When searching for beautiful exotic Fish, hobbyists often flock to saltwater varieties. While saltwater fish may be popular, there are also many exotic freshwater fish you may want to consider.

Freshwater fish come in all forms, colors so if you’re looking for colorful freshwater fish, you should check out our other list.

In this article, we’re going to touch on the best exotic fish that thrive in freshwater environments. Each type of fish comes with its own maintenance requirements, so we’ll touch on that too.

Now, let’s dive into our top 7 best exotic freshwater fish list to see which ones come out on top.

What Are Exotic Freshwater Fish?

Typically, an exotic fish just means a species that is not indigenous or native to your local region. In many situations, however, “exotic” also refers to a fish that has one or more unique characteristics/traits.

1) Arowana

Most Arowana range from $50 to a few hundred dollars. You may have also head about a rare platinum Arowana was once sold for over a whopping $300,000.

While that outrageous six-figure price tag seems a bit over-the-top, the few hundred it may cost to get a more common Arowana means you get a fish with a lifespan of up to 50 years.

An aggressive species, Arowana have been known to jump out of aquariums. In the wild, they jump as high as 6 feet out of the water just to snatch their prey from the sky.

A key feature for Arowana is how large they can grow – up to 3 feet in length. This means they require a minimum of 125 gallons for a proper aquarium size.

If you want to invest in the Arowana as your exotic freshwater fish, be prepared. You must maintain a consistent routine and maintenance for up to 5 decades.

2) Rope Fish

Also known as the snake fish or “Rope Fish,” the Erpetoichthys calabaricus, is a unique freshwater fish that’s native to both Central and West Africa. Though they’re nocturnal, they can become accustomed to daytime feedings with the right training.

A peaceful exotic freshwater fish species, each rope fish has their own unique personality. They slither like snakes at the bottom of freshwater rivers and lakes, as well as on the bottom of their tanks.

While the rope fish is considered peaceful, make sure you pair them with fish that are bigger than them. You do not want your smaller fish becoming a snack for them.

They work best when paired with a fish community of up to 4 or 5 freshwater fish.

3) Plecos

There are over 680 different types of plecos, though some are more popular than others. Each type of pleco has their own characteristics and features that make them  extremely unique.

Part of the Loricariid catfish family, they’re a very popular aquarium fish and the largest family of catfish in the world. Some serve as algae eaters; others just helpful fish companions.

Altogether, plecos make for a fun addition to a tank as long as you have a minimum size of at least 79 gallons. They can grow up to 18 inches long and live around 20 years, so they’re worth any investment you make for them.

Gorgeous specimens, they add vibrance and color to any aquarium community they become a part of.

4) Blue Crayfish

Often known more fondly as the Electric Blue Lobster, the blue crayfish is native to Florida. The fish are a little more low-maintenance than some of the other freshwater species on our list.

With proper care and routine environmental maintenance to keep your crayfish happy, they can live up to 5 years. They will also require a 20-gallon tank and can grow 5 to 7 inches long.

Distinguishing features about the blue crayfish, other than the obvious electric blue color, are their elongated claws. They require lots of hiding places and plenty of room, so make sure you increase your tank size if you keep more than one.

Likewise, experts recommend a 1:1 ratio of male to female in order to avoid over-aggression. Compatibility with other species is incredibly difficult, so it’s best to keep them in a one-species tank.

5) Freshwater Stingray

One might not immediately think of “stingray” when they think “exotic freshwater fish.” On the contrary, the freshwater sting-ray certainly qualifies as one of the best in its class.

In the wild, they enjoy the bottom of the Amazon River Basin, hiding and adventuring their way through life.

While in their tanks, make sure they have plenty of hiding places throughout the bottom. Likewise, most sting-rays require a finer sand compared to the more conventional substrate used for the bottom of aquarium tanks.

While different species of sting-ray have different requirements, most can grow to be up to 3 feet and have fragile tails and skin. Non-aggressive, larger fish work well in the same tank as some stingrays, though they also work well in a tank by themselves.

Additionally, make sure you do your research on the individual freshwater sting-ray species you get, as some can have venomous tails.

6) Discus

Though they require a 75-gallon tank at the minimum, the discus freshwater species only grows 8 to 10 inches long. When one thinks of “exotic freshwater fish,” this is usually the fish that comes to mind.

They require excellently managed water parameters, as they’re very delicate, though they come in a variety of vibrant colors that makes them fun to watch throughout the day.

Some discus can be expensive. While they’re part of the same cichlid group as the fish we discuss below, these cichlids originate from South America.

Likewise, these are possibly the most peaceful cichlids out of the cichlid family, which is why they deserve their own spot on our list. Very social creatures with their own species, they can breed easy in an aquarium environment.

In fact, their ability to breed so well in an aquarium environment is what floods the exotic freshwater fish market with cichlid hybrids from an industry of cichlid breeders.

7) Cichlids

If you’re looking for an aggressive freshwater fish that doesn’t play well with others, the cichlid fish family is right in your ballpark. Some cichlids are well-known for their vibrant colors, like the Red Texas and Flowerhorn cichlids.

Most hybrids, the cichlid family is better for a one-species aquarium environment, and many hobbyists keep them in their own separate tanks.

While most fetch a higher price tag, the Wolf cichlid can be found for just $20. They require a minimum of a 75-gallon tank, but that’s because they can grow up to 28 inches long.

They are considered possibly the most aggressive freshwater fish, and certainly the most aggressive cichlid variety. Cichlids are also picky eaters and usually refuse anything other than live fish as food.

On the bright side, they make for entertaining companions and have a lifespan in captivity of about 30 years.

Conclusion

There are many more freshwater fish in the world. In fact, there may be more than 20 thousand different exotic fish species.

We hope our top 7 list of the best exotic freshwater fish available on the market will help you decide on your next fish friend. In a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and even prices, there’s an exotic freshwater fish out there for every fish enthusiast.

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