Most over rated and under rated fish

Out of the selected few, Which of these fish (or fish types) are the most overrated?

  • Oscars

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • African Cichlids

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Goldfish

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Piranha's or fish similar

    Votes: 1 50.0%

  • Other (You can specify below)

    Votes: 1 50.0%
  • Total voters
    2
  • Poll closed .
Over-rated imo platies
Underrated-killifish. So many people think they only live a year but a load of them live 3-5 years. Also super colourful and personable but rare in the hobby.
 

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Overrated- male Bettas, guppies
Underrated- Pufferfish. They're so different from other fish and have their distinct and intense cuteness about them.
 

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Overrated: Tetras of any kind in my opinion. Never thought they were very interesting.
Underrated: Swordtails and or mollies. Although they breed a lot, If cared for correctly, they are truly amazing fish. Mine are incredibly curious about everything.
 
I feel bettas are both over and underrated strangely enough. They really don't live up to their reputation of hardiness anymore because they're so overbred, gorgeous fins tend to seriously harm their quality of life, and their tendency to either get nipped or kill everything on sight makes them really dodgy in community tanks.
At the same time, especially outside of the hobby, they're usually thought of as cheap, boring pets. If you have the good fortune of getting a hearty one and give it a proper home, they're full of sass and attitude. I gave one such betta to my friend, and it has completely endeared itself to her whole family.
 
Ok guys. I don’t get it. Oscars look HIDEOUS in pics. What’s so amazing? I haven’t seen them except far away in a tank at a store.
 

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Overrated- Glofish(based on how they make the tank look, they are however very hardy and will live for a long time
Underrated- Platies(amazing beginner breeder fish and very hardy. +they look very nice)
 
Sorry for your losses have you ever watched the show big bang theory? There are lots of characters, so a lot of name options lol.
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Hahahah that’s a great call! Thank you! They’re pretty cute I will say.
 

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I think Angels and Discus are a bit overrated at times. I usually don't see the appeal. But every now and then I see myself checking them out, but they have to be pretty eye-catching.
 
Just wondering what's your most over looked or under appreciated fish you love? For me it's the Pristella Tetra. It's something about their color and how they look when schooling together.

I asked this question because I was at the LFS and saw them and the worker gave me extras because she mentioned nobody buys them and they're not popular.
 
I would have to say Blood Fin tetras. I seldom ever see them mentioned but they are beautiful little guys. I also really like their activity level. They are seldom still. They spend the majority of their time following each other all over the tank but are mostly in the top portion of the tank. I have 8 and would love to get a few more.
 
diamond tetras. They are just a little grey sorta sparkly fish when they are sold as youngsters...but then you get a full grown male and they are stunning, plus they alternate between tightly schooling and just all over the place, but never hide. I think it goes for a lot of tetras that you just can't appreciate them at the pet store without knowing what they will grow in to!
 
diamond tetras. They are just a little grey sorta sparkly fish when they are sold as youngsters...but then you get a full grown male and they are stunning, plus they alternate between tightly schooling and just all over the place, but never hide. I think it goes for a lot of tetras that you just can't appreciate them at the pet store without knowing what they will grow in to!
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Want these guys so baaad!!!
 
Want these guys so baaad!!!
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I have eleven of them, and i bought them as filler fish but really I wouldn't mind rehoming all my cichlids and just getting more of these. Plus they get big for a tetra. I have a couple of males that I'd put at 2.5" easily.
 
I would have to say Blood Fin tetras. I seldom ever see them mentioned but they are beautiful little guys. I also really like their activity level. They are seldom still. They spend the majority of their time following each other all over the tank but are mostly in the top portion of the tank. I have 8 and would love to get a few more.
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I love blood fins. They’re so pretty, and the red gets super intense when they’re happy. They also seem to sparkle under the lights.
 
Those Blood Fins are pretty! I'm planning on trying to have Rummynose but if they don't work, these are a similar option as far as how they look. Beautiful!
 

