13 Best Freshwater Fish For Your Home Aquarium

13 Best Freshwater Fish For Your Home Aquarium

So you’re curious about fixing an aquarium and wish some ideas that fish to choose?

If this is often your first-ever home aquarium, and you've got never kept fish before, this text goes to be the simplest possible start line.

We have put together with an inventory of 13 tropical seafood that is perfect for both beginners and advanced fishkeepers alike. Why 13? Your guess is sweet as ours.

Before that, let’s take a fast check out what actually makes honest seafood for beginners.

What Is a Beginner Friendly Fish?

The first thing you'll study tropical fishkeeping is that each fish is different, and you can’t simply throw a bunch of them into a tank, and leave them be.

There is tons more thereto than that. When trying to find beginner seafood, you would like a species which will tick a couple of boxes;

They are hardy and may thrive during a broader range of conditions.

They are easy to worry about.

They are peaceful and obtain alongside other fish.

They will slot in your tank.

13 Awesome seafood For Beginners

While this is often by no means an exhaustive list of the simplest seafood for beginners, it's an excellent place to start out.

These 13 tropical fish are beautiful, easy to seek out and excellent for beginner fishkeepers.

Let’s jump straight in with one among the foremost popular tropical fish within the world…

Neon Tetra

neon tetra seafood

Although small in size, these beautifully colored, cool seafood will surely cash in of each little bit of space in your tank and are one among the simplest fish to worry for.

They love being in groups, therefore the bigger the group, the happier they're going to be. 

Their diet is straightforward, and that they are often fed basic fish flakes, although they are doing enjoy the odd blood worm or Artemia salina from time to time.

Danios

Danios fish

danio fish One of the more hardy freshwater aquarium fish available for the beginners is Danios. thanks to their hardiness,

they're the right fish for people that don’t have much experience with fixing a tank. 

they will survive during a sort of different water conditions.

Danios are generally very active and fun to observe. In terms of their diet, they're going to be quite proud of fish flakes.

Our favorite Danios to stay are the Zebra Danio and therefore the Giant Danio.

Platies

platie fish

A perfect fish for the community tank. Platies are a really peaceful fish that will live peacefully with the other non-aggressive fish.

 There are many varieties to settle on from, and that they accompany a spread of various colors, as a result of selective breeding.

Platies aren't picky when it involves diet. they're going to eat any sort of flake foods, also as most frozen live foods.

Guppies

freshwater fish

A colorful freshwater aquarium fish that are perfect for the beginners are Guppies this fish is really awesome.

 Although the behavior and characteristics tend to be the equivalent from fish to fish, Guppies are available a good range of colors. they're a hardy fish,

 and that they can eat regular fish flakes. However, like many fish on this list, they will also eat frozen (or live) Artemia salina, blood worms, and Daphnia. 

the very fact that Guppies can re-evaluate every week without food, shows how hardy they're.

Guppy Male and Female

If you're curious about keeping Guppies, it’s important to understand the difference between a male and a female. 

Guppies breed like hell, so if you were to tank the 2 sexes together, you'll expect tons of Guppy babies.

To stop this from happening, simply keep all males, or all females, unless, in fact, you're during this game to breed them.

Check out our comprehensive guppies care guide for more information

Kuhli Loach

bottom feeders for beginners

Originating from the tropical region of Southeast Asia, the Kuhli Loach is an eel-like fish which, due to its size, ability to adapt to water changes,

 and therefore the incontrovertible fact that it's peaceful, has made its way into our list of best seafood.

Being a bottom feeder, the Kuhli Loach will eat almost any spare food that has dropped to the rock bottom of the tank, including live foods like worms and shrimp.

 The majority of their diet should be general fish pellets.

They are a peaceful fish who will live happily with most other non-aggressive fish,

 but confirm you don’t house them with anything too big which can mistake them for food.

To keep them happy, you ought to keep a minimum of 3 at a time.

Cherry Barb

Cherry Barb fish

home aquarium fish

Although they'll take a short time to settle into their new tank, Cherry Barbs are the right seafood for a home aquarium for all of the explanations listed above.

 they will tolerate big changes in water parameters, they're friendly (unlike their long-lost cousins Tiger Barbs),

 they only grow to around 2 inches long and generally, they're a simple fish to require care of.

