What are the best tropical fish for a beginner?

November 9, 2009 - 11:24 am 21 Comments

I want to get a fish tank, complete with bottom feeders, snails, and tropical fish. Nothing overwelmingly large, but something easy to take care of. I don’t mind getting the filter or heater if I have to. What do you recommend? Fish wise and equipment wise?

Please, do get a filter and heater. They do not cost too much, and last long, plus you have less trouble with cleaning the fishtank if you have it. I reccomend volume around 40-50 litres for the beginners, because it is easier to keep than the smaller tank (after a while, it becomes a szstem which is functioning in its own, and there is no trouble if you forgegt to feed the fish for a couple of days).
As far as fish sorts are concerned, try live-barrers (black molly, silver molly, xypho, platie) in combination with tetras. You also need a corridorus for the beginning. If you put snails, they will help you get rid of algae, but they can breed too much, so you either have to buy a snail-eating fish (botia looks nice) or throw them away.

Do not bother with the names of the sorts to much. Just go to a shop, choose the fish you like most, and ask the vendor if he can suggest the matching species. That’s how I begun.

Good luck!

21 Responses to “What are the best tropical fish for a beginner?”

  1. webserfun Says:

    Go to the fish store.
    Go to a store that specializes in just fish.
    You will get the best advice and you can see what you are buying as well.
    For instance, are you going salt water or fresh?
    Big fish or small?
    Fighters or Lovers?
    Lots to think about.

    Go to the fish store and find out! Who knows? you might end up with a 100 gallon tank and the coolest aquarium on the block!!!

    Good luck!
    References :

  2. moemoe Says:

    I always loved fan tan guppies when I was a kid. They were easy and would have babies and the males are GORGEOUSLY colorful!!
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  3. kodadom92 Says:

    it depends on what kind of tropical fish do you want fresh water or salt water it would probubly be best for a begginer to do fresh water fish and the best would be an angel fish for begginers email me at kodadom92@yahoo.com for further information on fresh or salt water fish
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  4. soccerboy12_2007 Says:

    pretty much anything you can get at your local wal-mart is easy to take care of and you can get all you need minus the tank there
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  5. hottie girl Says:

    Any type of small fish that don’t fight together. (I have pygmy cat fish and a flat one that I forgot the name of)
    References :
    My Experience

  6. baji10 Says:

    pirranahs are good beginner fish, they are gentle and they dont bite!
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  7. chrisg3898 Says:

    pick gold fish they dont poo alot and plus they live long
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  8. lickitysplit Says:

    clown fish are pretty easy to take of
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  9. imjustwondering Says:

    Buy a fish book, they are cheap at walmarts and then start off with some goldfish.. they are easy to take care of to start off with. :)
    References :
    Experience.

  10. Illuminated Says:

    Neons were always easy for me to take care of. And Tetra, but they are not as pretty. Angel fish are beautiful and usually not too expensive.
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  11. Mary Says:

    Some good beginner fish are:
    * Cherry Barbs
    * Zebra Danios
    * Dwarf Gourami
    * Platy
    * Goldfish
    * White Clouds
    They’re easy to care for and, frankly, hard to kill.

    You definitely want to start with a freshwater tank. Research the fish before you choose them – you want to make sure you fill the tank with species who play nicely with one another. I’d be sure you go to a pet store with a knowledgeable staff. Ask lots of questions, and if they don’t answer them to your satisfaction, go somewhere else.

    Here’s a good site for some more information:
    References :
    http://www.fishlore.com/

  12. Singingellie Says:

    Guppys, they can live in any tank , I had found these salamander eggs and I needed to feed the babies they only eat moving food. I kept them outside in a plastic container with water and tried to feed them baby guppies, The guppies were to smart and fast, I didn’t even oxygenate the container I just left it out for most of the summer and would add water to it when it evaporated it. Living in the container didn’t phase the guppies, Finally I just put them back in the big tank with the other guppies.
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  13. irrylath_the_dark_angel Says:

    Well a fish store should be able to help you,but when I first started out with fish,I got a veriety of fish to start with,some that schooled to the top of the tank,some that schooled in the middle part of the tank and some for the bottom,and of course I got a cleaner fish as well.
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  14. jan44me2005 Says:

    guppies. they reproduce like crazy and it will give you a good idea of how to maintain a fish tank. get lots of books on the subject. go to the library that way you don’t have to pay for the knowledge you’ll be gaining. salt water is harder to maintain and the fish are more sensitive so start with tropical fish
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  15. ice sk8er chick Says:

