7 Freshwater Purple Fish To Liven Up Your Aquarium

If you are looking to liven up your aquarium with a splash of purple you could add a few purple silky artificial plants, but wouldn’t it be more enticing to have a few purple fish swimming about to add some flare? You might think purple fish are more common for a saltwater tank, like the striking purple dottyback, but there are a few freshwater fish that are purple as well. So if you are looking to complete a rainbow of fish or your absolute favorite color is purple, here are 7 freshwater fish to liven up your aquarium!

1)  Purple Moscow Guppies

Guppies are a nice addition to your aquarium because they are easy-going peaceful fish. In general, guppies are one of the most popular types of aquarium fish, you may even already have some. Since they come in a variety of colors, adding in some purple Moscow guppies would brighten things up. Sometimes just called purple guppies, these fish were originally bred in Russia, and appreciated for their bright coloration. They have elongated bodies with a beautiful fan-like tail and dorsal fin. As adults, they grow to around 1-1 ½ inches. Purple ones are a little harder to find and are generally more expensive. But worth it when you envision a half-dozen or so purple guppies swimming about!

2) Purple Betta Fish

Some fish will have a blueish-purple hue while others are more reddish-purple but the purple betta is spot-on color-crayon purple. Bettas are popular freshwater fish because of their long flowing delicate fins. They come in all kinds of bright colors from electric blue to vibrant yellow. Some purple betta are all purple while others will have pink-edged fins. Betta grow to be around 2-3 inches and have a lifespan of 2-5 years.

One thing to consider before purchasing a purple betta is what other fish you have in your tank. Bettas are territorial and can be a bit aggressive. They do get along with fish like guppies, neon tetras, and Corydoras catfish. Be sure not to put two male bettas in the same aquarium, no matter what color they are, they will most likely fight!

3) Purple Harlequin Rasboras

Harlequin rasboras are actually another fish that betta don’t mind. The purple variety are silvery-purple and can get to be 1.4-1.8 inches in length. Typical harlequin rasboras have a reddish-copper color with a black “lambchop” shaped marking on their back near the tail. The purple harlequin rasboras has a similar marking that you see more clearly in the males.

If you love the look of the purple harlequin be sure to get at least 6-8 because they are a schooling fish and need a group to thrive. Consider adding some shrimp or snails as tank mates for these fish, but they also get along quite well with other peaceful fish. These fish are great for your nano tank and are easy to take care of!  

4) Yellow-Tail Acei Cichlid

The yellow-tail acei cichlid provides twice the color burst with a beautiful light purple body and soft yellow tail. Their dorsal fin is also yellow gracing the top of their elongated bodies. Size wise these fish seldom get more than 5 inches long. They are considered Mbuna cichlids originating from Lake Malawi in the country of Malawi which is in East Africa neighboring Mozambique, Zambia and Tanzania. Did you know Lake Malawi is between 350-360 feet long and 47 feet wide! They prefer the rocky outcrops where food is plenty and keeping hidden from prey is easier. Many of the Mbuna cichlids are brightly colored, besides the purple-yellow tail acei there are bright yellow and vibrant blue species.

In general, these cichlids have a reputation for being a bit aggressive so be cautious when choosing tank mates. The yellow lab (Labidochromis caeruleus) would make for a compatible tank mate and envision the display of the mix of your purple and yellow fish swimming amongst the green aquatic plants. Definitely a stunning setup!

5) Purple Tetra

The next two fish on the list are tetra’s but they vary quite a bit from each other. The first tetra is the purple tetra (Hyphessobrycon metae) is a light silvery purple looking similar to a minnow. They have a darker band near their forked tail. Since these are schooling fish you will want to get 8-10 to make sure they feel a sense of security (and they are more fun to watch!). Purple tetras get to be around 1.4-1.6 inches, for reference, that’s a little longer than a paper clip.

Purple tetras are from Columbia and Venezuela where they can be found in the Río Orinoco Basin. They will feel at home in your aquarium if you include lots of aquatic plants similar to their home rivers and tributaries. These tetras are pretty easygoing and get along well in tanks with other fish. You will find a few other fish species from the Río Orinoco Basin that are popular in the pet trade including some brightly colored ones like the blue panaque placo!

6) Galactic Purple Longfin Tetra

The galactic purple longfin tetra is a GloFish® meaning it is a genetically engineered fish with a fluorescent glow! GloFish® have become a popular ornamental fish with hobbyists adding black lights or blue lights to highlight these fishes’ features. Genetically engineered fish with florescent characteristics were originally created to help scientists research pollution issues in waterways. They have used these modifications with tetras, tiger barbs, zebra fish, rainbow shark,s and bettas and have created a range of colors including red, green, orange, blue, purple and pink.

The galactic purple longfin tetras are pinkish-purple and have opaque fins including a fan-like dorsal fin. Most are in the 2-2 ½ inch range but some can reach 3 inches. There is some controversy over GloFish® because they are considered Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). There was some concern about them being released in the wild and becoming invasive species. The Food and Drug Administration has stated “There is no evidence that these genetically engineered zebra danio fish pose any more threat to the environment than their unmodified counterparts…”. The zebra danio was the first modified species introduced to the pet trade. Do a little research if you want to find out more about the process and decide for yourself if the galactic purple longfin tetra is right for your aquarium.

7) Rainbow Shiner

The rainbow shiner is another stunning fish that will bring some life to your aquarium setup. They certainly don’t fall in the “obviously purple” category but with certain angles of light their shimmery bodies do look purplish and when the males are ready to spawn, their heads turn a deep shade of purple! The males also change their fin colors to blue and the tip of their face turns red. Rainbow shiners are also in the 2-2 ½ inch range with some reaching the 3-inch mark. They do best with a school size of 10 or more with a mix of males and females. Be sure to have a secure lid on your tank because during spawning time these fish can get overly excited and leap out of the tank.

Rainbow shiners are not from the tropical rivers of Africa or South America, they are from North America. They originated in the Mobile River system in Alabama but have since spread to river systems in Tennessee and Georgia. You can expect to enjoy your rainbow shiners for a lifespan of 3-5 years. A welcome addition to liven up your aquarium for years to come!

Summary Of 7 Freshwater Purple Fish

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