10 Gorgeous Orange Colored Fish (With Pictures!)

A wide range of vibrant orange-coloured fish are available if you want to add some pop to your tank or create an exclusively orange aquarium. While saltwater fish sometimes get the spotlight for color, there are both brightly colored saltwater and freshwater fish. Do you admire the long flowing fins of betta fish or maybe the bright, bold colors of the discus? Read on to find out about 10 gorgeous orange-colored fish and see what catches your eye!

1) Veiltail Goldfish

Let’s start with the classic goldfish! Goldfish are one of the most popular types of aquarium fish. While some goldfish are basic “fish-shaped,” the veiltail goldfish has long, gorgeous, flowing fins. Their fins are even longer than the fantail goldfish, which are also gorgeous fish. They come in a variety of colors, with some being entirely orange while others are white with orange markings. Their most notable feature is their beautiful fins, of which they have 5 sets, including a tall fan-like dorsal fin and a tail fin. When grown, they can get to be pretty good sized from 6-7 inches (plus fins) as adults. Veiltail goldfish are pretty mellow and get along well with tank mates. While some goldfish, like the telescope or bubble eye, are more “unique,” the veiltail is clearly gorgeous.

2) Orange Betta

Another gorgeous fish is the orange betta. Betta fish come in various stunningly bright colors like electric blue with red tails or brilliant yellow, but the orange ones really stand out, and some have reddish-orange highlights. Bettas have similar long-flowing fins, like the veiltail goldfish, but don’t get nearly as big. The betta’s body is between 2-3 inches, plus its fins. In contrast with the docile nature of goldfish, bettas are pretty aggressive, and you should not house two male bettas in the same tank. A group of females does fine together but keep the males apart. In fact, these fish were bred and used to bet on in fights, which is why they have the nickname Siamese Fighting Fish. They get along quite nicely if kept alone or with other docile fish.

3) Clownfish

The clownfish is famous for the character Nemo in the Finding Nemo movie. Clownfish are bright orange with a white vertical band behind their head and a white vertical band in the middle of their side and right before their tail. The white bands are bordered by black as well as the tips of their fins. Common clownfish (or clown anemonefish) are typically around 4 inches long. Unlike goldfish and betta, clownfish are saltwater fish and need a saltwater aquarium setting.

4) Mandarinfish

Mandarinfish has a lot going on! They are bright orange and electric blue with curvy stripes in a crazy design. Their fins are mostly orange with blue edging, and they have oversized pelvic fins that they use to “walk” along coral reefs and the bottom of the ocean. This crazy-looking fish can be found in small groups, and they are around 3 inches long. Mandarinfish have two lines of defense to keep them safe from predators. First, instead of being covered in scales, they are coated in slimy mucus that is toxic to predators. Secondly, they have tiny spines that can inject this toxic mucus into anything that gets too close. Mandarinfish are also sometimes called mandarin dragonets. Because of their bright coloration, they are popular fish for saltwater aquariums.

5) Orange Guppy

Going back to a classic freshwater fish, the guppy comes in a rainbow of colors and patterns. You will find some entirely orange, while others will be a gorgeous mix of orange, black and white. They have beautiful fanned tails, and some have a marbled coloration. Guppies are only 2-2 ½ inches long and have strong personalities. They are known to be curious fish. If you want a guppy-only tank, start out with three, one male and two females, and soon you should have a thriving tank full of guppies. They are easy to breed and take care of, a great fish for beginners.

6) Tangerine Discus

The tangerine discus is another freshwater fish that makes a gorgeous addition to your aquarium. Discus are disc-shaped and can be around 6-7 inches long, so they are good-sized fish. They also sport a wide range of colors, but the tangerine discus is a deep rich orange that really stands out. Discus is a schooling fish, so imagine how spectacular a group will look in your tank. Be aware that they are also pretty territorial and can be aggressive towards one another and other fish. Getting 10-12 juveniles at once is recommended so they can get used to each other. Providing lots of plants will give them places to hide and deter them from picking on one another.

7) Orange-lined Triggerfish

The orange-lined triggerfish is a saltwater beauty! It is not entirely orange, but the orange stripes and tail look incredible on the greenish-gray background. They are oblong in shape with a large head and a small pouty mouth. The eyes are set back near the top of the head, and the spines are on their first dorsal fin. Orange-lined triggerfish are very territorial and should be kept in their own tank. They can be nearly 12 inches long, so they need a tank that is at least 180 gallons.

8) Orangepeel Angelfish

These cute fish look like they are wearing metallic blue glasses! They are bright orange in color with blue rings around their eyes, on their gill cover and on the edge of their fins. Orangepeel angelfish are an orange version of the yellow-colored lemonpeel angelfish that look quite similar. As adults, they can get to be about 5-5 ½ inches long and need a tank that is at least 70 gallons. They can be aggressive, so it is best to keep them on their own and, like Bettas, do not put two males in the same tank.

9) Flame Angelfish

Here is a fish with a high “wow” factor! The bright orange flame angelfish has vertical black stripes on its side and deep blue edges to their dorsal and anal fin. They are semi-aggressive but do okay in a community tank most of the time. As a pygmy angelfish, they only get to be around 4 inches long, so they can manage in a smaller tank. Be sure to include plenty of live rock so they can graze for algae. With a lifespan of 5-7 years, you should get to know your flame angelfish quite well!

10) Koi

We can’t forget the gorgeous koi fish, often kept in water gardens or outdoor ponds. While you can temporarily keep them in an aquarium, they thrive in a large pond setting. These social fish come in a wide range of background colors and markings. Orange, black and white are some of the most common color combinations, but reds and yellows can also be mixed in. The Beni-goi are the koi that are completely orange. The largest koi can reach lengths of 3 feet, so plan accordingly when setting up your pond. If you wanted to have a nice group of 10 koi in your backyard, you could install a pond around 12 feet by 10 feet and at least 3 feet deep. Then you could enjoy your gorgeous orange fish from the comfort of your own home!

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © Arunee Rodloy/Shutterstock.com