These non-schooling freshwater fish are an excellent addition to any aquarium collection with their beautiful appearance and peaceful temperament.
I will discuss their features, living habits, and ideal living environment to help you pick your favorite species.
Ensure that your tank is compatible with their living conditions to ensure healthy growth.
Keep reading this post to discover more about their characteristics!
Examples Of Non-Schooling Freshwater Fish
Most of these non-schooling fish can be raised alone in a medium-sized aquarium tank.
However, you can put some species in schools, and they still live and develop well. Now, let’s jump straight in!
Dwarf Gourami
The Dwarf Gourami is a shy and peaceful fish with a mild temperament.
If you put two Dwarf Gouramis in a tank, they will form a pair and swim together. This fish species can also live separately in one aquarium tank.
When setting up an aquarium tank for dwarf Gourami, you have to spare some space on the surface so the fish can rise and breathe.
Dwarf Gourami possesses a labyrinth organ that needs fresh air like the humans’ lungs.
The ideal tank size for Dwarf Gourami is five gallons, with a pH range between 6.0 and 7.5.
The temperature should reach between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit for the healthiest growth.
Guppies
Guppies are one of the most popular non-schooling freshwater fish that originated from northeast South America.
This species is very resilient and can adapt well to different living conditions or habitats around the world.
The male guppies are typically smaller than the female ones. They can feed on various food types, including larvae, tiny insects, flakes, and dry food.
Guppies are non-schooling fish that can thrive on their own without the need for parental care.
However, the small guppies still swim in schools to develop antipredator tactics and increase their chance of survival in the wild.
Read more: Guppy fin rot or nipping
Swordtails
Another lovely, beautiful, and adaptive freshwater fish species is the swordtail.
They are one of the most exotic and low-maintenance choices to add to your aquarium collection.
Swordtails fall into the Poeciliidae family, which is very close to other species like guppies or platies.
This fish possesses a long protrusion that looks like a sword, thus giving it the name “swordtail.”
A properly raised and healthy swordtail can survive for between 3 and 5 years, or even longer.
When matured, swordtails can reach 5.5 inches in average length, but the males are shorter than the females.
Platies
Platies is the favorite freshwater livebearer of many aquarium owners due to their beautiful appearance and popularity.
You can find platies sold in various fish stores, which are available in different colors and sizes.
Mature platy grows between 5 and 7 centimeters (2-3 inches) in size.
If you provide them with a healthy diet and ideal living conditions, plants can survive for up to 3-4 years.
The thing I love most about platies lies in their low-maintenance nature and low costs.
It would be best if you chose healthy fish that come with full bellies, bright eyes, and an energetic temperament.
Mollies
Mollie fish originated from southern North America and Mexico.
Though they are not an ideal choice for new aquarium keepers, mollies are one of the most exotic livebearers you can find.
Due to the interbred of mollies for many centuries, this species features a diversified color range and various fin types.
You can easily find mollies with orange, gold, or even black skin.
Read more: Do mollies die after giving birth
Male Betta
Male Betta fish is an excellent decorative element to your tank with its beautiful and unique appearance.
They feature elaborate colors and large fins, plus big and round eyes.
The male betta is a great example of non-schooling fish because it cannot live in schools.
It’s best if you raise a male betta separately, or it will fight with the other species.
FAQs
The sections below will bring you more interesting information about different pet fish species. Keep reading to learn more!
What Pet Fish Is The Most Resilient?
Some resilient and easy-to-maintain pet fish for inexperienced aquarium owners are the standard goldfish, betta fish, Neon Tetras, Mollies, and Zebrafish.
They can adapt well to different water temperatures and consume a diversified diet.
These species are also peaceful and can live in harmony with many other species.
You can either raise them alone or in small schools (3 to 5 individuals) to add more beauty to your tank.
What Are Some Of The Most Low-Maintenance Fish?
One of the cheapest fish to raise in an aquarium tank is the molly.
This species comes in various sizes, colors, and varieties, with a medium body size of 3 inches.
Some other excellent examples are the guppies, goldfish, Zebrafish, and suckerfish.
You need to provide ideal habitat and set up proper water conditions for the fish to flourish.
What Is The Hardest Fish To Raise?
If you don’t have much time to adjust the water condition and care for the pet fish regularly, choose species like Danio rerio or Zebra Danios.
These species are one of the hardiest tropical fish, which can adapt to temperature fluctuation and unideal living conditions very well.
How To Make A Self-Sustaining Fish Tank?
First, you need to clean the tank properly and set up the small decorative elements like sand substrate, plants, and rocks.
Then, install the tank filter and light to turn your fish tank into a self-sustaining project.
Yet, you still need to change the water and clear the growing algae occasionally to ensure the highest water quality and living conditions for the fish.
Final Thoughts
The non-schooling freshwater fish listed in this post possess beautiful appearances and a mild temperament that any aquarium owner will love.
They can live in harmony with the other fish or survive alone in a water tank.
However, each fish features distinct living habits and special diets that you need to consider carefully before choosing.
If you have any better suggestions, feel free to comment and let me know. Thank you for reading!
