Things You Keep in an Aquarium Other Than Fish

The underwater world is vast and diverse, and in some cases, it can look almost alien. Lakes, oceans, rivers, and ponds house more than just fish, and so can your aquarium. Many aquarium hobbyists, beginners and experienced alike, are looking to keep more than just fish in their aquariums. And there’s certainly no written rule that says you can keep only fish in your aquarium! So if you’re looking for a new aquatic pet to put in your tank, here are a few things you can keep in an aquarium other than fish.

Axolotls

Axolotls are quickly becoming a fan favorite of fish hobbyists because of their adorable faces and vibrant colors. If you’re dedicated, you can find an axolotl morph in almost any color, like the beautiful golden albino or the spotted mixed mosaic axolotl. They also have incredible regenerative abilities and primarily feed on insects, such as worms and other small invertebrates. However, it’s important to note that axolotls require a lot of maintenance and can live up to 10 years if cared for properly. If you’re looking for an easy, short-term pet, axolotls may not be for you. But if you’re looking for a beautiful companion full of personality, axolotls make the perfect pet.

Freshwater Shrimp

Freshwater shrimp are another type of aquatic animal that comes in a myriad of beautiful, vibrant colors, from bright yellows and reds to deep blue and even translucent! Luckily, freshwater shrimp are easy to take care of, have vibrant personalities, and are naturally curious. Freshwater shrimp love leftovers, so they’ll feed on algae, uneaten pellets, or almost any other fish food offered.

Of this freshwater species, the cherry shrimp is the easiest to take care of and is aptly named due to its maraschino cherry red color. And because of their tendency to be rather peaceful, you can keep them with other species of freshwater shrimp. But be sure not to overcrowd and put them in groups of over five, or they’ll start to fight for dominance.

Frogs

While aquatic frogs may not be the most vibrant of creatures, what they lack in color, they make up for in liveliness. There is a myriad of aquatic frogs you can choose from, but it’s important to note that not all are fully aquatic. Some frogs will need some land or driftwood to rest on to breathe, but others are fully aquatic, like the African dwarf frog. But while some aquatic frogs live for only five years, others can live up to 20, making some of them a long-term commitment.

African dwarf frogs live for an average of five years but can also live much longer and are generally very sociable, meaning you need to keep them in pairs. Despite their need for sociability, they’re generally pretty easy to care for as long as you give them enough space to swim and protein to eat.

Crabs

Whether you’re interested in freshwater or saltwater crabs, this article could go on forever about the different species, so you’ll likely find a crab that you’ll absolutely love. In terms of saltwater crabs, anemone crabs, sometimes known as the porcelain crab, are beautiful and great for beginners. For an easy freshwater crab, the pom pom crab is adorable, as it looks like it’s holding cheerleader pom poms–hence the name.

While you should always research the specific species you want to care for, crabs are generally low maintenance. But because the species of crab vary so widely, they don’t have a general personality or care guide. Some crabs are very docile, but you may run into a feisty one, like the panther or fiddler crab.

Sea Monkeys

In truth, sea monkeys are just brine shrimp, but they got their name from their long tail that supposedly resembles a monkey’s tail. If you’re looking for something easy to care for, sea monkeys are for you, especially because they live for only about two to three months. They’re easy to obtain, care for, and feed, and they don’t do much other than flit around in the water. You can raise quite a few of them at a time in pretty large colonies. Plus, they’re fun to watch and can look almost like underwater cities in the right aquarium.

Snails

Much like crabs, we could go on for multiple articles about the different kinds of saltwater and freshwater snails. Aquatic snails come in some of the most beautiful colors and patterns found in nature, like the pretty in pink ramshorn snail or the red racer nerite snail. But again, because there are so many different species, there’s no real way to generalize their personality or care needs.

For example, zebra nerite snails are incredibly easy to care for, peaceful, and won’t even pester your live plants. Conversely, the Malaysian trumpet snail can quickly turn invasive in your aquarium and overrun your tank. However, many snails tend to reproduce quite a bit, so if you see any eggs sticking to the wall of your aquarium, make sure to scrape them off before it’s too late!

Sea Horses

Sea horses come in many shapes, sizes, and colors and can have some of the boldest and most lively personalities you can have in an aquarium. The long-snouted seahorse can grow up to eight inches or more, while the Satomi pygmy seahorse grows only about half an inch long. Smaller species tend to live for only about three years, with the larger species living for around five. Some species of seahorses are easy to care for, typically those in captivity, but wild seahorses are difficult to care for and can carry pathogens.

Coral

While many people may not think of coral as pets, they are beautiful creatures that need just as much love and attention as any other pet. There are two categories of corals—hard and soft, with the hard corals being the reef builder types. This is another type of aquatic pet that you can find in almost any color and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. However, some corals can be aggressive and need a lot of room, lest their sweeper tentacles stretch out too far and attack a tank mate. Others are docile, like the candy cane coral. However, as a general rule, almost all corals require specific parameters to thrive, and captive corals can live for decades, so they’re not for everyone.

Now that you have a better idea of what you can keep in an aquarium other than fish, what’s stopping you from getting a new, beautiful, and unique friend? Just remember that no matter which new pet you decide to have, every species needs specific parameters to thrive, but some are much more resistant to stress than others.

The one thing they all have in common is the need for a high-quality tank and aquarium setup, and that’s where Fish Tanks Direct has you covered. If you’re looking for a beautiful tank to house your new friend in, we have everything you need to set up a seamless fish tank that you’ll enjoy for years to come.