Top freshwater fish for beginners

By SecretWuff 6 Min Read

Would you like to start an aquarium? Many freshwater aquarium fish are perfect for beginner aquariums.

Perfect for beginners, aquarium fish are not only rewarding for pet parents, but also make great first pets for children who can learn responsible skills like feeding and cleaning the aquarium. You should also do the regular water quality testing required for your aquarium.

Here are some beginner fish that are perfect for first-time aquarists.

Best beginner fish for aquariums

1. Tenzu Danios

Photo credit: Adobe Stock/besjunior

The Celestial Pearl Danio (CPD) is a small (up to 1 inch), dark blue fish with white, yellow, or tan pearlescent spots all over its body. Its appearance can be reminiscent of a galaxy, hence the name “celestial body”. CPD is space themed tank!

These fish prefer to live in small areas where they can hide among rocks and plants in groups of 10 or more. They also get along well with fish from other areas, making them an easy addition to your first aquarium. They eat a variety of food, including flakes, micropellets, and even other fish and brine shrimp.

2. Golden Dwarf Thorn

golden dwarf thorn
Photo credit: Adobe Stock/Balaram Mahalder

The Golden Dwarf Barb is a small golden fish with faded black stripes. Adult fish can be up to about 1.5 inches long and live for 2 to 3 years.

One of the best aquarium fish for beginners, golden dwarf barbs are a great addition to small freshwater aquariums because they are docile and can coexist with many different species. They are also an omnivorous and gregarious species, so make sure you have at least 6 to 8 in your tank.

3. Neon Tetra

neon tetra
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Neon tetras are colorful freshwater aquarium fish native to South America. It is considered neon because of its bright blue, red, and white colors.

Neon tetras can reach 1 to 1.5 inches in size and are schooling fish, so we recommend keeping more than one fish. Let your beginner aquarium pop out from across the room with a swarm of neon tetras! They are a great species for beginners as they are peaceful and non-aggressive.

Tetras are active swimmers and thrive in a variety of aquariums. They are relatively easy to care for, but like any other fish, be sure to maintain stable water quality parameters for their health and well-being.

4.Pygmy Corydoras

Pygmy Corydra
Photo credit: Adobe Stock/Robert

Pygmy corydoras are small silver and black catfish. small aquarium. They are one of the best beginner fish for new aquarium keepers because they are peaceful and can coexist with other species.

a 10 gallon tank You can keep up to eight Pygmy Corydoras, but a larger tank is preferable to give them plenty of swimming space.

Some precautions should be taken with this species. They should be kept with smaller freshwater fish to avoid being accidentally eaten by other tank mates.

5. Guppy

guppy
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Guppies are hardy and will eat just about anything, making them a great fish for beginner aquarium owners. Guppies are small fish that do not grow larger than 2 inches. They can have elaborately designed tails, making them beautiful display fish.

Guppies can be kept as a single species to create a simpler and nicer aquarium, or they can be kept with neon tetras or pygmy corydoras. Guppies should not be housed with aggressive fish species.

6. Betta fish

Betta
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Bettas are great beginner pets for small aquariums, and you can find them at almost any pet store. As one of the easiest fish to take home, it’s no wonder betta fish are children’s first pets.

However, betta fish are aggressive. Males of this species must be kept alone, while females can be kept alone. Groups of 5-6 fish called sororities.

Male betta fish are usually more colorful and have flowing, elaborate fins. Females are not as colorful, but they have subtle shades and are a great addition to any aquarium.

7. Dwarf gourami

dwarf gourami
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The dwarf gourami is a beautiful small red fish with vertical blue stripes that makes a vibrant addition to a small aquarium. Many different color patterns exist and sizes range from 3.5 to 4.5 inches.

Dwarf gourami is a docile fish that mainly lives in the upper part of the aquarium. They are easy to care for and can get along well with other fish species as they are not aggressive.

However, since they are larger fish, they require more space. A 10-gallon aquarium can safely house one dwarf gourami, but be sure to increase the size for groups. If you mix species, one or two will work well with other non-aggressive fish such as tetras, rasboras, corydoras, and catfish.


author

Sean Perry, DVM

veterinarian

Dr. Sean Perry received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his B.S.


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