Which Freshwater Fish Species Are Best for Heated Tanks?

Betta Fish (Betta splendens)

Although not a true "community" fish, betta fish can be kept with a few other select species. Male betta fish get all the pretty colors and have a reputation for attacking other males, so only one male per tank. If you are keeping multiple betta tanks, do not allow them to be able to see each other! Male bettas can be kept with multiple female bettas, but sometimes breeding practices can get a little rough. Multiple females can be kept together, but you will not see the bright colors.

Don't be alarmed if you see your betta lounging more than swimming. Since they swim with their pectoral fins, rather than their decorative tail, they require more rest periods than fish with functional tails.

GloFish® (Danios & Tetras)

What is a GloFish®? Think of them as swimming GMOs, however, they present no threat to wild species. These fish are NOT injected with any dyes but have been genetically modified with invertebrate genes to present with fluorescent pigmentation.

Although they are brightly colored in natural light, blue LED lighting will bring out these vivid colors. When used alongside fluorescent decor, it creates a dramatic tank. These fish require no different treatment from their naturally-colored counterparts.

Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)

This brightly colored, small fish is best suited to live in larger schools. These fish are very easy going and have bright stripes of blue and red. If you catch them late at night, you may notice their coloration almost disappears!

Panda Cory Cat (Corydoras panda)

These bottom feeding fish, commonly referred to as a Corydora, is a peaceful fish who enjoy living in groups. Using their sensitive barbels, Cory Cats will sift through the substrate in search of tiny food bits. They prefer sandy or planted soil compared to larger gravel. There are many other varieties of Cory Cats that have a similar temperament and tank requirements.

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

The many varieties of guppies can withstand a wide range of temperatures but are happiest in tropical environments. There are many "fancy" varieties of guppies available for purchase, but beware inbreeding techniques used to get specific colors or patterns. Multiple fish with spinal curvatures, missing fins, or missing opercula are signs of a sick batch.

As with all livebearing species, you may adopt one fish from the store, and suddenly, you have a dozen more. Guppies are great at reproducing and unless you can separate males and females, you will end up with many more guppies than you started with. Their gestation period is approximately one month, so this overpopulation can happen very rapidly.

Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri)

The Swordtail fishes are members of the Platy family of fish and distinguished by the male's elongated ventral edge of their tail. Females will have a rounded tail. There are many varieties of swordtails available in the commercial market. They vary in coloration, but all have the same temperature requirements. Be sure to have a snug lid on your tank since swordtails like to jump.

As with their guppy cousins, swordtails are livebearers and can quickly overwhelm an aquarium. Thankfully, it is very easy to distinguish males and females, so you can keep them separated.

Dwarf Gourami (Colisa lalia)

Although a slightly harder fish to keep, the Dwarf Gourami makes a bright addition to a tropical tank. These fish like to have lots of places to hide, so make sure you choose appropriate decor. Usually, males will have a more vivid striped appearance than females.

Like the betta, gourami have a specialized labyrinth organ, utilized for extracting oxygen from the air. That doesn't mean you can skip your water changes!

Cherry Barb (Puntius titteya)

A member of the cyprinid family and cousin to the goldfish, Cherry Barbs have a slender, red body with dark marks along their lateral line. During breeding, males turn a brilliant "cherry" red, hence their unique name.

Bushy Nose Plecostomus (Ancistrus spp.)

There are many sub-species of plecostomus that will do well in tropical tanks, such as the Bushy or Bristle-Nose Pleco. Keep in mind that not all species will stay cute and small. Some species of plecostomus, such as many generally described "Plecostomus" in your local pet store, can grow up to 3 feet long! However, the Bushy Nose Plecostomus tops out at 4.5 inches, making him better suited for home aquariums.

Congo Tetra (Phenacogrammus interruptus)

The Congo Tetra may have muted colors compared to some of the others on this list, but slightly iridescent skin and fins make them flash as they swim by. These fish are good community members and like schooling in groups of 5+ individuals. Congo Tetras do not do well with any aggressive fish in their home tank.