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Want to get a fish but uninterested in the average goldfish varieties? Well tropical fish are very popular among fish enthusiasts.
Tropical fish differ from cold water fish such as goldfish because they:
- live in warmer water; and
- can live in either fresh water or salt water (marine fish).
Tropical fish bring a rainbow of color to the everyday aquarium. Not only that, they are available in all sorts of shapes and sizes.
Popular tropical fish breeds include:
- Angelfish (Pterophyllum) – An unusual shape, being flat with triangular fins. This is to help them hide amongst vertical reeds and water grasses. The naturally occurring pattern on the angelfish consists of stripes, usually black with another color.
- Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus) – A saltwater tropical fish, the mandarin fish is very wonderfully coloured with neon blue and orange. They make a very colorful addition to any aquarium!
- Lionfish (Pterois) – The lionfish is so named because it is covered in venomous spiky tentacles. It has a striped pattern of red, black and white. Because of their venomous tentacles, owners need to be careful when handling. Although they venom has rarely been fatal, it can induce vomiting, fever and sweating in humans.
- Clownfish (Premnas) – These are probably the most recognizable of all tropical fish, after having been featured in the animated movie Finding Nemo. Clownfish are small, making them perfect for home aquariums. The feature a striped pattern with the colors of white and orange.
Tropical fish are a great way to bring color into your home.
