Top 10 Most Beautiful Fish in the World
Red Crowntail Betta fish
- Red Crowntail Betta fish
Conservation status: Vulnerable
Binomial name: Betta splendens
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Genus: Betta
Species: B. splendens
The Crowntail betta fish earned its famous name due to its vibrant tail fin despite only 20 years as a species. It is a small fighting freshwater fish that has its origin in South Asia.
Its caudal fin has big extensions that can sometimes be eight inches in diameter, which is three times the size of its body.
The crowntail betta is approximately 2.5 inches in length, but it can grow to a maximum size of three inches. It has a lifespan of two to three years, which is typical for any small tropical freshwater fish.
They are mostly found in vibrant and attractive colors, of which the most prominent are the dark shades of blue and red.
Discus fish
- Discus fish
Conservation status: (N/A)
Binomial name: Symphysodon aequifasciatus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Genus: Symphysodon
Species: Symphysodon discus
Symphysodon, a fish native to the Amazon river basin in South America, is also known as discus fish. They belong to the family Cichlidae.
Due to their unique shape, behavior, vibrant colors and patterns, discus are popular as freshwater aquarium fish, and they are also referred to as "King of the Aquarium." Their aquaculture is a major industry in several countries in Asia.
Discus are generally calm and peaceful, but as cichlids, they can be aggressive while spawning and in attempts to pair off.
Their food mainly consists of plant material and detritus, but they can also be seen foraging at the
bottom, looking for small worms and crustaceans.
Banggai cardinalfish
- Banggai Cardinalfish
Conservation status: Endangered
Binomial name: Pterapogon kauderni
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Kurtiformes
Genus: Pterapogon
Species: P. kauderni
The Banggai cardinalfish is a small marine bony fish, which is endemic to the Banggai Archipelago in Indonesia.
It has been introduced outside its natural range through the ornamental live reef trade, and it is very popular in aquarium culture.
This attractive fish is mainly silver in color with tiny polka dot patterns on its fins. It also has three black bands in a vertical direction.
The Banggai cardinal primarily feeds on copepods but also eats planktonic organisms. It has an average life span of 2.5 to 3 years, and its maximum life span is up to 5 years.
Mandarinfish
- Mandarinfish
Conservation status: Least concern
Binomial name: Synchiropus splendidus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Callionymiformes
Genus: Synchiropus
Species: S. splendidus
The Mandarinfish is one of the most beautiful and stunning fish in the ocean. It is native to the Pacific ocean, ranging from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia.
It is a small and shy tropical fish, which is popular as a photographic subject due to its striking beauty and interesting habits.
Mandarinfish is not a strong contender in finding food, as it is a fussy, careful and slow eater. Its food mainly consists of protozoans, small worms and small crustaceans such as mysids, amphipods and isopods.
One of its prominent features is its big outward-set eyes, which is an ideal adaptation for food hunting and feeding in the dim light underwater environment of the ocean.
Freshwater angelfish
- Freshwater Angelfish
Conservation status: (N/A)
Binomial name: Pterophyllum scalare
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Genus: Pterophyllum
Species: P. scalare
Freshwater angelfish are probably the most recognized fish in the aquarium hobby. They are native to tropical South America, including much of the Amazon River system.
They are mostly found in the quiet, slow-moving waters in their natural habitat. In the wild, they are seen in dimly lit areas, under vegetation or trees that have fallen into the river.
The fish belong to the Cichlid family, and they come in a variety of beautiful colors and patterns, ranging from colored stripes to solid silver or black and silver marble. They can live up to 10 years or even longer.
They are generally peaceful, but being cichlids, they can be aggressive while pairing up and spawning. They are opportunistic like most fish and can eat anything that fits into their mouth, including smaller fish around them.
Ram cichlid
- Ram Cichlid
Conservation status: (N/A)
Binomial name: Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Genus: Mikrogeophagus
Species: M. ramirezi
The Ram cichlid is a small, colorful, and very popular aquarium fish, which is endemic to the Orinoco River basin, in the Savannah of Columbia and Venezuela.
The fish has an oval-shaped body with pointed fins and a tail. Mature males can develop more pointed dorsal fins than females.
In aquariums, males can grow about 2 inches (5 cm) larger in length than females, whereas in nature, they can attain a length of about 2 3/4 inches (7 cm).
The Ram cichlid is an easy-maintenance fish and is known as the best "beginner" cichlids due to its beautiful colors and calm and peaceful nature. They are easy eaters and can easily eat anything fed to them.
- Arowana
Conservation status: Asian Arowana is endangered
Binomial name: Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Osteoglossiformes
Genus: 3 different genera
Species: Many different species
Arowanas are freshwater bony fish that are found in the rivers, lakes, and ponds of Asia, South America, and Australia. They are also known as bony tongues.
These fish have a narrow and thin body shape, which makes them resemble eels. There are about 10 different types of Arowana, 4 from Asia, 3 from South America, 2 from Australia, and 1 from Africa. They are commonly kept as pets.
Asian Arowana is listed as an endangered species and is banned in the US. It is considered a status symbol among wealthy Asian men. In 2009, an albino Arowana was sold for a record price of $300,000.
Mostly pet Arowanas are farmed and raised under high-security fences. They are solitary fish, which only allow company when young, adults may show aggression and dominance towards others.
Sea Goldie
- Sea Goldie
Conservation status: Least concern
Binomial name: Pseudanthias squamipinnis
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Genus: Pseudanthias
Species: P. squamipinnis
Found in the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea, and in the Pacific Ocean as far east as Japan and southeast Australia, the sea goldie is a small tropical fish that inhabits the translucent waters of lagoons and coral reefs, up to 20 metres in depth.
These fish are protogynous hermaphrodites, like the other members of their family. They are born as females but turn into males at some point in their life.
They are organized in a harem system, in which one male protects and controls several females, and that makes them aggressive and territorial.
When a school loses its male, females can change their sex and turn into a male. Their coloration changes from orange to pink, when females change their sex and turn into a male. Females are typically two times smaller in size than males.
Dwarf gourami
- Dwarf Gourami
Conservation status: Least concern
Binomial name: Trichogaster lalius
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Anabantiformes
Genus: Trichogaster
Species: T. lalius
Known as one of the most beautiful aquarium fish, dwarf gourami is native to slow-flowing freshwater rivers, ponds, lakes and rice fields of Southern Asia. However, it can also be found in the USA, Singapore, and Colombia now.
Formerly known as Colisa lalia, dwarf gouramis continue to rise in popularity. These strikingly colorful fish are low maintenance and prefer to live and stick together when possible. In this way, they feel more secure and comfortable.
They have an average life span of five years, but under good conditions, they can live even longer. They can grow to a length of up to 4.5 inches, but on average, they only grow up to 3.5 inches in size.
Clown Triggerfish
- Clown Triggerfish
Conservation status: (N/A)
Binomial name: Balistoides conspicillum
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Genus: Balistoides
Species: B. conspicillum
The Clown triggerfish is a brightly colored fish, and it can also be referred to as the foraging predator. They are widely spread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific Ocean.
They can be found around the reefs in the wild waters, where shellfish and other invertebrates are found. These are very aggressive and territorial fish.
While being very attractive and colorful, they can be the most aggressive inhabitant of an aquarium. So, while selecting their tank mates, choose other large and aggressive fish. Once they reach around the size of 5 to 6 inches, they are pretty much not afraid of anything.
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