As one of the foremost species of fish within the wild, the Cherry Barb remains a favourite within the fishkeeping 

community, because of it’s bright, eye-catching colors, and it’s entertainment value.

Cherry Barb fish

They are a really active fish, and once they become familiar with their new surroundings, they're going to be very active and fun to observe.

In order to form your Cherry Barb feel as settled and as secure as possible,

 we recommend that you simply keep some live plants, allowing them to cover whenever they feel the necessity. 

Cherry Barb fish

Barbs can take a short time to return out of their shells. they're best kept in schools, so anything above 6 is preferred.

In terms of dietary needs, they're going to eat almost any sort of fish food, although they'll not fancy it initially if it’s a replacement tank. Give them a few weeks and that they are going to be eating comfortably.

Fire Mouth Cichilid

firemouth cichilid

Given its name due to the red coloration of its scales during breeding, the hearth Mouth Cichilid may be a perfect fish for brand spanking new fishkeepers.

Although they will become pretty territorial during the breeding season, they're relatively friendly.

To get on the safe side, we recommend you retain these on their own, but if you would like to combine them with other species,

 then confirm you provide rocks or an upturned plant pot where they will hide away in peace, to get their eggs.

Adult Cichlids can grow to be around 6 inches long, and their diet can contain regular flake food.

Thanks to their popularity, you'll find them at the most pet stores, and that they are generally, rock bottom

, which is another advantage when looking to fill your own aquarium.

Pearl Gourami

pearl gourami

Also referred to as the Lace Gourami, this cool tropical seafood is one among the foremost popular Gourami fish for aquarium lovers, because of its beautiful appearance and its hardy build.

They are easy to worry for and may be kept in tanks with a minimum of 30 gallons of water, but like many other sorts of Gourami, 

they are doing require space at the highest of the tank in order that they can breathe air.

When it involves feeding time, the Pearl Gourami can eat a good sort of different foods, both plant-based, and meat-based.

For the simplest overall nutrition, we recommend feeding an algae-based flake food,

 also as live food like Artemia salina, blood-worms, and tubifex.

Pearl Gouramis don't wish to accept aggressive fish, so keep that in mind when filling your aquarium.

 They also sort of a place to cover, so a little covering of floating ferns can give them an honest place to cover and feel comfortable. 

we've several articles on fixing a replacement tank with plants, here.

Tiger Pleco

Tiger Pleco

A peaceful seafood, originating from South America (The Amazon in Brazil) is that the Tiger Pleco. 

Because they spend most of their time at rock bottom of the tank, they are doing well with sinking food like pellets, but they also thrive on Artemia salina and blood worms.

Keeping Plecos nice and satiated will keep them from eating your tanks plants, which they will have a bent to try to to.

Tiger Plecos are peaceful but very territorial, so if you propose on keeping quiet one, 

it's recommended that you simply fill rock bottom of your tank with rocks and wood ornaments, in order that they can find an area to call their own.

Growing up to five inches long, they need a lifespan of up to eight years under optimal tank conditions. The closely related Bristlenose Pleco may be a great choice of pleco fish, too.

Cory Catfish

cory catfish

Another peaceful fish which will live harmoniously with most other fish is that the Cory Catfish. With over 140 species to chose from, the Cory fish is that the perfect addition to a beginner’s aquarium (Not to be mistaken for other catfish like the Pictus Catfish).

Being aggressive eaters, these seafood are going to be liable for keeping your tank clean,

 because of their love for vegetative matter and algae which may build-up at rock bottom of home aquariums.

With a lifespan of up to twenty years, the Cory Catfish may be a communal fish, which strives better when kept in groups of a minimum of 3.

In the wild, they're going to prey on insects, larvae and any vegetative matter that sinks to the rock bottom of shallow shoals. 

you'll replicate this by offering them a spread of vegetable flakes, insect larvae, and worms like blood-worms.

Mollies

 

molie fish

Mollies are a flexible fish that may survive in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums if the changes are made gradually. 

they're great for beginners because they're extremely hardy, and aren't as aggressive as another tropical fish.

There are many to settle on from, and therefore the term ‘mollies’ is sort of vague since there are numerous variations of size, color, and optimal tank conditions.

Because of the vast difference between each sort of molly fish, choosing the proper water conditions is often tough. 

However, all the mollies are preferred warm water, so a temperature between 25 and 28 degrees would be optimal.

