Tropical Fish- Fact Files
1. Blue Gourami
Scientific Name : Trichogaster trichopterus
Common Names : Three Spot Gourami, Opaline Gourami
Care Level : Easy
Size : Up to 6 inches (15 cm)
pH : 6 - 8
Temperature : 74°F - 82°F (23°C - 28°C)
Lifespan : 5 years or longer
Origin / Habitat : Southeast Asia
Temperament / Behavior : May be aggressive with males of the same species and with females of the same
species after spawning. They may become skittish with larger tank mates.
2. Dwarf Gourami
Scientific Name : Colisa lalia
Care Level : Easy, good for freshwater beginners with a tank that has completed the aquarium nitrogen cycle.
Size : 3 inches (8 cm)
pH : 6 - 8
Temperature : 77°F - 82°F (25°C - 28°C)
Water Hardness : 5° to 20° dH,
Life span : 3 - 4 years
Origin / Habitat : India
Temperament / Behavior : Mostly peaceful and hardy, they are good fish for beginners.
3. Silver Arowana
Scientific Name : Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Common Names : Dragon Fish, Arawana, Aruana, Arrowana, etc.
Care Level : Moderate to Difficult, needs a large tank and is not recommended for the beginning aquarist. Needs
a good aquarium filter like an external canister filter.
Size : 35 - 40 inches (89 - 102 cm)
pH : 6.0 - 7.5
Temperature : 75°F - 83°F (24°C - 28°C)
Lifespan : 10 - 20 years or longer.
Origin / Habitat : South America, Amazon River
Temperament / Behavior : Can be aggressive, especially with smaller aquarium species.
4. Angelfish
Scientific Name : Pterophyllum scalare
Common Names : Albino, Black, Gold, Silver, Marbeled Angelfish, Koi Angelfish, etc - seems there is a common
name for each color variety.
Angelfish Care Level : Easy
Size : Up to 6 inches (15 cm)
pH : 6 - 7.5
Temperature : 74°F - 84°F (23°C - 29°C)
Water Hardness : 5° to 13° dH
Lifespan : 8 - 10 years
Origin / Habitat : Amazon River
Temperament / Behavior : Generally peaceful, but can be aggressive eaters and may become territorial while
breeding.
5. Mollies, Molly Fish
Scientific Name : Poecilia sphenops
Common Names : Black Molly, Lyretail, Sailfin, Liberty, Mollie, Pointed Mouth, Short Finned, Mexican, Golden,
Piebald, Ghost Pearl, Gold Dust, Red Sunset, Dalmation, Ballon, etc.
Care Level : Easy, very good for freshwater beginners if keeping a single sex. Keeping both sexes could cause
problems since this fish is such a prolific breeder.
Size : 2 to 4 inches (5 - 10 cm) depending on the species
pH : 7.5 - 8.5
Temperature : 70°F - 82°F (21°C - 28°C)
Water Hardness : 10° to 25° dH,
Origin / Habitat : Central America
Life Span : 3 - 5 years
Temperament / Behavior : Peaceful
6. Platy, Platies
Scientific Name : Xiphophorus maculatus
Common Names : Many and usually based on the color patterns - Southern Platy, Red Wagtail Platies, Mickey
Mouse, Red Tuxedo, Moon Fish, Topsail Rainbow, Sunset, Golden, Calico, Salt and Pepper, Coral Red, Black,
Blue, the list goes on and on and on and on.
Care Level : Easy, good first fish for freshwater fish beginners
Size : 2 inches (5 cm)
pH : 7 - 8
Temperature : 65°F - 78°F (18°C - 26°C)
Water Hardness : 10° to 25° dH
Origin / Habitat : Central America
Lifespan : 2 - 3 years
Temperament / Behavior : This is a good tropical fish for the beginner. They are a very peaceful tropical fish.
Also, it can be a good idea to have two females for every one male. Doing this will prevent the male from
harassing a single female.
7. Swordtail Fish
Scientific Name : Xiphophorus helleri
Common Names : Black Swordtail, Gold Tux, Green, Lyretail, Neon, Red Simpson, Spotted, Red Velvet
Swordtails, Black Velvet, Belize, Atoyac
Swordtail Care Level : Easy, good fish for freshwater fish beginners
Size : Up to 5 inches (13 cm)
pH : 7 - 8
Temperature : 72°F - 82°F (22°C - 28°C)
Water Hardness : 9° to 15° dH,
Lifespan : 3 - 5 years
Origin / Habitat : Central America
Temperament / Behavior : The swordtail is a tough litte fish. They can take care of themselves when there are
bigger fish in the tank. The males may become aggressive towards other males.
8. Crayfish, Crawdad
Scientific Name : Cambaridae Camburus
Common Names : Crawdad, Crayfish, Crawfish
Crayfish Care Level : Easy
Size : Usually up to 3 inches (8 cm), sometimes larger
Life span : 2 - 5 years, possibly longer
pH : 6 - 8
Temperature : 60°F - 80°F (16°C - 27°C)
Water Hardness : 5° to 15° dH,
Origin / Habitat : Different species all over the world
Temperament / Behavior : May fight with other invertebrates and go after smaller fish.
