12 Beginner Aquarium Fish
The aquarium hobby is the epitome of awesomeness and with good reasons. Unlike other hobbies,
even beginners can enjoy it to the fullest thanks to a few fantastic fish that are extremely
easy to care for.
If you are someone who isn't well versed with the intricacies of fishkeeping but would like
to have a strong start in the hobby, then there are a few fish that will help you create
a stunning aquarium that are more forgiving and not at all demanding. We are going to
look at twelve such fish.
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Ok, so let get to it.
Guppies
The aquarium hobby would simply not exist had it not been for a group of hardy fish,
and the guppy is one of them. It is extremely easy to care for and is one of the most commonly
available fish. They stay small and are not at all demanding. They are also quite forgiving
of beginner mistakes which is a huge positive. To top it all off, the males have stunning
coloration.
Being livebearers, they multiply quickly too. If this is going to be your first aquarium,
then you can't go wrong with guppies. They are an extremely accessible and inexpensive
way of learning the finer nuances of the hobby. Having said that, this is a fish that you
will still love even when you become an expert.
What makes guppies great?
- Livebearers - Readily available
- Extremely easy to care for - Very Affordable
Goldfish
While some fish can boast about being a staple of the hobby for a century or two, the goldfish
has been around for close to a millennium and possibly more than that. This fish is
not found in nature, but it is an artificial hybrid created by breeders. If you want an
aquarium that is full of life and color then the goldfish is a great option.
They are available in many variations, with some like the bubble eye looking out of this
world.
They are also one of the few fish you can keep in outdoor ponds. One aspect about goldfish
worth remembering is that they are coldwater fish and if you plan on keeping them with
other fish, then make sure that they are suited to similar conditions.
Also, goldfish can grow to reasonably large sizes. Make sure that you house them in a
tank big enough to accommodate their adult size.
What makes goldfish great?
- Huge variety in shape and color - Can be kept in outdoor ponds
- Easy to care for - One of the most readily available fish in
the hobby
Neon Tetras
If you do not have a lot of space and you do not have much expertise but would still
like something breathtaking, then there is really only one option, and that is the Neon
Tetra. Blue is a color almost impossible to find in the freshwater hobby, but the Neon
Tetra not only has blue in its coloration, but it takes things to the next level.
As the name suggests, the blue is of the fluorescent kind. They stay very small, which means that
they are perfect for a small tank. Their schooling behavior is also perfect, and keeping a group
of them will make your aquarium look like a million bucks.
They do require a bit more care than the other fish on this list, but it is not anything
unmanageable as long as you stick to a regular maintenance schedule. If you plan on keeping
live plants, then keeping Neon Tetras is pretty much as close as you can get to the perfect
freshwater aquarium.
What makes Neon Tetras great?
- Stunning colors - Relatively easy to care for
- Pretty readily available - Looks really great in a planted tank
Corydoras
There is a common misconception that freshwater fish do not have much personality. The Corydoras
Catfish is an excellent example of a fish that completely disproves this notion.
Watching their playful and cute mannerisms never gets old and you can literally spend
hours just staring at them going about their business. It is one of the hardiest fish you
can come across in the hobby. It stays small and can thus be kept in small aquariums.
If this is going to be the first fish as a pet, then you can't go wrong with the Corydoras.
They also help in the tank's upkeep by feeding on detritus. They are also extremely docile.
Just make sure that any tankmates you have with these fish are equally docile.
Corydoras also need a soft substrate as anything sharp will damage their barbels, which will
be a death sentence for them. They are also social fish and thus need to be kept in groups
of six or more.
What makes Corydoras great?
- Extremely hardy - Playful and cute
- Relatively easy to procure - Helps with the overall health of the tank
Betta
The Betta or the Siamese fighting fish is the epitome of beauty. There are few fish
even in the saltwater hobby that can rival the male Bettas. They are also quite hardy.
All of this might make it look like the perfect fish, but there are a couple of caveats.
The males are as territorial as they are beautiful. You can only keep one male in a tank, or else
it will lead to a violent battle until only one male or no male remain.
This aggression can sometimes be directed at other fish with similarly long and flowing
fins.
So be sure to choose tankmates accordingly.
Bettas make for the perfect centerpiece attraction for any tank and look even better among plants.
Just don't put them in a bottle or a small container, as that is just cruel.
What makes Betta great?
- Unrivalled beauty - Readily available
- Quite hardy
Mollies
The mollie is another fish that falls under the group mentioned above of fish that paved
the way for freshwater fishkeeping to become a practical hobby. This is another livebearer
that comes in a lot of stunning colors and shape variations.
The mollie is the most delicate among the livebearers though. It is a bit more sensitive
and can get stressed relatively easily.
However, as long as you have an adequately cycled tank and know how to reasonably maintain
the various water parameters within a certain range, mollies should not be too much of a
hassle.
Another thing to keep in mind is that these fish prefer slightly alkaline water, so make
sure to choose tankmates accordingly.
What makes Mollies great?
