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Home aquariums most often contain small or medium-sized aquarium fish. This is because regular small tropical fish do not require much space, which is very convenient if you live in a small apartment. However, big fish also have their fans; and there are not just big ones, but also very big ones, large aquarium fish, and even huge ones. To maintain them, large aquariums are also needed: from 50 liters per fish or more. I suggest you study the TOP list of the largest aquarium fish, and you will simply be amazed at how big they can be.
The top includes only freshwater aquarium fish, calm and aggressive, predatory, tropical and cold-water.
Cichlazoma diamondata
The body of the diamond cichlazoma is strewn with bluish scales, thanks to which it seems that the fish is strewn with diamonds. In nature, the cichlid lives in North America, in the state of Texas and the northern part of Mexico, so it has another name - Texas cichlid. The body of the diamond cichlazoma is large, wide, oval-shaped, up to 30 cm in length. Lives in an aquarium for 10-15 years. It feeds on a wide variety of foods: worms, insects, crustaceans, plant foods. An aggressive, territorial aquarium fish with a bad character and often outrageous behavior: it often quarrels with its neighbors, is belligerent towards them and can create a mess in any, even the most beautiful aquarium - it loves to dig the soil. The diamond cichlid is often said to be a true Texan.
Managuan cichlid or Jaguar cichlid
The jaguar is a large cichlid that lives in the waters of Central America. Females of Managuan Cichlazoma grow up to 30 cm, males are larger - up to 35 cm. This is a very dangerous predator, feeding mainly on small fish and large invertebrates. Lives in warm climates and prefers warm water. A very popular species among aquarists who love large fish. The color of the Managuan cichlazoma resembles the pattern on the skin of a jaguar, hence the name. And the cleaner the water in the aquarium, the brighter and more beautiful the picture.
To keep a Jaguar cichlid you need an aquarium with a volume of at least 450 liters. These fish live up to 15 years.
Nile perch
Nile perch is a type of large freshwater predatory fish that lives in the basins of the Congo, Nile, Senegal, Niger rivers, as well as in lakes Chad, Volta, Turkana and other reservoirs. Found in Lake Maryut in Egypt. They can grow up to 2 meters in length and weigh up to 200 kg. However, adults usually reach a length of 121–137 cm. The Nile perch is a predator that dominates in the reservoirs of residence. It feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and insects. Where food resources are limited, they can also eat relatives.
gold fish
The common goldfish is a descendant of the wild carp, native to Asia. It is cold-water, so it needs a separate unheated aquarium with a water temperature of 18 - 22°C. On average, it grows up to 20 cm in an aquarium, but give this fish enough space and it will reach 30 cm. There are known cases where goldfish grew up to 45 cm in length. To keep these fish you need sufficient space: from 50 liters of water per individual.
Goldfish are also long-lived. Under good conditions and regular care they can live from 20 to 40 years.
Shark Ball
Baloo shark is a relatively large freshwater fish, up to 35 cm in size, native to Southeast Asia. It is also called the silver baloo or silver shark - in appearance the fish really looks like a shark. The body of the balu is elongated, like that of a shark, but its dorsal fin especially resembles a predator. However, the resemblance to a shark ends there - the shark baloo is a fairly tolerant aquarium fish. Sometimes it can swallow smaller fish, so it is better to choose fairly large neighbors.
Sharks are excellent swimmers, so they need a long, spacious aquarium to keep them. A container with a length of 1.5 meters and a volume of at least 500 liters is recommended. Shark balus live 8-10 years.
Mississippi girt
The Mississippi shellfish or alligator gar is a species of large freshwater fish common in the lower Mississippi River valley and its tributaries in North and Central America. This is a very fast and strong, but shy fish. According to experts, the Mississippi shellfish can grow up to 3 m in length and weigh more than 130 kg. In 2011, the largest shellfish caught was officially registered, its length was 2.572 m, weight 148 kg. It feeds mainly on fish, small mammals, birds, turtles, etc. There are known cases of attacks on children, fortunately, they never ended fatally. Included in the list of prehistoric fish that were considered extinct.
Tiger Astronotus
Astronotus are extremely popular aquarium fish known for their intelligence and social behavior. Since these are very large (up to 45 cm) and aggressive fish, not everyone will dare to keep them, especially since it is quite difficult for them to find suitable tankmates, so it is recommended to keep them in a species aquarium. However, if you decide on a large capacity and regular labor-intensive care for astronotuses, they will very quickly win you over with their complex behavior. You can watch them for hours.
To keep astronotuses, you need an aquarium with a volume of at least 200 liters; an adult pair of fish requires 500 liters. They live 10-13 years.
Plecostomus
The aquarium catfish plecostomus is one of the most famous and popular large catfish. Plecostomus grows up to 60 cm in length. In nature, it lives in South America, in the reservoirs of the Amazon basin. It feeds on algae and is therefore known as the algae-eating catfish. For a large aquarium, plecostomus is an excellent choice - it cleans well both from the remains of uneaten food and from algae growth. This catfish has a mouth in the form of a suction cup, so it can attach itself to the surface with its help. A very hardy fish, and if you give it 75 liters of space per fish, will live 10-15 years in a home aquarium.
