When we say aquarium, fish is the first thing that comes to mind. However, an aquarium is not necessarily limited to fish.
There are various non fish aquarium pets out there – your imagination is the limit to what you can keep.
Many aquarists want to try something different, or they want to stand out from the ordinary aquariums that are way too common.
In this post, we’ll look at some great alternatives to fish in aquarium. You’ll be amazed at the uses for aquarium other than fish.
Let’s get started.
What Can You Put In An Aquarium Besides Fish?
There are plenty of non fish aquarium ideas. Before we take a look at them, let’s define what is meant by ‘not fish’.
As you already know, fish have gills, and fins, and need to be in water all the time. Anything other than this is a non fish aquarium pet.
Some, such as amphibians, can live out of water, while others, such as shrimps, need water all the time, just like fish.
Because some of these pets need dry land as well as water, you should set up a semi-aquatic tank – technically called a semi-aquatic vivarium.
Planning to get something that doesn’t need water at all? You can set up a tank with absolutely no water, which is called a terrarium.
Unlike fish, some of these pets are perfectly capable of going for a walk outside the tank, so make sure you keep a lid on it.
Let’s take a look at the types of aquarium pets other than fish you can keep in your tank.
Aquarium Amphibians
Amphibians can live both on land and in water, and are vastly different from fish in terms of physical features and behavior.
Options include frogs, turtles, and salamanders. The axolotl, which is already an aquarium favorite, is a salamander.
Some amphibians are perfectly happy with just water, while some need to have a bit of dry land. You can have rocks they can climb onto, or a bank.
Because amphibians are cold-blooded creatures, just like fish, they may need an aquarium heater to keep them warm and comfortable.
Aquarium Invertebrates
Invertebrates are animals that don’t have a spine. Some make good pets for your aquarium such as snails and starfish.
Freshwater aquarium invertebrates require brackish water and a cool temperature; due to the latter fact, you cannot keep them with tropical fish.
Other than that, they are easy to care for. Some can breathe air, while others cannot.
When you have invertebrates in your tank, you should avoid copper at all costs as they are highly toxic to them.
Aquarium Crustaceans
Crustaceans are mostly aquatic animals with an exoskeleton. Technically speaking, crustaceans are invertebrates too, but we will consider them as a separate class here.
Crustaceans you can keep as pets include crabs, crayfish, shrimps, etc. They come in a wide variety of beautiful colors, which makes them appealing to any aquarists.
These creatures tend to molt their exoskeleton as they grow, so be prepared to deal with it in your aquarium. One good thing about them is they are great cleaners of aquariums, getting rid of algae and leftover food.
Best Non Fish Aquarium Pets For You
When you are pondering what to put in an aquarium besides fish, you don’t have a lack of options. We’ll point you toward some good picks to get you started.
Apple Snail
Snails are serene creatures that also act as good algae cleaners for your tank. There are many options, but apple snail is a popular choice.
They are freshwater snails that can fit in most regular aquariums. They are able to breathe on land as well as in water, which makes them a perfect candidate for a semi-aquatic tank.
Some species of apple snail can get really large, which is preferable to some over smaller snails. At the very least it makes it hard for them to escape the tank.
While they can eat algae in the boatloads, some species may also munch on aquatic plants, so be warned.
Nerite Snail
Nerite snails are smaller than apple snails – just about an inch in size. So you may be thinking of getting a bunch of them.
They come in a variety of colorful patterns, including the attractive zebra nerite with black and white stripes.
They are great algae eaters too, but will leave your live plants alone.
Nerite snails are peaceful creatures that are very easy to care for, although you need to be careful with the pH – like most snails, low pH can lead to shell erosion.
Axolotl
The axolotl is already mainstream in aquariums after gaining in popularity in recent years. They are not fish, despite being called Mexican Walking Fish and staying in water throughout their whole lives.
With their unique appearance, they are considered exotic pets. More so because they are almost extinct in the wild.
They are also unique in that they do not go through metamorphosis like other amphibians, retaining their mane of gills – a major feature that attracts people to them.
Red-Eared Slider Turtle
Turtles are something quite exotic to get for your aquarium – together with sand substrate it will provide an oceanic vibe.
The Red-Eared Slider turtle is a good pick for your aquarium. They can live for a long time – more than 30 years! – so it is certainly for those who can commit for the long term.
These turtles are semi-aquatic and need to emerge to the surface to breathe. They also require a dry basking area with a heat lamp to warm their bodies.
One thing to keep in mind is that turtles produce a lot of waste, so make sure to get a powerful filter and be diligent with the water changes.
Freshwater Crayfish
You can pick and choose from more than a hundred species of freshwater crayfish. They come in a lot of colorful patterns.
Crayfish are not suitable for community tanks as they don’t do well with other fish. They are messy eaters and have a tendency to hoard food, which is not at all good for your water’s chemistry.
They can fit in small tanks, such as a 5-gallon or 10-gallon tank.
Sea Monkeys
These are the strangest non fish aquarium pets you can get, because of their size, lifespan, and their not-so-desirable appearance.
Sea monkeys are a genetically engineered breed of brine shrimp; they are more of a children’s pet, but adults can have it too, just for laughs at least.
Brine shrimp need saltwater and are small enough to be eaten by fish, so you have no choice but to have a dedicated tank for them.
Conclusion
Aquarists favor biodiversity in their tanks – it makes their aquarium much more interesting. Getting aquarium pets other than fish is a great way to increase biodiversity.
Your choices range from freshwater aquarium invertebrates to amphibians and crustaceans. What we provided are just a few examples out of a plethora of options available to you.
Whatever you choose, as a diligent aquarium keeper, you need to research their requirements so that you can provide the best conditions for them to thrive.
Thanks for reading and good luck on your next aquatic adventure!
Sources
https://mom.com/momlife/17983-10-non-fish-aquarium-pets
https://www.thesprucepets.com/red-eared-slider-care-tank-and-supplies-1238360
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayfish
https://www.theshrimpfarm.com/articles/fresh-water-invertebrates.php
