Which fish species is the most underrated in your opinion?

[castle]

Neolamprologus multifasciatus - if you're in a hard water area (like me) I think these are excellent enjoyable fish. I had a 'colony' in a 90cm tank, after two breedings there were over 100. I gave the lot to my LFS. Too many fish, but lovely to observe the behaviour and social dynamics. They're again fish that observe you, they'll peak out of their shells when you're nearby. They enjoy each others company, sometimes they don't but I get that, I don't always get on with my housemate either. Lovely colouration when in breeding form. I still collect empty garden snail shells, I'd like them again some day. If I could have had a 200cm tank, I'll have had them but also introduced a pair of Telmatochromis vittatus and considered that a lovely tank where I suspect balance would be maintained.

 

[MWood]

I've never kept cherry barbs Puntius titteya but the males get a solid red that rival cardinal tetras, without being as delicate.

I've had these a few times, and I don't know why they aren't seen more often. As you say, the males get an amazing deep crimson colour and become quite chunky. The females are great too, and both get to a decent size. They are really easy to breed too, if you have a reasonably well planted aquarium it's likely that decent numbers of fry will turn up regularly. Cheap too!

 

[dean]

I think labyrinth fish as a group is the least appreciated in the hobby. There are specialty fish keepers in cichlid, live bearers, Killy fish, tetra, fancy angel, discus and gold fish, but no labyrinth fish. There are many labyrinth fish in the wild yet to be introduced to the hobby, and just betta alone are in the dozens species. Many are colorful, have interesting breeding and parental behavior from bubble nesting to mouth brooding, all plant friendly and small enough for aquarium.

I know a lot of specialist who keep these
Not sure where you live but there’s a society in UK for just these species

https://www.facebook.com/groups/653236004747602/?ref=share


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[tiger15]

I know a lot of specialist who keep these
Not sure where you live but there’s a society in UK for just these species

https://www.facebook.com/groups/653236004747602/?ref=share


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I live in US. There are betta societies here, but not labyrinth fish per se I’m aware of. Not sure if it exists in U.K., Killy fish societies are common here, but few species are sold in LFS. There are fish competition every year on Killy fish and betta. Many labyrinth and Killy fish are small enough to be kept in containers, and some are sensitive that need rainwater softness and live food to thrive so can be demanding.

 

[Aqua360]

All this fish chat makes me want to keep a shoal of minnows or danios again, or a breeding pair of keyhole cichlids as mentioned above...need to resist the monster in the closet lol.

Have managed to get down to one single aquarium with shrimp only, haven't kept fish in a while but the fluval tanks always tempt me!

In my opinion a really underrated fish would be tiger barbs, colourful, punchy, active and socially complex; just such good fish to keep.

And for inverts, Ramshorn snails I find fascinating these days haha