Choosing Fish For Your First Aquarium
A Selection of Hardy Fish Suitable for Beginner Aquarists
Aug 13, 2009
A new tank takes time to mature and settle down, and while this is happening it is best to only add a few of the more hardy species of fish at a time. These fish will be more likely to survive the first few tricky months as the water quality stabilizes and you get used to carrying out water changes. If you have your eye on a particular species it’s best to check with your seller first as to how it might fare in a new tank.
Suitable Fish for a Newly Set Up Aquarium
- Zebra danios – these pretty blue and gold striped fish are ideal for beginners. They are not hugely fussy about water conditions and will do fine in slightly acidic to slightly hard water with a temperature range of 18-24°c. They like to swim and will be on the move all the time so make sure they have plenty of room in the middle of the tank and plant thickets of plants along the side to provide hiding places when necessary.
- Neon tetras – these fish are bred in their thousands for the aquarium trade so it is likely that fish purchased from a good stockist will be well used to tank living. When well looked after their colors will be bright and a large shoal of them can look stunning in a tank. Keep an eye on their finnage however, as it starts to look pretty ragged if water conditions are poor and there is not enough oxygen. Make sure to carry out regular water changes and ensure there is a good flow of water through the tank. An air stone will take care of this.
- Guppies – one of the most popular aquarium fish due to their bright colors and activity in the tank. The males have long flowing caudal fins and look stunning in a shoal while the females are bigger with less color. Make sure to include a mix of both sexes as the males need to display and will sulk if kept on their own. They breed readily so don’t be surprised if after a few months you have some tiddlers darting around the tank! However, they will quickly get eaten by other fish, so if you want to breed them, invest in a floating nursery tank to protect them until they are big enough to survive.
- Rosy barb – another hardy little fish that is ideal for a new tank as it is not overly fussy about water conditions (within reason!). They are peaceful fish and make good tank mates for other similar sized, peaceful species. The bright “rosy” colors develop as the fish matures, and as with most fish it is the males that display the deeper red hues. They should be kept in shoals of about five or six in order to ensure a mix of both sexes.
Remember, only add a few fish at a time; test the water regularly in the first few weeks; carry out regular water changes; don’t overfeed, and keep an eye out for listless or inactive fish which may indicate poor water quality. By sticking to these simple rules you should have a happy healthy tank in a matter of months. Enjoy!
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