Five Freshwater Fish for Beginners

When I started in the hobby at age 12, I wanted to buy every fish I saw and cram it into my 15 gallon tank, that had little room to spare (now I know better!). I had no clue where to start in buying fish and bought what ever was the cheapest and prettiest at the time. I thought a fish is a fish and their isn't anything different about them, but boy was I wrong. Now, years later I can say I have changed and decided to help others with finding good beginner fish. Here are my top five beginner fish for a freshwater tank.

1. Betta splendens or the Betta fish: these guys are number one because they do not require a tank. Betta fish have a labyrinth organ which allows them to take up oxygen from the atmosphere, allowing them to live in stagnant water. This ability of theirs is why you can house a betta fish in a bowl without filtration or water flow (this is how they live in the wild, as well). Bettas just require warm temperatures (76-80 degrees Fahrenheit) and weekly water changes. No specialized equipment is required for betta care! Bettas should be kept alone and are not recommended for community tanks. However, an ideal betta home would be a planted 5 gallon aquarium, with a small filter.

2. Poecilia reticulata or the Guppy fish: the Guppy is the most well-known freshwater fish in the world, and this has lots to do with their vibrant colors and their ease of care. Guppies are also some of the easiest freshwater fish to breed, which adds to their allure. To properly care for guppies you need a filtered tank (of course!), heater, hard water (dkH 9-19), warm temperatures, (around 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and plants. Guppies are very versatile and can handle deviations from the normal parameters without many problems. Guppies prosper in a groups of 5 or more, with a ratio of 1 male to 2 females.

3. Poecilia sphenops or the Molly: a close second in ease of care to the guppy, the molly is another hardy livebearer that's easy to breed. Some will argue that mollies and guppies are equally colorful, but I disagree. Mollies require the same parameters that guppies do and many hobbyist keep them together. They are also very easy to breed and the ideal ratio of males to females is 2:1.

4. Corydoras spp. or Cory Catfish: corys are group of tiny catfish that are easily found in pet stores. Corys are great for tanks because they are bottom feeders and are very hardy fish. They will school (keep them in groups of 3 or more) and come in several color and pattern variation. Corys require warm temperatures (~78 degrees Fahrenheit), hard water (dH 5 - 19), a heater, filtration, and should be kept in odd numbers (groups of 3,5,7 etc).

5. Brachydanio rerio or the Long Finned Zebra Danio: Zebra danios are hardy fish that are very energetic. They sport a striped zebra pattern (hence the name) and come in a long-finned and short-finned variation. They do not require any special care except to be kept in groups. If they are not housed in groups, danios tend to pick on other community fish. Danios are excellent schooling fish, and add motion to any community aquarium. Danios prefer water conditions like that of the guppy but are able to survive in a large range of water conditions.

All of these hardy beginner freshwater aquarium fish, and except the betta, can be kept together in a community tank in harmony and without the worry of specific water conditions. Just add some plants, gravel, filter and a tank.

I hope this list helps you in deciding on your new fish for your first tank! Don't forget to check out Six Great Live Food Choices for Freshwater Fish, Four Algae Eaters for Freshwater Aquariums, and the rest of our Freshwater Aquarium articles! Don't miss out on future updates - subscribe to our free RSS updates, or free weekly newsletter!

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