Choosing Easy Fish for a Beginner Aquarium
Are you interested in starting a fish tank but aren’t sure where to begin? Choosing easy fish is a great way to start your aquarium hobby.
Easy fish require less maintenance, making them an ideal choice for beginners. In this guide, we will discuss the reasons why you should choose easy fish, factors that make some fish easier to care for, and 12 simple fish species to consider.
We will also touch on varieties of fish to avoid.
Reasons to Choose Easy Fish
The primary reason to choose easy fish is that they are low maintenance, making them ideal for beginner aquarium enthusiasts. Easy fish require less care, allowing you to focus on learning the basics of fishkeeping.
Easy fish are also less prone to disease and are generally hardier than more challenging fish. They are less likely to die, providing you with a higher chance of success.
Factors that Make Some Fish Easier to Care for
Several factors make some fish easier to care for than others, including tank size, water quality, adaptable parameters, diet, and temperament. Selecting fish that fit within your tank size is crucial.
Overcrowding can lead to stress and disease. Water quality is also essential.
Fish need a consistently clean and stable environment. Adaptable parameters refer to the fish’s ability to adjust to different water conditions.
Easy fish can tolerate a wider range of parameters, making them more forgiving for beginners. The diet of your fish is another crucial factor.
Some fish are more finicky eaters, requiring more specialized or live food. Easy fish are generally easier to feed since they will eat most commercial fish food.
Lastly, temperament plays a part in how easy a fish is to care for. Aggressive fish can lead to fights and problems with other tank inhabitants, while peaceful fish are easy to care for and adapt to their surroundings.
12 Simple Fish Species to Consider
Now that weve discussed the reasons for choosing easy fish and what makes a fish species easy to care for, lets look at some species you can consider adding to your aquarium. 1.
Betta – Betta splendens
The betta fish is a beautiful, low-maintenance species commonly found in pet stores. They are known for their vibrant colors and intricate fins.
Betta fish are solitary and territorial. They require a minimum of a 5-gallon tank and a pH of 6.5-7.5. Bettas eat most commercial tropical fish food and freeze-dried or live food.
2. White Cloud Minnow – Tanichthys albonubes
White Cloud Minnows are peaceful, schooling fish that are ideal for small aquariums and cold water setups.
They require a minimum of a 10-gallon tank with a pH range of 6-8.5.
3. Danios – Brachydanio rerio
Zebrafish and leopard danios are active, schooling fish that are easy to care for and great for community tanks.
They require a minimum of a 15-30 gallon tank and a pH range of 6-8. They eat most commercial flake food and freeze-dried or live food.
4. Endler’s Livebearer – Poecilia wingei
Endler’s Livebearers are peaceful, active fish that bring lots of color to your aquarium.
They require a minimum of a 10-gallon tank with a pH range of 7-8.5. They eat most commercial flake food and freeze-dried or live food. 5.
Kuhli Loach – Pangio semicincta
Kuhli Loaches are peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish that are good for adding variety to your aquarium. They require a minimum of a 15-gallon tank and a pH range of 3.5-7.
They eat mostly live and frozen food but will take some commercial flakes. 6.
Bristle Nose Pleco – Ancistrus spp. Bristle Nose Plecos are peaceful, bottom-dwelling algae eaters that are great for keeping your aquarium clean.
They require a minimum of a 30-gallon tank with a pH range of 6.5-7.4. They eat mostly algae but will take some commercial flakes. 7.
Harlequin Rasbora – Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Harlequin Rasboras are peaceful, schooling fish that are easy to care for and perfect for community tanks. They require a minimum of a 10-gallon tank with a pH range of 6-7.5. They eat most commercial flake food and freeze-dried or live food.
8. Albino Corydoras Catfish – Corydoras aeneus
The Albino Corydoras Catfish is a peaceful, bottom-dwelling species that is ideal for community tanks.
They require a minimum of a 20-gallon tank with a pH range of 6.5-7.5. They eat most commercial flake food and freeze-dried or live food. 9.
Cherry Barbs – Puntius titteya
Cherry Barbs are small, peaceful, and colorful fish that are ideal for community tanks. They require a minimum of a 10-gallon tank with a pH range of 6-8.
They eat most commercial flake food and freeze-dried or live food. 10.
Red Eye Tetra – Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae
Red Eye Tetras are peaceful, active schooling fish that are great for adding color to your aquarium. They require a minimum of a 10-gallon tank with a pH range of 6-8.
They eat most commercial flake food and freeze-dried or live food. 11.
Siamese Algae Eater – Crossocheilus siamensis
Siamese Algae Eaters are peaceful, bottom-dwelling fish that are excellent for keeping algae under control. They require a minimum of a 20-gallon tank with a pH range of 6-8.
They eat mostly algae but will take some commercial flakes. 12.
Black Neon Tetra – Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Black Neon Tetras are peaceful, active schooling fish that are great for adding contrast to your aquarium. They require a minimum of a 10-gallon tank with a pH range of 5-7.
They eat most commercial flake food and freeze-dried or live food.
Varieties of Fish to Avoid
While most fish species have different levels of difficulty, some species should be avoided by beginners. Goldfish require a lot of maintenance and produce a lot of waste, requiring a large tank and an extensive filtration system.
Cichlids are known for their aggressive behavior and need specialized water conditions, making them challenging to care for. Freshwater sharks are not actually sharks but have similar temperament and aggression as their saltwater counterparts.
They require large tanks and specific water parameters.
Conclusion
When starting a fish tank, selecting easy fish is the way to go. These fish require less maintenance and are great for beginners.
Factors such as tank size, water quality, adaptable parameters, diet, and temperament play a part in how easy a fish is to care for. By selecting easy fish and providing suitable care, you can enjoy the beauty of your aquarium for years to come.
In summary, selecting easy fish for a beginner aquarium is essential to ensure success in the hobby. Easy fish require less maintenance, are hardy, and less prone to disease.
Factors such as tank size, water quality, adaptable parameters, diet, and temperament play a significant role in selecting the ideal fish. Twelve easy fish species were recommended, including Betta, Danios, and Bristle Nose Pleco, along with varieties of fish to avoid.
With proper care, easy fish can bring color and joy to your aquarium hobby.