White sturgeon
Fifth place in the list of the largest freshwater fish on the planet is occupied by the White sturgeon - a species of fish of the sturgeon family, the largest freshwater fish in North America. Inhabits the bottom of slow-moving rivers and bays along the west coast of North America. The white sturgeon can grow up to 6.1 m long and weigh 816 kg. It feeds mainly on fish, crustaceans and mollusks.
Botia clown
Clown botia comes from Indonesia. It’s hard to believe, looking at this large, beautiful aquarium fish, that in its homeland it is enjoyed as food. These are active fish with a striped orange-black body and red fins, growing up to 50 cm in length. A peaceful fish that gets along with almost any aquarium inhabitants, very funny and interesting. It will also help get rid of some overgrown snails. This is a schooling fish, it loves to be in the company of its own species, so there should be 3 or more of them in the aquarium.
To maintain you will need an aquarium of 300 liters, they live 10-20 years.
Catfish and Atlantic blue marlin
If we rely on generally accepted statistics, then a certain sequence can be traced here. To do this, you should select a chain consisting of the 10 largest fish in the world in reverse order.
Catfish can grow up to 5 m, and their maximum weight can be about 400 kg. However, since cases of poaching have increased recently, it is quite difficult to come across fish of this size. It is also worth taking into account that the size and weight of the catfish will depend on its age .
It is worth noting that the maximum age of a catfish is 30 years.
Catfish can reach about 5 meters in length
These creatures are heat-loving and usually swim in the basins of the Aral, Black, Caspian and Azov seas. On the territory of Russian reservoirs, catfish can be called the largest predator. Basically, these fish live in deep holes at the bottom, located far from the riverbed. Individuals do not like strong currents and muddy soils, so they leave their hiding places mainly only to hunt.
The ninth place among the largest fish in the world belongs to the Atlantic blue marlin. This creature belongs to a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the billfish family. The maximum length of one individual is about 5 m, and the weight can reach up to 820 kg. However, it is worth noting that these figures are only the highest recorded to date. Blue marlin are heat-loving, preferring to be in water whose temperature ranges from 22 to 30 degrees. These fish are found exclusively in the Atlantic Ocean.
In this video you will learn more about 10 giant fish:
Marlins are migratory fish. They are ready to overcome enormous distances, but do not always return back. Of those individuals that were tagged, some did return to their usual habitat, but this is not proof of their permanence.
Females are much larger than males. Puberty occurs after reaching the age of four. By this time, the weight of one female is more than 50 kg. Males at this age weigh a maximum of 45 kg. Adults eat other fish - squid, mackerel, etc.
Blue marlin larvae feed on the larvae of other fish and plankton, including zooplankton.
This fish looks like the moon
Koi carp
Koi carp are peaceful large fish, although they will eat smaller slow-moving fish. They grow up to 90 cm in size. They live on average 20-30 years, but under good conditions they can live 50 years. With age, they begin to recognize their owners, and if you teach them, they will take food from your hands. To keep koi carps, you need a tank with a depth of at least 1 meter, and for one fish the volume of water should be 100 - 180 liters. They are more often kept in home ponds and swimming pools than in home ponds. Koi can live in a wide variety of water conditions.
Silver Arowana
Arowana is a very famous and popular large freshwater aquarium fish, also known as dragon fish and monkey fish. In nature, it lives in South America. Known for its large size and hunting abilities. This is an aggressive predator with an interesting way of hunting: the arowana hunts by jumping out of the water and grabbing insects from tree branches, while the fish jump quite high. Although more often it gets insects floating on the surface that find themselves in the water during the flooding period.
The silver arowana grows up to 120 cm in length, and to keep it you need an aquarium with a volume of at least 900 liters. Lives 10-20 years. Arowana is one of the largest aquarium fish
Giant freshwater stingray
The giant freshwater stingray (Himantura polylepis) is a species of freshwater stingray found in the tropical waters of several large rivers in Indochina and Kalimantan. Capable of growing up to 1.9 m wide and weighing 600 kg. They feed mainly on crustaceans and mollusks, possibly earthworms. The giant freshwater stingray is not aggressive, although they must be handled with care as their poisonous long spine can easily penetrate human bone. This species is endangered.
Redtail catfish
The redtail catfish is a large and very fast growing freshwater aquarium fish. In addition, this is one of the most attractive catfish. In nature, the red-tailed catfish lives in streams, rivers and lakes of the Amazon basin, throughout South America. Not suitable for keeping in most home aquariums, as it can grow up to 150 cm. But it can still be found on sale. However, a purchased fish 5 cm in length very quickly grows to a gigantic size, and most aquarists give catfish to public aquariums. Therefore, when purchasing a redtail catfish, think carefully about whether you are prepared to handle the care requirements. To keep red-tailed catfish, an aquarium with a volume of at least 3500 liters is required.
Red-tailed catfish live 15-18 years.
