Have you decided to get your first aquarium, but are afraid that it's too complicated? You are not alone. Many novice aquarists think that caring for fish requires a lot of experience and time. In fact, success often depends on choosing the right first inhabitants.
The secret is to start with hardy and undemanding species. These fish are forgiving of minor mistakes in care, are resistant to changes in water parameters, and do not require special, expensive food. They will allow you to gain experience without worrying about the health of your pets.
In this article, we have compiled a list of ten wonderful fish that are ideal for beginners. These species have been tested by time and thousands of aquarists. With them, your first aquarium will delight the eye with bright colors and lively dynamics, and caring for it will be a joy.
1. Guppy
They are rightly considered the most popular aquarium fish. It should be noted right away that we are talking about selectively bred varieties. Guppies that are direct descendants of their wild relatives are rarely found in home aquariums.
Ornamental varieties are distinguished by their endurance and unpretentiousness. Although guppies prefer hard alkaline water, they successfully adapt to softer acidic habitats. For example, they can live in ordinary settled tap water heated to room temperature. They eat almost any food of a suitable size.
During the selection process, many varieties have been bred with all kinds of colors, body patterns, shapes, and fin sizes. However, colorful body patterns are mainly characteristic of males, although some females can look very elegant.
They are calm, peaceful fish. They get along well with other species. They prefer to be in a group. Males compete with each other for the attention of females and position in the intraspecific hierarchy, but this is only for show. There are no signs of aggression.
Guppies are a viviparous species, which means they are born as fully formed small fish without an egg stage. They reproduce frequently and easily, producing abundant offspring, which is why they are widely available on the market. Very often, fry and young fish are given away for free.
Undemanding — 5
Colouring — 4
Behaviour — 5
Availability — 5
Overall — 4.75
2. Plecos
Most Pecilias found in aquariums are selectively bred or hybrids with Swordtails. The optimal conditions for keeping them are moderately hard water with high pH values. They can survive in acidic soft water, but this does not have the best effect on their growth rate and coloration.
To keep Plecos comfortable, it is enough to remember to feed them daily, regularly remove accumulated organic waste, and replace some of the water with fresh water, maintaining high GH and pH values.
The varieties bred by breeders have all kinds of colors and body patterns, characteristic of both males and females.
The fish get along well with each other, although there is competition between males for position in the hierarchy. They are compatible with all non-aggressive species of comparable size.
Pecilia belong to the group of livebearing fish. They reproduce easily and quickly. To reduce the overgrown population, aquarists often give them away for free or for a nominal price. Offers can be found on any online classifieds service. It is not difficult to find these fish in pet stores or “bird markets.”
Natural enemies
Undemanding — 4
Coloration — 5
Behavior — 5
Accessibility — 5
Overall rating: 4.75
If you are just starting out in aquarium keeping, it is not worth immediately choosing capricious or demanding fish — it is better to start with simple and hardy species that adapt easily and feel good even with minor mistakes made by beginners. This selection includes ten reliable fish that are easy to care for, peaceful, tolerate different conditions well, and do not require complex equipment. They are ideal for a home aquarium, helping you gain experience and confidence before moving on to more complex species.
3. Mollies
There are only three species of mollies in aquariums, but thanks to the efforts of breeders, many artificial varieties, including hybrids, have been developed. It is the artificial forms that predominate in home aquariums. These fish are very different from their wild relatives, both in appearance and in their habitat requirements.
Mollies can live in various conditions, but they prefer water with high pH and GH values and need food rich in plant components.
The coloration of artificially bred fish is diverse, ranging from solid colors to combinations of bright colors with variegated patterns. The coloration is identical for both sexes, but males are distinguished by an enlarged dorsal fin.
There is rivalry between males for position in the hierarchy. Alpha males will expend a lot of energy to maintain their dominant position. In rare cases, rivalry can become overly aggressive in small aquariums. If there are more males than females, the latter will experience excessive attention, which can become a problem in small tanks and in the absence of hiding places. For novice aquarists, it is recommended to maintain a group with a predominance of females.
They are friendly towards other fish and compatible with many species of comparable size.