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Those Blood Fins are pretty! I'm planning on trying to have Rummynose but if they don't work, these are a similar option as far as how they look. Beautiful!
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The photos the link takes you to really doesn't do these little guys justice. If you like the looks of them in the photos you are going to really love them in real life.
 
There are so many tetras that are great looking and good candidates for communities, but we all have such limited tank space. If I could I would have every single one of them. Instead, I keep them for a while and then replace with the next. If you succeed to breed them and raise the fry, then it may be time to consider the next. (Key is to not add, but actually replace the species so the theme of your tank continues to exist.) Otherwise, there is not enough space and time to enjoy all of them

Going with the original question, as underappreciated fish I can bring up several cold water natives of North America. There are some very beautiful daces and minnows that could go into interesting mixes.
 
The photos the link takes you to really doesn't do these little guys justice. If you like the looks of them in the photos you are going to really love them in real life.
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Im trying to pick a tetra for a tank im planning, i was deciding between pristellas, bloodfins and black neons, do you have pics of your bloodfins colored up?
 
I would say serpae tetras. They’re usually overlooked in pet stores because they look plain and dull when after being shipped. But if you take them home and give them a big planted tank, they’ll definitely reward you. They get such an intense reddish orange that they can hurt your eyes if you look at them too long. They spend most of their time moving and exploring the tank, so they won’t just sit there either. They also have a reputation for being fin nippers, but I’ve kept them with angelfish and male bettas with no issue. They also have a really fun feeding response.

I also love bleeding heart tetras.
 
Im trying to pick a tetra for a tank im planning, i was deciding between pristellas, bloodfins and black neons, do you have pics of your bloodfins colored up?
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Sorry, but with my lack of photography skills I've not been able to get a clear photo of mine. All you would see is a blur. Just imagine pure red fins and an iridescent silver body.

Another underappreciated tetra is one much bigger than most of the ones we've mentioned so far. That one is the red/blue Colombian Tetra. Sadly I only have one left and this one is well over 5 years old now. I bought 4 of them that had been used by someone to cycle their tank and then given back to the store. Unfortunately only one of the 4 survived but this one has been a trooper. It seems to think it is a black skirt tetra because it had hung out with them all its life in this tank.
 
Sorry, but with my lack of photography skills I've not been able to get a clear photo of mine. All you would see is a blur. Just imagine pure red fins and an iridescent silver body.

Another underappreciated tetra is one much bigger than most of the ones we've mentioned so far. That one is the red/blue Colombian Tetra. Sadly I only have one left and this one is well over 5 years old now. I bought 4 of them that had been used by someone to cycle their tank and then given back to the store. Unfortunately only one of the 4 survived but this one has been a trooper. It seems to think it is a black skirt tetra because it had hung out with them all its life in this tank.
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Thats okay, its so hard to get good pictures of fish, I might just have to pick one and go with it, its so hard to choose!
 
I would say serpae tetras. They’re usually overlooked in pet stores because they look plain and dull when after being shipped. But if you take them home and give them a big planted tank, they’ll definitely reward you. They get such an intense reddish orange that they can hurt your eyes if you look at them too long. They spend most of their time moving and exploring the tank, so they won’t just sit there either. They also have a reputation for being fin nippers, but I’ve kept them with angelfish and male bettas with no issue. They also have a really fun feeding response.
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Love serpae tetras, but yea I heard they do have a reputation on being fin nippers. In my 40 gallon tank right now i have cardinal tetras and pristella tetras and looking to add some red fish. It's either between serpae tereas, ember tetras, or cherry barbs
 
I say goldfish. Because they're so easy to breed and normally cheap and have like thousands of eggs every time, they get used as feeder fish and get put in ugly horrible tiny disgusting unhumane(I don't even know what other words to use, I have so many) tanks and conditions just to be used for Tommy's birthday goody bags, and they are so looked over and underappreciated! Even common goldfish are beautiful if looked after properly, and don't get me started on the cute little ranchu goldfish! (also, is it just me, or does someone else feel stunned that they never knew there was a veiltail type goldfish!?... just me? .... ok)
 
Garra flavatra because they are fun to watch and are very social. Once they get used to your tank their colors look really cool with red fins with black spots on a brown grey body. They are pretty good at eating algae.
 
