10 Best Freshwater Aquarium Fish For Beginners
So, you have decided to start a freshwater aquarium. You probably can’t wait to stock your aquarium.
Before you actually go out and purchase the most beautiful fish you can get your money on. You will first need to decide if you want:-
- a Cold Water Tank or
- a Heated Tank.
Each type of aquarium has it’s own benefits and species of fish unique to the water temperature of your tank. Generally, heated aquariums offer more varieties of fish to choose from.
Once you’ve decided, here’s a list of ten of the best freshwater aquarium fish for beginners.
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Cold Water Freshwater Aquarium
A cold water aquarium keeps the water at room temperature. You should still include a filtration system. Additionally you should have a light for the tank. These help promote health in your fish.
If you’ve decided on keeping a cold water fish tank, here are some ideas for beginners.
1. Gold Fish
Gold fish come in many varieties of sizes and colors. Many people love the fancier varieties with bubbly heads and fanned tails.
Gold fish are great for beginners who have an unheated aquarium. These fish prefer temperatures between 62-74 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gold fish tend to be messy eaters. So, be sure to change 10 percent of the water each week.
Treating the water with a dechlorinator is also a good idea.
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2. Bloodfin Tetras
These small fish are recognized by their silver bodies and striking red fins. These are extremely hardy fish. In some aquariums they live up to 10 years.
They are an active fish that is always on the move. These fish work well in temperatures that range from 64 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
This is a peaceful fish, but it prefers to live in a group.
You will enjoy seeing the group moves together through the aquarium. If you only have one, it tends to be shy.
Read full fish profile HERE.
3. White Cloud
A White Cloud Mountain Minnow is another small fish that tolerates cold temperatures.
In fact, some people keep these in outdoor ponds over the summer.
They can tolerate temperatures as low as 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
They are a hardy fish that tends to live in the middle and top areas of the tank. They prefer to live in a group. Purchasing 6 or so will help promote good health and color in these fish.
They can live up to 5 years with proper care.
Heated Freshwater Aquarium Fish
Some aquarists prefer to use heated tanks simply because of the varieties that it offers. A heated tank allows you to keep a wider variety of tropical fish. The temperature typically ranges from 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Here are seven easy care freshwater aquarium fish for those who decided on a heated tank.
1. Danios
These small fish are a great first fish. When first starting up a tank, you need to test the water.
Because these fish are hardy and do well in a variety of conditions, they are a perfect first choice.
Danios are active and small. Typically, they prefer to be in a group near the surface of the water.
Most have bright horizontal stripes that grab your attention as they zoom around the top.
They are not picky eaters and do well with flake fish food.
2. Black Molly
The black molly is a peaceful fish. It is a good choice if you want a community tank with several types of fish.
One of the advantages of choosing this fish is that it can adapt to fresh, brackish and even salt water. This allows you some leeway when setting up a new tank.
These fish prefer a temperature that ranges from 70 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
They are livebearers, so if you buy a male and a female pair, you could end up with babies. However, they do tend to eat the young if there is not adequate vegetation for the babies to hide in.
Read the Black Molly’s full profile here.
3. Black Skirt Tetra
The black skirt tetra is a peaceful fish that should be kept in a pair or in a larger group.
These are hardy fish that are great eaters. They will eat just about any prepared food.
They tend to swim in the middle of the tank and hate “confrontations”.
You should include rocks, plants and other hiding places for these fish.
4. Kuhli Loach
The Kuhli Loach is an eel-like fish are also hardy fish that make a great addition to your tank.
This bottom-dweller is unique in that it hides during the daytime. You might spot it tunneling under the gravel or hiding in a cave. It is recommended to offer hiding places for this fish.
They help keep the tank clean by eating the food that has fallen to the bottom. However, you should offer additional food that sinks to the bottom.
Read full fish profile HERE.
5. Platies
Paties are great for beginners because there are so many varieties to choose from. They do
very well in a community tank with other passive fish. As a livebearer they will produce young frequently. Most often the babies are eaten by other tank members.
Platies are selectively bred to create new combinations of colors. You will be sure to find several that suit your taste.
They will eat any flake or freeze-dried food. They are also a good choice because they eat any algae that might develop in the tank.
6. Swordtails
Swordtails are closely related to the platy.
The males, though, have a long bottom fin that looks like a sword. These are passive fish that will add bright color to your tank.
They are hardy and long lasting fish, which makes it perfect for beginners.
With a variety of colors to choose from, you will be sure to want one, or several in your tank.
7. Betta
If you are looking for additional flash and color, the betta fish is the one for you. The males have brilliantly bright long fins.
They are also known as Siamese Fighting Fish. They fight with other bettas, so you will only want one in your tank.
These fish are hardy and will eat flake food or pellets. Because of the male betta fish’s long fins, be sure not to pair them with others who might pick at the fins.
Creating a beautiful freshwater aquarium can be a rewarding experience. First be sure to consider the type of tank you want to create—cold water tank or a heated tank. Then read up on the on all the best freshwater aquarium fish suggested above.
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