive tendencies of bumblebee gobies by keeping them in a school or dare I say, hive, of at least six fish.

39. Electric Blue Jack Dempsey – Rocio octofasciata

By zer0signal

Electric Blue Jack Dempseys can certainly pack a punch when they’re kept with smaller tank mates.

But unlike the late boxer of the same name, you’ll see their punches coming from miles away.

That’s because the body color of these cichlids darkens when they get aggressive.

As entertaining as this might be, it’s best to keep Jack Dempseys in a single species tank where they won’t harass other fish. Contrary to their occasional violent tendencies, Jack Dempseys are actually one of the most compassionate fish in the hobby. Not only do they not eat their fry, but they also pre-chew food for their babies.

How to make your pet fish even more colorful?

You might be thinking that adding a couple of vivid fish into your tank is enough for it to reach its full potential for color saturation.

What if I told you there’s an option for your aquarium to become even more colorful?

This can easily be done by taking proper care of your pet fish by encouraging a healthy diet:

All you need to do is to feed your fish quality freeze-dried or live foods, and you will see how their colors change from bright to fascinating in just a few days. On top of that, the fish will be healthier and, hence, happier.

Be careful when choosing the live food source, because if they are not coming from a trusted vendor, they can carry parasites and bacteria.

My recommendation here is to play it safe and choose freeze-dried foods, which are sterilized, and therefore bacteria and parasite-free.

The main advantage of freeze-dried foods is that although sterilized, they preserve their nutritional qualities.

Here’s a depiction of what a day of feeding high quality bloodworms can do to improve the brightness of a fish’s colors:

By how_fedorable

Starting with freshwater aquarium fish

I know once we have the idea of setting up a new aquarium, we are impatient, and we want it to happen in the fastest way possible. However, there are some basics we need to follow before adding live fish to the tank.

An essential part of making a freshwater aquarium ready for inhabitants is “cycling” it. Otherwise, your new fish will keep perishing one by one, and no one wants that.

Anyway, in the process of cycling, beneficial bacteria establish themselves in the tank. These bacteria eliminate toxic components such as ammonia and nitrite, making the tank a safe and healthy home for ornamental fish.

It usually takes around 8 to 10 weeks to completely cycle a new aquarium naturally.

However, if you don’t want to wait for so long, there’s a great way to speed up the process:

You can add live bacteria supplements to start an aquarium. Visit the link to learn more about aquarium bacteria starters and how to use them.

With some help from these products, you can cycle your fish tank in just 2 weeks, and it will be ready for your bright and colorful pet fish.

Which fish did you like most from the list above?

Drop me a comment below and share your favorite freshwater aquarium fish with pretty colors.