One of the most enjoyable aspects of keeping fish is the enjoyment you get out of the beautiful colors that adorn many of them.
It still amazes me just how many different shades of some colours can be found on tropical fish.
Blue is one of my favourite colours, and, so in keeping with this, I have collated together 7 different types of blue tropical fish that are fairly easy to buy and perfect for freshwater aquariums.
Most Eye Catching Blue Coloured Tropical Fish:
- Blue Peacock Cichlid
- Blue Ram Cichlid
- Blue Neon Dwarf Gourami
- Pearl Danio
- Blue Tetra
- Cornflower Blue Delta Guppy
- Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish
Important considerations when buying aquarium fish.
Type of Aquarium you Want.
There are 2 main different types of aquarium you can have-a freshwater one, or a saltwater one. There are pros and cons to both of them. The freshwater tanks are a lot easier for a beginner to the hobby, as it is easier to keep the water within the correct parameters, and many species of freshwater fish have more tolerance do fluctuations within those parameters.
Arguably, saltwater (or marine) fish tend to be much more vividly coloured, but they have little to no tolerance to a change in water quality. This is because in their natural habitat, seawater is much more stable.
You cannot mix freshwater fish with saltwater fish as they both need different things in their tank. You need to pick one or the other.
Tank Size.
The size and shape of your aquarium and how many fish you already have always needs to be considered.
Obviously, the bigger the fish, the fewer you can have in your tank. It is essential when planning to add fish to your tank that you calculate space based on their fully grown adult size. Not the size they currently are.
Water Temperature.
Different fish are comfortable in different temperature ranges. You need to always ensure that you are not adding fish to your tank that are going to be uncomfortable, and therefore distressed, in the wrong water climate.
Tank Mates.
Some fish are known as community fish as they are chilled out and peaceful.
Unfortunately, not all fish are like that. Some species of fish could cause chaos in a community tank!
For example, Siamese Fighting fish are called that for a reason!
If in doubt, always under stock your tank, and seek advice with regards to which species of fish are ok to mingle, and which most definitely are not.
7 Types of Blue Tropical Fish.
Blue Peacock Cichlid.
This stunning metallic blue fish hails from Lake Malawi in Africa.
They tend to grow to approx 10cms, although the males can sometimes get a little bigger than this.
The males also tend to be brighter in colour to the females.
The Blue Peacock Cichlid is generally a peaceful fish, so would be a good addition to a decent sized community tank.
These guys like tanks with places for them to stay concealed in.
Ram Cichlid.
The Ram Cichlid (also known as the Butterfly Cichlid) is one of the smaller of the species, with them usually growing no more than 7cms.
Ram Cichlids can be tricky for the beginner as they need to be introduced into a tank that has well established water quality.
These lovely fish will fit in fine in a nice, peaceful aquarium. Just make sure they have some hiding places to chill out in.
Blue Neon Dwarf Gourami.
The colourful Blue Neon Dwarf Gouramis tend to grow to about 6cms.
They are a friendly freshwater fish, so great for community tanks, though they can sometimes get a little nervous, so it helps to have some good hiding places in the tank for them.
Pearl Danio.
These lovely little fish will get along with most tank mates as they are peaceful and easy going.
They grow up to 6cms in size.
The males tend to look slimmer than the females, and they all love to swim around at the top of the tank. You need to make sure your tank is covered though, as they do like to have a little jump around every now and then!
Blue Tetra.
Blue Tetras are best kept in schools of at least 6 (more if your tank allows it comfortably). Being a group tends to stop them from fin nipping, which they can be known for if on their own.
They grow to about 5.5cms long.
The males tend to be a brighter colour blue than the females.
There is also the Blue Neon Tetra which is a more electric blue in colour, and also has a bright red stripe which goes back to the tail.
Both of these Tetra fish are great community fish but don’t put them in with any larger fish who may be tempted to eat them for lunch…
Cornflower Blue Delta Guppy.
I love Guppies! Their fancy tails always make them look so majestic in the tank.
The male tends to be brighter coloured and a little bit smaller than the female (the males always seem to get the better deal in the looks and size department, don’t they?!)
Guppies tend to grow up to 5cms in length.
It is said that there are no two Guppies alike, and that their colours and markings are like a fingerprint to them.
Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish.
The Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish is another peaceful community fish, but they are better kept in a school of at least 6.
The males tend to be brighter in colour and also develop a deeper body as they get older (is that the fish equivalent of middle age spread, I wonder?). Their colour tends to develop as they get older, so juveniles will look a lot paler in comparison.
These guys grow to approx 5cms in length.
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