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Did you know that fish are amongst one of the most popular choice of pets? Fish are so popular because they do not make a mess at all. Unlike other pets, fish are restricted only to their tank. They are not as high maintenance as other pets and some find them soothing to watch. Tropical fish are one of the most popular kinds of fish that are kept in a home aquarium. Due to the bright colors and varied shapes and sizes of tropical fish, many find them so entertaining that aquarium owners confess to watching their tropical fish swim around for hours at a time.

There are many different kinds of tropical fish. As long as the species come from the tropics originally, these tropical fish can come from freshwater and also from salt water. Due to the high demand for tropical fish, many are bred in the United States and are technically not from the tropics anymore, but they do have tropical origins. The following tropical fish belong to the freshwater variety.

Barbs

There are many different kinds of tropical fish under the barb family. Many of the barb tropical fish have intense colors or patterns on their body. These tropical fish are usually placed as a school in a fresh water aquarium. They can be somewhat aggressive to other weaker fish, so make sure you choose which other species of tropical fish are compatible with barbs.

Livebearers

Livebearer tropical fish are several species of fish that do not lay eggs. Instead they give birth to their young much like mammals do. Some Livebearer tropical fish include: Guppies, swordtails, platies and mollies. Females are usually larger and less flashy in the fish group so you can expect to see a dowdy female followed around by several males. This group of fish prefers to live in schools so it is best to keep more than four fish of this variety in the tank.

Tetras

Tetras are beautiful fish that come in bright, sometimes neon colors. You might need special lights to bring out some of their neon colors. These tropical fish like big spaces, but also may need some places to hide, so some vegetation might be necessary. These small fish may be put in schools, but they can also survive individually.

Tropical fish are so popular that some people consider them a hobby. There are numerous accessories and a lot of equipment that is necessary to allow the aquarium to function well. Fresh water aquariums do not require as much maintenance; whereas, saltwater aquariums require a lot more maintenance. If you are a new tropical fish owner, Barbs, Livebearers, and Tetras are great beginner tropical fish.