Like any livebearing fish, Mollies reproduce easily, so many aquarists are willing to share their fry for free or for a modest fee. They are likely to be available for purchase or order at many pet stores.
Unpretentiousness — 4
Coloration — 5
Behavior — 4
Availability — 5
Overall — 4.5
4. Swordtails
They are related to guppies, pecilias, and mollies and share many of the same advantages. They are also considered to be unpretentious and hardy fish that successfully adapt to various conditions. They can live in a wide range of temperatures and pH and GH values, provided that the water has moderate or high hardness. They eat most popular foods in dry, live, and frozen form.
Aquariums mainly feature selected or hybrid varieties of swordtails. The fish have a variety of colors and body patterns. Males and females are colored the same. However, only males have the characteristic “sword” — elongated lower rays on the caudal fin.
They are peaceful towards other species. Males compete with each other. In rare cases, when there is a lack of space, competition can become overly aggressive. If there are too many males, the females become the object of persecution. In small aquariums, as a precaution, it is recommended to keep them in groups with one male and several females.
They are among the viviparous species. They are easy to breed, so there are more than enough offers for the sale of young swordtails.
Undemanding — 4
Coloration — 5
Behavior — 4
Availability — 5
Total — 4.5
5. Goldfish
Goldfish were the first species to be bred for beauty rather than for food.
Their endurance and unpretentiousness are evidenced by the simple fact that they have been successfully kept in artificial reservoirs for many centuries, long before the advent of modern filtration systems and other aquarium life support devices.
However, the above applies only to ordinary goldfish, which are essentially no different from common crucian carp. There are many selectively bred varieties that are much more demanding in terms of living conditions.
When it comes to the common goldfish, its coloration is traditional — golden with more or less intense shades of yellow.
They have a peaceful and calm disposition. They get along well with many other non-aggressive species. They can live alone or in groups.
Breeding egg-laying species is more difficult than live-bearing ones, so there are fewer offers of goldfish. Nevertheless, its status as a classic fish and the well-established breeding and supply industry make it possible to find it in any city.
Undemanding — 5
Colouring — 3
Behavior — 5
Availability — 5
Overall — 4.5
6. Danio rerio
The incubation period for eggs is up to 10 days. Then tadpoles appear, no larger than 5 mm in size. They move quickly and can travel impressive distances in search of food. Tadpoles have wide fins, so they have no difficulty moving around.
Feeding is not difficult. Their diet can consist of popular dry foods of a suitable size.
The color is silver with a pattern of contrasting blue stripes, which is why this species is also called the zebra fish.
These fish are widely used in laboratory research. In 1999, scientists bred a variety of Danio rerio with a fluorescent gene in its genome. Thanks to this gene, the fish began to glow in the dark. Subsequently, unusual neon colors of blue, yellow, pink, and red shades were bred.
Commercially available genetically modified fish are sold under the GloFish brand.
Regardless of its origin, Danio rerio remains a friendly, active fish that should be kept in the company of its own kind. The larger the school, the better. Social interaction is very important for them; they may die if kept alone. They are compatible with other non-aggressive species.
Breeding Danio is problematic for beginners, but quite feasible for experienced aquarists. Because of this, there are fewer offers to buy fish from private sellers than from specialized pet stores, which is especially noticeable in small towns. Still, Danios are common fish that are widely available for sale, including genetically modified GloFish.
Undemanding — 4
Colouring — 4
Behavior — 5
Availability — 4
Overall — 4.25
7. Sumatran barbus
Another representative of the carp family, which, along with the goldfish and Danio rerio, is among the most frequently mentioned aquarium inhabitants.
Keeping them requires a little more attention. Sumatran barbs prefer warm, soft, slightly acidic water. When designing the aquarium, it is important to provide large spaces for swimming — a rectangular tank is recommended. Round or square aquariums are best avoided.
Males and females are colored the same and have a striped body pattern with wide dark stripes on a light background.
This species was the second after Danio rerio to have a fluorescent gene introduced by scientists. Thus, it also acquired the ability to glow in the dark. The next step was a change in coloration, with neon blue, yellow, pink, and red barbs appearing.
