Under Appreciated Fish

[OldMan47]

I got a few Ameca Splendens about a month and a half ago and I am just falling in love with them. They are very active and friendly to a fault. They do not show the typical shyness of some of the less well known fish and are extremely active. In a heated house they do not need a tank heater and they work hard to control the algae in their tank. The fry are so large when they are born that the parents don't bother them and at about a month old my fry are looking like a small version of the parents.

 

[LauraFrog]

Pseudomugil - the entire genus. They are small rainbowfish, largely Australian but some species from New Guinea. They are small (3-6cm) peaceful, active, eat anything, will breed in the community, fry are easy to raise, and are extremely colourful. What more could you ask for a community fish? But the only species I have ever seen in the trade are P. signifer (the most common and people often fail with it because it needs brackish water) P. gertrudae (people are scared off because it's so small) and P. furcatus, which is not as colourful as many members of the genus. These are TOTALLY unappreciated... the most beautiful of them are P. connieae which I have never seen, and P. mellis which is a temperate fish and can be kept unheated. They are called 'blue eyes' but most don't even have their own common names.

Diamond tetras - as juveniles, seen in overcrowded dealer's tanks, they are BORING, apparently no colour and a completely unremarkable tetra. You have gotta see an adult well settled in a tank.

The same goes for most rainbowfish, as juveniles they are colourless, an ugly grey shade usually, and they do not show colour until they grow up and are happy with their environment.

 

[Amunet]

I think danios are underrated fish.
Usually the only time you see people recommending them is when they unfortunatly tell someone to use them to cycle a tank with.
They're such great little hyper fish and I plan on getting more eventually

 

[Brette]

Diamond tetras - as juveniles, seen in overcrowded dealer's tanks, they are BORING, apparently no colour and a completely unremarkable tetra. You have gotta see an adult well settled in a tank.

I love mine. Very sparkly, showy fish with long flowing fins who move around all levels of the tank.

I'd also like to add that I absolutely love panda tetras

Really nice blue sheen with the contrasting black on the tail. I don't think I've ever seen those. Really nice!

 

[wendywc]

For me, plecos are the uderrated fish that I love. My bn pleco is a now grumpy old man that hangs in his cave alot, but I love him.

 

[Tolak]

Port cichlids are one that used to be seen more regularly, ran into someone breeding them yesterday, first time in years. Another that used to be around quite a bit are Uaru, they are on my list of potential breeding projects.

 

[ally86ozzy]

Mosquitofish and japanese ricefish! They may not be colorful but fun to breeding and easy to take care in simple tank.

YES!!!!! most ppl dont even kno wut a mosquito fish is! i tell all my frends about them, and theyre like, "Wuts a mosquito fish?" theyre sold as feeder fish at most stores. poor babies. i luv mine, the male is so colorful! hes Halloweenie, w/ his black and orange, but the female is gray. and theyre small, so they fit in small tanks (smallest id say for 1 is 2-3 gallons). thats my idea of an underappreciated fish. BTW luv those Panda Tetras! ill hav to find some when i get my bigger tank.

WOW !!! never heard of these before just googled them they look really cute
i have never seen them for sale but will look out for them now

uve never heard of them?!?! see i told u! theyre r a bunch of different kinds mine r Western Gambusia, and they r commonly found in the US, like in Texas and around there. in fact, they recently discovered a new type in Texas, i believe. theyre very michivious fishies, but theyre livebearers, lol, and theyre also very small and hardy, so an ideal beginner fish, and theyre cheap too! lol im rambling, but i luv em!

 

[Jazzzz]

bumble bee shrimp and cherry red shrimp

 

[oakes]

Keyhole cichlids, definitely. Mine are peaceful almost to a fault - even when spawning, they didn't get bad enough to keep the corys from investigating the eggs constantly, they just sort of nudged intruders away. They're bigger than rams, and give a nice touch of the "big cichlid" look to a community. Their color changing is great to watch, too.

Port cichlids are one that used to be seen more regularly, ran into someone breeding them yesterday, first time in years.

I agree, keyholes and ports are underrated but have some great qualities.
Festivums get my vote for much the same reasons.

 

[Amunet]

bumble bee shrimp and cherry red shrimp

Oh I would have them if I could find some!! waaaaaaant

 

[Sari]

I absolutely love my Corydoras hastatus, they are so beautiful little things with greeny shimmer on the sides and the little white highlights near the black spot!

And pearl danios, superactive pearlescent little fish.

 

[VampirePlec]

i think paradise fish - i think they are great! i only have one atm but they have so much personality! i had one the used to be right next to my bed and every morning when i woke he always looked so excited to see me.

 

[Mr Bliss]

I'd add the goldfish to this list. I mean, they're very popular fish with beginners, but it's extremely rare to see goldfish kept properly (except in ponds). It seems that every goldfish born to live in aquaria is destined for a life of misery. Beginners don't know how much space and filtration goldfish demand, and experienced hobbyists who know these things never get goldfish: if they have the gear for bigger fish, they'll go for the likes of oscars and birchirs and knife fish instead. I think I've only ever seen one large goldfish tank kept by a hobbyist in my life and it looked fantastic.

Having said that, if I had to choose between goldfish and oscars, the goldfish would end up with the short end of the stick too.