Large peaceful aquarium fish
Large aquarium fish are usually classified as those that can be kept in artificial reservoirs with a volume of at least one hundred liters. There are also specimens that require an aquarium with a volume of at least five hundred liters. However, for obvious reasons, such exotic species have not become widespread among aquarists. Large, peaceful aquarium fish that can be kept in an ordinary city apartment have gained popularity. Large fish look much more attractive than medium and small ones. In addition, the average lifespan of large fish is longer.
The majority of large fish prefer to spend almost all their time near the bottom. Among them, such a large but peaceful aquarium fish as the marbled carnegiella stands out for its unusual behavior.
marble carnegiella
It constantly swims near the surface of the water and often jumps out of it, using its fins instead of wings when jumping. Carnegiellas live exclusively in flocks, so it is necessary to have five to seven individuals in one aquarium at once. With less numbers they will be shy.
Malabar Danio is a fairly rare and large peaceful fish, ten to fifteen centimeters long. It is unpretentious: it needs cleaning of the aquarium less often than other inhabitants of the underwater world and is not so sensitive to changes in food.
Danio malabar
The torpedo barb is usually sold small in pet stores, but as an adult it reaches a length of fifty centimeters. Despite their large size, barbs are quite friendly and do not cause any harm to their neighbors. Their only drawback is their addiction to eating plants and tearing up the soil.
Goldfish, otherwise called veiltails, grow up to twenty centimeters in length. These beautiful peaceful fish love space and need enhanced water filtration. They should be housed in groups of two or three.
Hybrid parrots appeared relatively recently, but quickly won the sympathy of aquarists. These funny fish have a wide variety of colors. The most common are yellow and orange-red hybrid parrots. They got their name due to the similarity of the head with the head of the exotic birds of the same name. Hybrid parrots have good health and are very friendly. The length of an adult fish is eight to fifteen centimeters. Some individuals grow up to twenty-five centimeters. However, there are also dwarf varieties of hybrid parrots, whose body length does not exceed ten centimeters.
Hybrid parrots
Cichlosoma severum “Red Pearl” is a breed artificially bred by breeders. This is a very beautiful aquarium fish with an unusual body shape and a cute face. Body color varies from dark brown to yellowish green. The tall, slightly laterally flattened body usually has a length of fifteen to twenty centimeters. Sometimes you come across specimens that grow up to thirty centimeters. Red severums are very calm, graceful, peaceful and majestic, but during spawning they become somewhat irritable and desperately defend their territory.
The yellow hummingbird cichlid is a very active and cheerful aquarium fish that easily gets along with any large and medium-sized fish. The body length of the male yellow hummingbird cichlid reaches ten to thirteen centimeters. Females are usually smaller than males: their body length is about six to seven centimeters.
Gar or armored pike
Gar is a large, predatory, freshwater fish. Most gars live in Central and North America, but are also widespread in South Asia: India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka. The North American relatives of the Asian gar are simply huge and can grow up to 3 meters in length. The alligator gar is the largest of the gars; it has a wide, elongated head, similar to the head of a crocodile, with rows of sharp teeth. South Asian gars grow only up to 1 meter in length. All gars have an elongated, needle-shaped head and sharp teeth. Small gars can be kept in a home aquarium, but larger fish are best left for public aquariums.
These fish have a special feature - a swim bladder that functions like lungs, so they can survive in bodies of water with little oxygen. Gars live 20-50 years.
Sunfish and mako
The fish, which looks like the moon, can grow to a maximum of 3 m. Its weight reaches up to 1400 kg. In its shape, its body is similar to a plate - just as oval and flattened. This species of fish lacks a complete caudal stalk and a fin on the tail: there is a skin fold there that imitates a fin. There are no spines on the dorsal and anal fins. The skin of adults is quite thick and elastic, covered with small bumps. Sunfish can be found in the tropical waters of three oceans:
- Quiet;
- Atlantic;
- Indian.
Mako is in 7th place.
Sometimes this individual is found in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas, as well as off the coast of the Kola Peninsula. Initially, these representatives of the fauna were considered rather poor swimmers who could not even swim against the current. But based on some studies, the maximum speed of the fish was recorded - more than 3 km per hour.
The seventh largest fish on the planet is the mako shark, with a maximum recorded length of 4.5 m. It is often called the blacktip and mackerel shark, but the first name is more common. The individual belongs to the herring family. A shark cannot be called fast either. In its natural habitat, it can be found in the warm waters of seas and oceans with a tropical climate.
It is worth noting that the mako shark is dangerous to people . Currently, a large number of situations have been recorded in which this individual has attempted to kill a person.
Outwardly, it is similar to the usual representatives of sharks. The body is rather elongated, the nose is sharp, the back is gray, and the belly is whitish. Like other species of herring sharks, makos, thanks to endothermy, are able to regulate their body temperature, making it higher than the temperature of the surrounding waters.
The individual feeds mainly on bony species of living creatures, but can also eat other inhabitants of the seas and oceans. Reproduction occurs by ovoviviparity with oophagy.
Tiger sharks reach about 6.5 meters in length