In the wild, mollies like better to eat a plant-based diet, most specifically, algae. Evolution has slowly turned mollies 

faraway from a carnivorous diet, and more towards a plant-based diet, so their digestive systems are designed to digest algae better than most other tropical fish.

The optimal diet for aquarium mollies would be algae, vegetarian flakes,

 and therefore the occasional bloodworm or Artemia salina as a treat, but limit them to once or twice per week, max.

Sword Tails

sword tails

Often touted as a ‘beginner only’ fish, swordtails (Given the name thanks to the sword-like the shape of their tails) have recently begun to create an enormous following of devoted fans, looking to hunt out the rarest of the species.

 Mostly found in small streams, swordtails typically prefer a plant-based diet,

 so a tank filled with present algae is going to be perfect for them, however, they also had best with live foods from time to time. 

A vegetable-based flake would be the right food for them on a uniform basis.

Growing up to 12 cm long, and with low demands for water conditions, swordtails are perfect for brand spanking new fishkeepers. 

confine mind that they thrive better in communities, so it’s always better to stay quiet one, preferably 5 or more.

 The optimal water temperature would be between 25 and 28 degrees Celcius, but they will also have best in cooler or warmer tanks.

 

sword tails

In the wild, swordtails would typically be found in fast-flowing water, 

so if you'll emulate this by keeping a robust flow of water somewhere in your tank, they're going to be grateful and can feel more reception.

Betta Fish

betta fish red

Betta fish for beginners

 the Betta fish will generally be aggressive toward other Betta fish, so as long as you simply keep one, they ought to be fine.

 we also have a post in detail about betta fish you can also check it.

We have added the Betta to our list of the best seafood for beginners because they're one among the foremost stunning tropical fish you'll keep.

 The long colorful fins will catch the eyes of anyone having a peek in your tank that's really awesome. 

Betta fish also is very easy to worry for, and that they will eat most sorts of food including fish flakes, blood-worms, and Artemia salina. 

For a treat, try offering some live foods to the tank for your fishes

When trying to find tank mates, confirm you don’t add any fish which have a bent to nip.

 due to their huge fins, the Betta would be a major target for nipping fish, but nipping an aggressive fish just like the Betta will never end well.

Tips that each Beginner Fishkeeper Should Know

Ok, now you recognize what species of fish are ideal for beginner fish keepers, we thought it might be known to leave you with a couple of tips that each aquarium owner should know.

The first is controversial, but it’s worth knowing…

Don’t Always Trust Your Local Fish Store Staff

Of course, there are thousands of knowledgable and trustworthy fish store staff around the world whose knowledge you'll genuinely trust, except for every knowledgable member of staff, 

you'll find 3 who don’t really know what they're talking about 

(that’s a made-up number, but you get my point)

I know this because I even have shopped in local fish stores my entire life.

 I even have also received thousands of emails, messages, and comments from people that have received dodgy advice too.

It’s not that the staff don’t have the simplest intentions in mind, they simply don’t have the knowledge.

If you're curious about a fish from this list, or if a fish at your local fish store catches your attention, write the name and do your own research online. 

Knowing that specific fish’s ideal water parameters, suitable tank mates, required tank size and the other tidbits of useful information are often found during a jiffy at the tip of your fingers.

Save yourself the strain of creating silly mistakes and do your research.

Never Forget To Cycle a replacement Aquarium

The organic process refers to the method during which dangerous substances like ammonia and nitrates are weakened into safer substances like nitrites during a new aquarium.

For a successful cycle, the presence of excellent bacteria is required, and unfortunately,

 the sole way for this bacteria to determine is to attend, then wait for a touch longer.

This is an enormous subject and one that each fishkeeper must remember of, 

so we have an in-depth guide to see out here, but just confine mind that the organic process maybe a crucial a part of the hobby and must be done before you add any fish into your new tank.

Smaller Tanks aren't Easier to stay Healthy

It’s a standard myth among beginners and one that I wish would die out.

 It seems to form sense, that a smaller tank is ideal for a beginner because there's less water to take care of and fewer fish to worry for, but that’s not true whatsoever.

Smaller tanks would require more frequent water changes and are much harder to take care of equilibrium and balance with the water parameters. 

Fish create waste, so having less water in your tank will cause the waste to destabilize the standard considerably faster.

HAPPY FISH KEEPING