I love cherry barbs in a planted tank, the reds really pop on the males. They are active and I really enjoy them.
 

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Heterandria formosa, hands down my favorite little fish ever. Second favorite are elassoma, but I'm scared to try em cuz i cant be bothered to do live food all the time
 
Heterandria formosa, hands down my favorite little fish ever. Second favorite are elassoma, but I'm scared to try em cuz i cant be bothered to do live food all the time
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Ok, I just looked those up, and I will definitely own those eventually. Ok hold on imma make a post asking about those. Anyone who knows about them please respond! Those are adorable!
 
For me it's guppies. So many hobbyists look down on them as starter fish. But in my opinion no other freshwater fish matches their beauty and behavior.
 
For me it's guppies. So many hobbyists look down on them as starter fish. But in my opinion no other freshwater fish matches their beauty and behavior.
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I really like guppies but I can’t seem to keep them alive, the only guppy I have left is one large female mosaic guppy. But if I could keep them alive I would have a overgrown jungle for them.
 
I have to say guppies have lots of personality. Literally, my guppy loves playing with the bubbles. ALL DAY. NONSTOP. I’m pretty sure she does it through the night too lol.

I’m surprised this hasn’t been mentioned yet - bettas. They’re over appreciated and under appreciated at the same time. They have lots of personality too, and every one of them deserves to live as a king/queen in a 20 gallon tank.
 

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I would say kuhli loaches. People don’t talk about how they’re unbelievably hardy, adorable, have lots of personality, adorable, easy to care for, adorable... did i mention they were cute?
For real though. People don’t really think of them as a beginner fish because they are pretty shy, but if they’re comfortable you will see them quite a bit. They have no physical boundaries with each other and it’s hilarious, they just crawl over each other.
 
Festivums - I really like them but they don't seem to be very popular.
 
I would say kuhli loaches. People don’t talk about how they’re unbelievably hardy, adorable, have lots of personality, adorable, easy to care for, adorable... did i mention they were cute?
For real though. People don’t really think of them as a beginner fish because they are pretty shy, but if they’re comfortable you will see them quite a bit. They have no physical boundaries with each other and it’s hilarious, they just crawl over each other.
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Agree. Khuli loaches have amazing personalities and they are adorable. People shy away from khulis because they are nocturnal and shy. But if you give them a nice big planted tank with good food and some tlc, you will see some amazing fish.

haha, lol! They sit on top of each other like lil' noodles.
 
Agree. Khuli loaches have amazing personalities and they are adorable. People shy away from khulis because they are nocturnal and shy. But if you give them a nice big planted tank with good food and some tlc, you will see some amazing fish.

haha, lol! They sit on top of each other like lil' noodles.
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I’ve always stayed away from kuhlis because I thought I would never see them. I’ve always loved them, but I don’t want something that just adds ammonia to my tank without me ever seeing it. I know the next addition to my 20 gallon!
 
Pristella tetras and black neons for me. Just because they aren't as colorful as some of the other popular fish doesn't mean they aren't pretty.
Also female bettas, they are just as cute as the males without the swimming issues of the males (dumbo fins being the exception). I also find that they have more personality.
 
I’ve always stayed away from kuhlis because I thought I would never see them. I’ve always loved them, but I don’t want something that just adds ammonia to my tank without me ever seeing it. I know the next addition to my 20 gallon!
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I really recommend them! Mine always come out when it’s time to eat, they’re super cute.
Edit: also, the bigger the school the more comfortable theyll be! I recommend 6 for a 20g
 

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