These fish are extremely active and need the company of their own kind, so they are kept exclusively in schools. Due to their activity, they can annoy slower neighbors in the aquarium. In addition, the Sumatran barbus has an unpleasant behavioral trait—it tends to bite and damage the long veil fins of other fish.
Breeding requires experience, so the number of offers to sell this fish from ordinary aquarists is limited. They are mainly bred on commercial fish farms and supplied to pet shops, bird markets, etc.
Undemanding — 4
Colouring — 4
Behavior — 4
Availability — 4
Overall — 4
8. Ternecia
The fish is native to South America, where it is widespread in river systems from Brazil to Argentina. Thus, its natural range covers tropical and subtropical areas. This means that Ternecia will feel great in aquariums without a heater at room temperature. As for the basic water parameters, it will be necessary to ensure soft, slightly acidic pH and GH values, respectively. If the aquarist lives in a region with hard water, it is necessary to treat the water before filling the aquarium. The fish will accept high-quality dry food, frozen or fresh (live) invertebrates such as artemia, daphnia, and bloodworms.
The coloration of juveniles is intense dark. With age, the black colors fade and the gray or silver coloration of the body becomes more apparent.
With its natural coloration, Ternecia cannot compete with more colorful livebearing species. However, like Danio rerio and Barbus sumatranus, it is one of the fish that scientists have genetically modified.
Under the GloFish brand, you can find glow-in-the-dark Tetras, as well as artificially colored ones in green, blue, red, pink, orange, and yellow.
An active, lively fish. Needs the company of its own kind. Keep in schools of at least 8–10 individuals. It has been noted that in small numbers or alone, all of the Ternecia's unused energy will be directed at its aquarium neighbors. In some cases, signs of aggression may be observed. Although serious hostile attacks should not be expected from such a small fish, like barbs, it is capable of damaging the long veil fins of other fish.
If the school is large, the energy of the relationships does not extend beyond the group of relatives.
Breeding at home is problematic, so there are significantly fewer offers from private sellers than there are for livebearing species. The main suppliers are commercial fish farms. Ternecia can be found in many specialty stores and from small sellers at “bird markets.”
Undemanding — 4
Coloration — 4
Behavior — 4
Availability — 4
Overall — 4
9. Corydoras catfish
Corydoras are probably the most popular group of catfish. In terms of endurance, they are comparable to or surpass guppies. They are able to live in various conditions. In nature, during the dry season, they often find themselves in isolated water bodies where there is a lack of food, oxygen deficiency, and other adverse conditions. Over the course of evolution, catfish have successfully adapted to survive in such hostile conditions and have even acquired the ability to breathe atmospheric oxygen by periodically swallowing air bubbles from the surface.
There are more than 180 species of Corydoras, but most of them have inconspicuous gray or silver coloring with black stripes and spots. In addition, they lead a secretive lifestyle. A reasonable question arises: what is the reason for their popularity?
The fact is that they have gained a reputation as aquarium cleaners.
Probably the most common problem with keeping aquarium fish is overfeeding, when the aquarist feeds them more than they can eat. Thus, food residues became the main source of water pollution. At some point, the unpretentious and inconspicuous Corydoras became an effective solution to this problem. They are omnivorous and eagerly pick up the leftovers from other fish.
Currently, this utilitarian attitude towards catfish is changing. They are fed along with other fish, using sinking food.
They have a gentle disposition and are friendly towards their own kind and other species. They are harmless even to the smallest inhabitants of the aquarium. They prefer to live in schools.
As a rule, the main supplies of Corydoras are from specialized fish farms. Catfish are widely available in large cities. In small towns, there may be a limited number of species available. Popular online classifieds services often have offers to purchase adult fish.
Undemanding — 5
Color — 2
Behavior — 5
Availability — 4
Total — 4
We hope this brief overview will help you take your first steps in aquarium keeping with confidence. The main thing to remember is that even the most resilient fish need your attention and care.
Choose the pets you really like and don't rush to populate the aquarium. Start with a small flock of one or two species from this list, let the aquarium “mature,” and you will see how this simple hobby will bring peace and joy to your home.
Good luck with this wonderful hobby! May your first aquarium be healthy, beautiful, and the beginning of a long and exciting journey.
