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There are a multitude of small freshwater aquarium fish that come in a variety of colors and even shapes. Even Dr. Axelrod from "Tropical Fish Hobbyist" magazine has filled an atlas with thousands of photos of the many freshwater aquarium fish available. This guide is a starter that includes several of the more popular and the more easily available small aquarium fish for hobbyist or those just starting out.

SUNFISH
From the Centrarchidae family of fish, the sunfish or pygmy sunfish originate from North America. The average adult size is only 1 1/4" long. Sunfish are popular among hobbyist because they can tolerate moderate temperatures ranging from 50 to 72 degrees. They feed on algae and dried food, among other small water insects such as water fleas. They are a shy fish and should only be kept in a tank with their own species.

GUPPIES
The guppy is one of the more popular freshwater fish because they come in a variety of colors and styles. They can have normal size fins, large fins and even swordtails. Adult males usually reach 1 1/2" in length while the females can reach 2 1/2" long. Overall, the guppy is a docile fish and usually fits in well with other passive fish.

MOLLIES
Closely related to the guppy, mollies are easily found in pet stores usually in the short-finned version. The two versions of short-finned are known as the black molly and the gold dust molly. The male molly tends to be more aggressive but is tolerant of other males when there are plenty of females provided. They can feed on fish flake food and enjoy blood worms on occasion.

TETRA
The most common and popular of the tetra fish is the neon tetra. The tetras are a non-aggressive fish that grow to about two inches in length. They can be fed quality flake food and survive well in community tanks with other peaceful fish.

BETTA
The betta fish is the second most commonly owned freshwater fish behind the goldfish. They are beautiful, come in a variety of brilliant colors and have flowing fins. Also known as the Siamese Fighting Fish, the betta are aggressive towards other male fish.

ANGELFISH
The freshwater angelfish are popular mainly because of their unique shape. Fairly easy to maintain, the angelfish are not picky when it comes to meal time but they are aggressive. They are territorial and also have aggressive eating habits towards other fish.

BARB
Barb are a hardy freshwater fish that also come in a variety of colors. Wonderful as a beginner fish, barb are usually docile towards their tank mates and feed well in captivity. Adult barb reach up to three inches in length and when properly cared for can live up to seven years.

GOLDFISH
No freshwater aquarium fish guide is complete without mentioning the most popular and most widely owned fish-the goldfish. What is there not to love about the goldfish? They are extremely hardy, have a long lifespan and also come in different colors including gold, orange, white and black.

One can soon be overwhelmed with the choices available in freshwater aquarium fish. The first step is deciding what size tank you are willing to conquer at cleaning time and whether you want just a few or a school of fish. Research the different varieties available, the requirements, temperament, and don't forget lifespan. Some of the fish available can become a companion for many years. If you build your tank around the needs of the fish, you will be rewarded with a beautiful aquarium and years of enjoyment.

Learn more about this author, Angela Pollock.
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