7 Green Freshwater Fish Perfect for Your Aquarium

Written by Alyssa Shea
Updated: September 12, 2023
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Your new freshwater aquarium could use a pop of color! Many green freshwater fish require specific care to maintain their vibrant colors. These seven green freshwater fish would make the perfect addition to your tank.

The green spotted puffer is a hardy fish that can live up to 15 years old.

1. Green Bettas

Betta fish may seem like a basic choice for an aquarium. These 3-inch-long fish are indeed a very popular choice. This hue comes from the selective breeding of two fish with admiral traits. It’s crucial to know the lineage of the fish to get specific colors. Though they’re easy to care for, they require specific conditions to thrive.

Bettas are known for being solitary and aggressive. They can live anywhere from 2-5 years if cared for properly. While they tend to be hostile toward other fish, they can be social toward their human caretakers. Some will swim excitedly when they see their owner approach! Plan on using at least a 3-gallon tank and a top-notch filtration system. The optimal temperature range for green betta is 72°F–82°F, and they prefer living in water with a pH level between 6.8 and 7.5.

Dark green betta fish, Fancy Halfmoon Betta,The moving moment beautiful of Siamese Fighting fish in Thailand. Betta splendens Pla-kad (biting fish), Rhythmic of Betta fish isolated on black background

Betta fish can have a variety of tail types.

©Digital Art StudioTH/Shutterstock.com

2. Green Tiger Barbs

Green tiger barbs are playful, semi-aggressive freshwater fish. These omnivores are very easy to care for as long as you are aware of their specifications. The general rule is one inch of fish per four liters of water. These fish can reach up to 3 inches in length. So, six green tiger barbs should be able to thrive in a 20-gallon tank.

These fish enjoy a varied diet, so include frozen foods, flake, and live foods such as brine shrimp or bloodworms. They also enjoy vegetables! These fish enjoy water temperatures of around 64°F -75°F and a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. This fish breed is a schooling species, so be sure to have at least five in your tank. You can expect them to live up to the ripe age of 6 years old!

 Green tiger barb or Green Sumatra barb (Puntigrus tetrazona)

These fish can cohabitate in a single tank with other peaceful fish species.

©Pavaphon Supanantananont/Shutterstock.com

3. Neon Green Rasbora

These small fish are a favorite for many freshwater fish enthusiasts. In fact, many aquarium hobbyists enjoy catching Neon Green Rasboras in the wild! Did you know they only grow up to approximately 15-20 millimeters in length? These fish are usually found in schools of 20-50 fish, so keep that in mind if you decide to add this breed to your aquarium.

They thrive in 68°F-80.6°F water and require a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. This tiny fish can live all the way up to 7 years old! Driftwood is an excellent addition to your tank. It can create fun hidden holes for your fish to enjoy and help lower the water’s pH levels. They also enjoy a current that has a moderate and constant flow.

Green Neon Rasbora (Microdevario kubotai)

Consider adding these fish with other peaceful community fish!

©chonlasub woravichan/Shutterstock.com

4. Green Spotted Puffer

This speckled puffer is a joy to behold! Their green and black coloring is very striking. While they look friendly, you might be surprised to find that these puffers are pretty aggressive. This omnivorous predator will require a varied diet. Keep their water at a warm 78°F-82°F and their water pH at 7.5 to 8.2. This larger fish needs 35 to 50 gallons of water in their tank.

Due to the amount of waste they produce, they will need a strong filter to keep their tank clean. Their water should be changed weekly because you can’t be kept with cleaners. After all, the puffers will promptly devour them. This hardy fish can live up to 15 years old! Make sure you revitalize their surroundings by changing their decor.

Green spotted puffer (Tetraodon nigroviridis). Wild life animal.,aquarium

These puffers will grow to be at least 6 inches.

©TRR/Shutterstock.com

5. Emerald Cory Catfish

The emerald cory catfish is so popular due to how peaceful they tend to be. Their metallic green shade is truly beautiful to have in any aquarium. This fish thrives in schools of three to eight, so it’s recommended never to own just one of these species. Keep their water heated to around 72°F – 82.4°F, and the pH of the tank should be maintained neutral to slightly basic at 7.0 to 7.8.

They aren’t picky eaters, either, which makes owning them a breeze! Make sure to include algae, flakes, as well as shrimp pellets in their diet. Offering live treats like bloodworms is a great way to enrich their lives.

Emerald 'Brochis' (Corydoras splendens ) Ornamental fish from Amazon river

The emerald cory

catfish

is also known as the green catfish or emerald brochis.

©chonlasub woravichan/Shutterstock.com

6. Green Discus

The friendly, green discus is an excellent addition to any freshwater tank. There’s a reason why they are often referred to as “the King of the Aquarium.” That doesn’t mean that they’re simple to care for, though. This 8-10-inch long fish is not suitable for beginners! They will require at least 70 gallons of fresh water in their tanks.

Ensure the temperature of the water stays in the small range of 83°F-88°F, with a pH of 6.5-7.0. These specifications make it hard for new fish owners to keep them. They aren’t picky when it comes to eating, so choosing flakes, pellets, algae, or krill will make excellent choices. If you take good care of these fish, you can expect them to live up to 10 years old!

colorful tropical discus fish on green background, banner.

Many cichlids are known to be aggressive, except for the discus species.

©/Shutterstock.com

7. Green Terror Cichlid

The vibrant green terror cichlid is both colorful and lethal simultaneously. While they have a vibrant personality, it’s crucial that you know how to care for this fish to keep yourself and the fish safe. If you don’t know how to handle temperamental fish, this might be a tricky species for you.

They need plenty of room to roam their tank, so expect to use at least 50 gallons. The water level has a small, ideal range of 72°F-77°F as well as a pH requirement of 6.5 to 8.0. They do prefer lower light levels, so make sure your tank isn’t too bright.

green terror, Andinoacara rivulatus, male in stunning spawning colors, popular domestic ornamental Cichlidae fish, favourite species among aquarists in nature aquarium with no plants

Be prepared for how aggressive this species can be.

©Aleron Val/Shutterstock.com

Summary of the 7 Green Freshwater Fish Perfect for Your Aquarium

RankFish Species
1Green bettas
2Green tiger barbs
3Neon green rasbora
4Green spotted puffer
5Emerald corydoras
6Green clown goby
7Green terror cichlid

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


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About the Author

I'm a 36-year-old mother of 2 and military wife. I have 2 dogs and a cat that I'm thoroughly obsessed with. When I'm not writing for work, I'm writing as a hobby. You can find me knee deep in a pile of books or way too invested in a video game.

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