Have you decided to set up an aquarium at home, but you’re not quite sure what to do? If you’ve never kept fish before, you’re going to have to do some research before getting started. Even if you have past experience with keeping fish, it’s always a good idea to brush up your knowledge.
There are so many gorgeous fish available, that it can be a daunting task to select some for your tank. Fortunately, there are many useful guides available, such as the Oscar fish care guide by Fishkeeping World, which can point you in the right direction.
Freshwater fish are all different and it’s never a good idea to throw a bunch of them together in a tank and hope for the best. If you’re a beginner, you want to look for fish that can survive and thrive in different conditions, get along with other fish and are also easy to care for and small enough to be comfortable in your tank.
The Best Fish for Beginners
Here is a shortlist of some of the perfect fish to start your aquarium.
1. Mollies
Yellow molly fish (Poecilia sphenops) swimming in a fish tank. (Joan Carles Juarez)
These versatile fish can survive in freshwater and saltwater aquariums if changes are made gradually. They are a hardy type of fish and less aggressive than some of the other tropical fish. The mollies can vary greatly when it comes to color, size, and optimal tank conditions. It can be difficult to choose the right water conditions for them, as they are so different, but most of them prefer warm water of between 25 to 28 degrees Celcius. Wild mollies prefer to eat algae. Their diet is mainly plant-based and their digestive systems are designed to digest it. The best diet for mollies that are kept in an aquarium, is algae and vegetarian flakes.
2. Sword Tails
Red swordtail swimming in an aquarium. (Arunee Rodloy/Shutterstock)
Sword Tails are mostly found in small streams and prefer a plant-based diet. A tank full of algae that occur naturally will meet their diet needs, and you can also give them vegetable-based flakes. They’re not demanding when it comes to water conditions, but a temperature of between 25 and 28 degrees Celcius would suit them. They can also survive in cooler or warmer tanks. In the wild, they prefer fast-flowing water, so they will enjoy it if you can keep a strong flow somewhere in their tank. They will also thrive more if you keep them with others of their kind, preferably five or more.
3. Guppies
Multi color guppies (Poecilia reticulata) (panpilai paipa/Shutterstock)
Guppies are freshwater fish that are also great for beginners. You get them in a wide range of colors, but their other characteristics are basically the same. They eat regular fish flakes, but can also eat blood worms and frozen or live brine shrimp. It’s best to keep all males or all females since they breed very fast.
4. Cory Catfish
(Andrej Jakubik/Shutterstock)
The Cory Catfish is a peaceful fish that can live harmoniously with other fish in an aquarium. They will keep your tank clean as they enjoy eating the vegetative matter and algae which can build up on the bottom of your home aquarium. You can also offer them vegetable flakes, bloodworms, and insect larvae. The Cory Catfish also fare better in groups and it’s a good idea to keep at least three of them.
Final Thoughts
Before you buy a particular fish, do your own research online. You need to know what type of water the fish will need, the required size of the tank, and other fish that will be suitable to put in the tank with this kind. You can avoid making mistakes, as you should be able to find all the information you need online within minutes.
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