    Goldfish r really easy 2 take care of
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  16. micilicicili Says:

    Please, do get a filter and heater. They do not cost too much, and last long, plus you have less trouble with cleaning the fishtank if you have it. I reccomend volume around 40-50 litres for the beginners, because it is easier to keep than the smaller tank (after a while, it becomes a szstem which is functioning in its own, and there is no trouble if you forgegt to feed the fish for a couple of days).
    As far as fish sorts are concerned, try live-barrers (black molly, silver molly, xypho, platie) in combination with tetras. You also need a corridorus for the beginning. If you put snails, they will help you get rid of algae, but they can breed too much, so you either have to buy a snail-eating fish (botia looks nice) or throw them away.

    Do not bother with the names of the sorts to much. Just go to a shop, choose the fish you like most, and ask the vendor if he can suggest the matching species. That’s how I begun.

    Good luck!
    References :
    expirience

  17. anotheronebitesthecrust Says:

    I really like my barbs. There are many varieties, but I have both tiger and green tiger varieties. They are really cute when they eat. Cichlids are very pretty but don’t get along with other types of fish very well, so if you want a community tank with many diff. fish, don’t buy them because they WILL EAT your other fish.

    :::Warning:::

    It took me a month to get the PH balance in my tank just right for any fish. Dont buy any bottom feeders until the tank is completely balanced out. (They make it go slower) If you don’t wait long enough, the fish will keep dying and you will be wasting your time. I recommend freshwater for a first time aquarium, 10 or 30 gallon.

    You MUST get a heater and filter. (around $30-50, depending on quality and size) Wash off any rocks or statues that you buy for the tank before you stick them in. The only thing you need to make your water good for your fishies is water conditioner (about $3) and stress coat ($4). Hint: Set the tank up with the filter/heater/water/conditioner/stress coat/gravel,rocks,plants,etc; wait for about a month with everything still running, then put fish in the tank.

    I’ve discovered that my fishies like plants to hide in. Fake ones that are bushy are good for that.

    Good luck with your new pets and have fun!!
    References :

  18. Maury Ballstein Says:

    gouramis, cory catfish, neon tetras, and guppies.
    References :
    My fish tank

  19. n-i-c Says:

    If you want something easier to take care of you’re probalby looking at 30Gallons or bigger. The smaller tanks are more finiky when it comes to water toxicity (a little changes affects the environment).

    Keep in mind … 1 inch of fish / Gallon. 30 gallons = 30 inches of fish … most smaller fish (neons,guppies,barbs, etc) are about 2-3 inches each

    Unless you’re keeping goldfish you will need a heater. A filter … yes. Possibly an airpump and some sort of air-rater decoration or stone. (bubblers)

    I found a great source (link below) that helped me when I bought my tank. If I had read if first I probably would’ve held off buying it for a larger tank.

    I have a 10 gallon. (which I do enjoy very much). I chose Cherry barbs and now that I have 6 I have no room for any bottom feeders. Tank is full.

    Good luck with your tank.
    References :
    http://badmanstropicalfish.com/start_up.html

  20. kuddlykitten73 Says:

    Equipment
    1)Filter
    2)heater
    3)thermometer

    Fish
    1)Guppies
    2)mollies
    3)sord tails
    4)platties (real easy beginer fish)
    4)tetras(any type)
    5)Tiger barbs(not the most pratical as they can be agressive) but they are easy to take care of (I have been wishing mine would die) they keep eating the tails off my guppies A-holes lol

    Hope this helps good luck fishing.
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  21. nostradamio Says:

    I would recomend Guppies, Mollies, and sword tails. The reason is they are easy to keep, colourfull and livebearers. Which means, the fish keeps the eggs inside them until they hatch. If you get a floating decoration that babies can swim through but not the adults, you’ll be fine. If you can get the fishes to reproduce successfully, you can look at getting others. Also a pleco, or a pair of corydoras to clean the tank. Only give as much flakes as the fishes can consume within a minute, which won’t be much. A heater is required though, I keep mine at 77°F.
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