There are many beautiful fish that you will commonly find in fish tanks. Whether it is goldfish, bettas, or another popular fish, they can be great additions to your aquarium. However, there are plenty of people who want to look for something different.
That’s why here, we wanted to look at ten unique fish that can add a special touch to your aquatic environment. Hopefully, this will give you great ideas when stocking your tank.
1. Amazon Leaffish
If you want a quirky looking fish, look no further than this fascinating species. Also known as the South American leaffish, it gets its name from the fact that is resembles a dead leaf. This brilliant bit of camouflage helps to provide it with a natural protection.
It’s a carnivorous fish, which means you’ll need to be a dedicated fishkeeper and supply it with live food. Aside from that, they don’t have huge demands. They are better in a well-planted tank with plenty of hiding spots and minimal water flow. Temperature parameters should be 72-77°F (22-55°C), with a lower pH of around 6.
2. Axolotl
Loved for its cute and strange appearance, the axolotl is ideal for those who don’t want to buy a water heater. Ideal water temperatures are 60-64°F (16-18°C), and they’ll be happy with a neutral pH of 7.
Related to salamanders, an axolotl has regenerative abilities and can completely regrow entire limbs. They’ll need plenty of space in their tank, but as with the leaffish above, they are carnivores and will thrive off the likes of worms and insects.
3. Peacock Gudgeon
There are some great options if you want to add color to your tank, including the peacock gudgeon. Native to the streams of Papua New Guinea, it has vibrant blue and yellow hues, along with distinctive spots on the tail.
They are quite easy to keep due to being quite low maintenance and peaceful. They are omnivores so will eat live or frozen foods, but also will happily eat flakes or pellets. Happy with a neutral pH, they’ll be most comfortable in a temperature range of 72-79°F (22-26°C).
4. Freshwater Pipefish
Here we have another weird-looking fish. This pipefish has a long and slender body from the rivers and streams of Asia. Along with their slender body, they also have elongated snouts, similar to a seahorse.
The pipefish is adapted for feeding on small encrustations and zooplankton, and they should be provided with live or frozen food. They need a gentle water flow with temperatures between 72-82°F (22-28°C) and a pH of 6.5-7.5. As with most tank creatures, you should provide plenty of hiding spots with gentle lighting.
5. African Butterfly Fish
Before looking at this fish, you’d presume it got its name for its colorful appearance. Instead, it’s due to them having elongated flat fins, which look like butterfly wings. It’s a freshwater species that comes from the slow-moving waters of West and Central Africa.
Its quirkiness doesn’t stop there, as this fish can glide! It uses those powerful fins to jump out of the water to escape predators. Due to this, a tight-fitting lid is required. Added to their quirks is an upturned mouth as it likes to feed on surface insects.
Water temperatures will need to be between 75-86°F (24-30°C), a pH of 6.0-7.5, and moderate hardness. Floating plants and calm water are ideal, and they are true carnivores. They aren’t a beginner fish but are a fascinating species.
6. Hillstream Loach
Loaches can come in all shapes and sizes but the hillstream variety has one of the strangest appearances. We’ve just had a look at a fish that likes to feed on the surface, but this is the exact opposite, being a bottom feeder.
Its flat body is adapted to coping with the fast streams of China, so you don’t need to worry about fast water flow here. They are brilliant algae-eaters, like plenty of hiding spots, and will be happy with sinking pellets. With a temperature requirement of 68-75°F (20-24°C), and a pH of 6.5-7.5, they are easy to keep.
7. Glass Catfish
As with loaches, catfish are commonly found in aquariums but this is a particularly special species. As you’ve probably already worked out from the picture, this species gets its appearance for its transparent body.
It provides excellent camouflage, and they can sometimes be hard to spot in your tank! A peaceful schooling fish, they are great for community tanks but need to be in a group. 75-80°F (24-27°C), and a pH of 6.5-7.5 are the parameters you need here and will happily eat almost anything, as long as it’s small enough.
8. Black Ghost Knifefish
Is there a cooler name for a fish? I don’t think so. It has a sleek, elongated body, with its most unique feature being an undulating fin that extends for almost its entire underside. It hunts in the wild with a weak electric field, but in a tank, they’ll be happy with live or frozen food.
They aren’t too fussy on temperature or pH, with requirements of 73-82°F (23-28°C), and 6.5-8.0 respectively. Subdued lighting is preferred and they should be provided with plenty of hiding spaces such as caves and dense vegetation.
9. Paradise Fish
The paradise fish is another great option for those looking for a colorful freshwater fish. The water parameters needed are 72-82°F (22-28°C), and a pH of 6.0-8.0, making it a very easy fish to keep. That’s also helped by it being an omnivore.
The species is native to East Asia and has beautiful vibrant colors and flowing fins. Its most interesting fact is that the fish can also breath oxygen, making it able to cope in oxygen-deprived water.
10. Dragon Goby
The dragon goby isn’t going to win any beauty awards, but it’s a fascinating fish. With its elongated body and dragon-like appearance, it takes on a prehistoric look. It prefers to live in brackish water (slightly salty) but can easily cope in freshwater.
They are a little difficult to keep because of their water requirements but also because they need plenty of space, and live or frozen foods. A high pH is required between 7.5 and 8.5, along with a water temperature of 72-78°F (22-26°C).
