Old favourites tend to be in the hobby for a long time with good reason, usually, it’s because they combine a lot of desirable traits. The metallic form of the Gold barb (Barbodes semifasciolatus) makes an excellent aquarium fish suitable for both tropical and temperate (unheated) setups. These young fishes at our Pyle store are a perfect beginner’s choice.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/freshwater/cyprinids/gold-barb/

One of the best groups of fish for controlling nuisance green algae in the marine aquarium, rabbitfishes such as this Magnificent foxface (Lo magnificus) earn their keep but pack a punch. Equipped with defensive dorsal fin spines capable of injecting venom, they need careful handling. This one at our Teignmouth branch was flexing just in case we weren’t getting the hint.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/marine/miscellaneous-fish/red-foxface-magnificent-foxface-

With their specially adapted pectoral fins, the surface-dwelling hatchetfishes are capable of extended leaps of several metres and are definitely not a good choice for open-topped aquaria. In the wild, their diet mainly consists of insects caught on, or above the surface of the water. This lifestyle makes them the perfect choice if you’re looking for a peaceful species for the upper layers of your aquarium. These Silver hatchets (Gasteropelecus sternicla) seen at our Basingstoke store, are a mid-sized member of the family, with smaller and larger relatives available.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/freshwater/characins/silver-hatchetfish/

 

 

Domesticated Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) seem endlessly variable and the potential for combinations of colour, pattern and finnage seems limitless. These male Rummynose guppies seen at Swindon combine quite a few genes for a number of colour traits, making these pedigree chums the product of generations of careful breeding. Find out how to care for these aquatic aristocrats here: https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/freshwater/livebearers/guppy-/

 

The product of hundreds of years of selective breeding, fancy goldfish (Carassius auratus) are unlike anything found in the wild. These Tiger orandas are a form of red and black calico and are certainly striking specimens. Like all indoor goldfish, they’re big and messy, needing a large aquarium with everything you’d need for big tropical fish apart from a heater. These are in the suitably spacious surroundings or Thornbury’s new fancy system.

https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/help-and-advice/freshwater/coldwater-aquarium-fish/oranda/