Color:There are many Freshwater Aquarium Fish and Projects that hold interest, color, and challenge to advanced aquarists. Here are just some of them: (Killifish Photos from Practical Fish Keeping Magazine, and Excellent British Publication)
Color:
Gold Gourami (A crossbreed though)
Livebearers like the Blue Tux Guppy, the Pineapple Swordtails,
And other crossbreeds of livebearers with Lyre-Tails, etc. (easy to keep)
Cardinal Tetras--a school of these in a planted tank is stunning.
Rosy Barbs (Male) (Can be tough to breed)
Almost all Cichlids from Lake Malawi and South America
Any Heavily Planted Tank
Rainbowfish such as the Boesemani(Photo)
Killifish (and despite popular belief, there are many species that are
not annual and can even live for up to 4 years). (Aphyosemion striatum is the red/blue one whileAphyosemion australe is the orange one.
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Challenge:
Some South American Cichlids:
German Blue Rams are among the prettiest freshwater fish,
and are said to be the hardest to keep and breed. A tank for these could be as small as a
20 gallon long. As with Discus and Apistogramma Cichlids, some of the challenge lies in
a great diet, perfect water quality, and getting the water parameters right (acidic, soft,
warm waters and so on). One can enhance the challenge even more by trying to keep
plants in these tanks. No doubt that Discus, Rams, and Apistogramma Cichlids are among
the favorites of advanced aquarists.
Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika in Africa (like Tropheus)
Cichlids from this lake tend to demand great water quality
and usually aren’t nearly as tolerant as Malawi Cichlids.
Malawi Cichlids
Like in the Saltwater World, some of the challenge lies in
controlling aggression. These fish were first described as "Freshwater Coral Reef Fishes"
because of their very bright colors. Red Zebras (Melanochromis estherae), Kenyi
(M. lombardio), Pseudotropheus demasoni and the popular Yellow Lab (Photo).
are example of great coloring in Cichlids. There is a link to more Mbuna (Malawi Cichlids
that live in rocky areas) information in our Links Page.
Interest:
Small Shell-Dwelling Cichlids from Lake Tanganyika.
Some of these can be kept in tanks as small as 20 gallons.
These Cichlids are quickly gaining popularity because of
how they make their home inside a snail’s shell.
Mouthbrooders
Any Mouthbrooder is interesting. These fish harbor their young in
their mouth until they can protect themselves to an acceptable level. Extremely intriguing
to watch. Mouth Brooders include the Chocolate Gourami, Some of the more exotic
“livebearers (which offer a nice challenge as well, unlike the Guppies, Platies, Swordtails, and Mollies), all Lake Malawi Fish, and a
few others that are commonly offered. The Chocolate Gourami is also a very demanding
species that offers considerable challenge to even reef keepers.
Finally, many Brackish Water Fish.