- Available in many stunning variations
- Livebearers - Readily available
- Looks great in planted tanks
Platies
The platie can be thought of as the slightly more durable cousin of the mollie. They have
similar dispositions and can be kept together.
Platies are also livebearers and come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. If you
are looking to create an affordable and easy-to-care-for community aquarium, then you must keep platies.
They are not at all fussy and are among the best fish for a beginner looking to learn
the ropes of the hobby.
They are also one of the most commonly available fish, which makes them really affordable.
This is also the perfect fish for children taking their first steps in the hobby. Having
said that, even adults and experienced hobbyists can derive a lot of pleasure from keeping
platies thanks to their vivacious nature.
What makes Platies great?
- Some really cool breeds are available - Stunning coloration
- Affordable and readily available - Livebearers
Angelfish
This is perhaps the most challenging fish on this list to keep, but it still comes within
the realms of what a beginner hobbyist can provide.
They are one of the most elegant fishes out there without a doubt, as is common with cichlids.
However, unlike most cichlids, Angelfish are rather docile. It will display the ocassional
aggression, but it is not extreme and generally won't cause any problems as long as the tank
is large enough.
They really do justice to their name, and some breeds are truly angel-like with their
large veil-like fins and shimmery coloration. To top it all off, keeping them isn’t particularly
challenging. As long as you keep the water parameters consistent and do a partial water
change regularly, you can enjoy the beauty and elegance of this fish for years.
What makes Angelfish great?
- Easily one of the most stunning fish on this list
- Readily available - Reasonably easy to keep
- Makes for a great centerpiece fish
Tiger Barbs
If you are someone who is fascinated by the schooling behavior of fish and would like
to replicate something similar in your home aquarium, then you cannot go wrong with the
Tiger Barb.
Keeping this fish does come with a couple of catches, though. It is not the most appropriate
fish for a community tank. They are semi-aggressive and will heckle other fishes.
One way of minimizing this is by keeping at least six if not more of these fish. This
will keep the aggression mostly contained among the Tiger Barbs themselves.
Also, keep fast-moving fish without expansive fins. Avoid fish with large fins such as Angelfish
and Bettas at all costs, as the Tiger Barb will literally shred it down in a matter of
hours. Keeping a species-only tank with all the different color variations of this fish
is the best option.
What makes Tiger Barbs great?
- Readily available and affordable - Best beginner fish for a species-only tank
- Excellent schooling behavior
Zebra Danios
If there were to be a prize for the hardiest freshwater fish out there, then the Zebra
Danio would win the crown hands down (or fins down).
If you are an absolute beginner and have no experience whatsoever of keeping an aquarium,
then the Zebra Danio is the best option to begin your fishkeeping journey with.
They can tolerate a wide range of temperatures and water parameters which makes them extremely
forgiving of the mistakes a beginner is bound to commit. All these qualities, however, should
not distract from the fact that this fish packs in a lot of punch when it comes to appearance
and personality.
There are some stunning color variations, including some neon greens and pinks that
just look out of this world. These are social fish and need to be kept in a relatively large
group.
Thanks to their dynamic nature, they will make any aquarium they inhabit appear full
of life and movement.
What makes Zebra Danios great?
- The hardiest freshwater fish - Readily available and extremely affordable
- Beautiful and very active - Stays small
Swordtail Fish
The Swordtail completes the quartet of livebearers that are perfect for beginners. The Swordtail
has all the great qualities of the other livebearers, but it also comes with a bit of added flair
of its own.
The name pretty much makes it obvious. The males of this species have an extension to
their tail fins that resembles a sword. They also grow to be slightly larger than the other
livebearers we have mentioned so far. Swordtails are colorful, and they, too, come in multiple
variations. They are hardy and can tolerate the occasional beginner mistakes. They are
perfect for community tanks as well.
If you are looking for a fish that has a certain x-factor to it but without being difficult
to care for, then look no further than the Swordtail.
What makes Swordtail Fish great?
- Unique and eye-catching looks - Fairly hardy
- Relatively easy to procure - Livebearer
Bristlenose Pleco
That brings us to the final fish on our list. The Pleco has been a staple of the aquarium
hobby for a long time, but the commonly available Pleco is a misunderstood and often mistreated
fish.
This is one of those fish that is often sold as a fish that cleans the aquarium or as an
algae-eater. Unfortunately, the common pleco is neither good at cleaning nor does it stay
small enough to fit most home aquariums.
Even its algae-eating abilities are a bit exaggerated. They can very quickly grow to
massive proprtions, at which point they can go after the protective slime on the bodies
of the other fish, which can cause infections and other complications.
The Bristlenose Pleco is the cuter and smaller alternative to the common Pleco. It is easy
to take care of, with the only problem being that it is not as readily available as all
the other fishes listed here.
Still, if you are set on getting an algae-eater, then the Bristlenose Pleco is worth the extra
effort.
What makes Bristlenose Pleco great?
- Stays small - Easy to take care of
- Alluring looks
So what fish would you get from this list? Let me know in the comments below. And don't
forget to hit the like button and subscribe. I will see you in the next video.