If you\u2019ve ever wanted to take the plunge and get into the aquarium hobby, it can feel overwhelming at first. When you first walk into a pet store, you\u2019re confronted with a wall of tanks containing brightly colored fish and invertebrates. And while some will survive in almost any conditions, others seem to drop dead if you look at them wrong.<\/p>\n
So, what fish should a beginner get for their aquarium?<\/p>\n
The good news is that there are plenty of fish that are easy to take care of\u2014even if you make a few mistakes along the way. All the fish on this list are perfect if you\u2019re new to the hobby, and as a bonus, they\u2019re all inexpensive to purchase.<\/p>\n
1. Bettas<\/h2>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aquariumtidings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Depositphotos_8980136_XL.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhile most people wouldn\u2019t consider a betta for their aquarium (instead keeping them in betta bowls), they are one of the best beginner fish out there. And when kept in the proper conditions, they become colorful and active, which makes them an excellent centerpiece for any small tank.<\/p>\n
Also, since they live in less than ideal conditions in the wild, bettas will survive just about anything a new aquarium owner can throw at them. Poor water conditions, low oxygen, and other screw ups will barely phase these fish. Of course, with that being said, they do thrive in a properly maintained aquarium, so don\u2019t take that as an invitation to slack off on their tank maintenance.<\/p>\n
And on the subject of tanks, don\u2019t listen to anything anyone tells you about \u2018bettas not needing an aquarium\u2019. While they are kept in small cups in the store, they are a tropical fish and need a proper tank with both a heater and a filter.<\/p>\n
Learn More About Bettas<\/a><\/p>\n2. Guppies<\/h2>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aquariumtidings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Depositphotos_74359695_XL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nNo beginner fish list would be complete without the iconic guppy fish. Guppies have graced home aquariums for decades and are incredibly easy to keep. And they\u2019re easy to breed, so if you keep them happy, you\u2019ll almost certainly see some fish babies (better known as fry).<\/p>\n
But guppy fish do have some very specific requirements. If you want to keep some of them in your aquarium, you need to have at least three females to every male for it to work. The males will constantly attempt to mate and if there aren\u2019t enough of the females to spread the attention around, they\u2019ll get stressed out and sick.<\/p>\n
An alternative is to keep only males in the tank\u2014something that is quite popular as the males are the ones with the colorful tails. There are occasionally aggression issues in this type of tank, but it tends to be pretty rare.<\/p>\n
Learn More About Guppies<\/a><\/p>\n3. Goldfish<\/h2>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aquariumtidings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Depositphotos_47627759_XL.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nIncluding goldfish on this list will probably be controversial, but they still rank among the best beginner fish. Not only are they incredibly hardy and long lived, but they\u2019re also a cold-water fish and don\u2019t need a heater for their aquarium. And they\u2019ll eat just about anything you offer to them\u2014a nice perk when so many other fish are picky eaters.<\/p>\n
But they absolutely cannot be placed in a goldfish bowl. Goldfish are incredibly messy fish, and they\u2019ll foul a tiny fishbowl in a matter of hours. They need a large aquarium with a powerful filter, and even then, you\u2019ll need to keep on top of water changes.<\/p>\n
If you can handle all that, goldfish make an incredible beginner fish. Not only do most become friendly enough to eat out of your hand, but it\u2019s not unusual for them to live for over ten years. If you take care of your goldfish, you can end up with a long-term pet that amazes everyone with their size.<\/p>\n
Learn More About Goldfish<\/a><\/p>\n4. Zebra Danios<\/h2>\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aquariumtidings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Depositphotos_350770812_XL.jpg?resize=1024%2C855&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nAnother popular fish in the aquarium hobby, zebra danios are a great choice for beginners. They\u2019re hardy, active, and interesting to watch. They\u2019re so tough in fact that many people use them to cycle an aquarium<\/a> (something I don\u2019t personally recommend) as they can handle the poor water quality better than most other fish.<\/p>\nBut to succeed with zebra danios, you need to keep them in a group of at least six. Any less and they become aggressive and may nip their tank mate\u2019s fins. When they\u2019re kept in a larger group, they do well in most community tanks and rarely cause problems outside of their little hierarchy.<\/p>\n
Learn More About Zebra Danios<\/a><\/p>\n5. White Cloud Mountain Minnows<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/aquariumtidings.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Depositphotos_8980136_XL.jpg?ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nWhile most people wouldn\u2019t consider a betta for their aquarium (instead keeping them in betta bowls), they are one of the best beginner fish out there. And when kept in the proper conditions, they become colorful and active, which makes them an excellent centerpiece for any small tank.<\/p>\n
Also, since they live in less than ideal conditions in the wild, bettas will survive just about anything a new aquarium owner can throw at them. Poor water conditions, low oxygen, and other screw ups will barely phase these fish. Of course, with that being said, they do thrive in a properly maintained aquarium, so don\u2019t take that as an invitation to slack off on their tank maintenance.<\/p>\n
And on the subject of tanks, don\u2019t listen to anything anyone tells you about \u2018bettas not needing an aquarium\u2019. While they are kept in small cups in the store, they are a tropical fish and need a proper tank with both a heater and a filter.<\/p>\n
Learn More About Bettas<\/a><\/p>\n No beginner fish list would be complete without the iconic guppy fish. Guppies have graced home aquariums for decades and are incredibly easy to keep. And they\u2019re easy to breed, so if you keep them happy, you\u2019ll almost certainly see some fish babies (better known as fry).<\/p>\n But guppy fish do have some very specific requirements. If you want to keep some of them in your aquarium, you need to have at least three females to every male for it to work. The males will constantly attempt to mate and if there aren\u2019t enough of the females to spread the attention around, they\u2019ll get stressed out and sick.<\/p>\n An alternative is to keep only males in the tank\u2014something that is quite popular as the males are the ones with the colorful tails. There are occasionally aggression issues in this type of tank, but it tends to be pretty rare.<\/p>\n Learn More About Guppies<\/a><\/p>\n Including goldfish on this list will probably be controversial, but they still rank among the best beginner fish. Not only are they incredibly hardy and long lived, but they\u2019re also a cold-water fish and don\u2019t need a heater for their aquarium. And they\u2019ll eat just about anything you offer to them\u2014a nice perk when so many other fish are picky eaters.<\/p>\n But they absolutely cannot be placed in a goldfish bowl. Goldfish are incredibly messy fish, and they\u2019ll foul a tiny fishbowl in a matter of hours. They need a large aquarium with a powerful filter, and even then, you\u2019ll need to keep on top of water changes.<\/p>\n If you can handle all that, goldfish make an incredible beginner fish. Not only do most become friendly enough to eat out of your hand, but it\u2019s not unusual for them to live for over ten years. If you take care of your goldfish, you can end up with a long-term pet that amazes everyone with their size.<\/p>\n Learn More About Goldfish<\/a><\/p>\n Another popular fish in the aquarium hobby, zebra danios are a great choice for beginners. They\u2019re hardy, active, and interesting to watch. They\u2019re so tough in fact that many people use them to cycle an aquarium<\/a> (something I don\u2019t personally recommend) as they can handle the poor water quality better than most other fish.<\/p>\n But to succeed with zebra danios, you need to keep them in a group of at least six. Any less and they become aggressive and may nip their tank mate\u2019s fins. When they\u2019re kept in a larger group, they do well in most community tanks and rarely cause problems outside of their little hierarchy.<\/p>\n Learn More About Zebra Danios<\/a><\/p>\n2. Guppies<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n3. Goldfish<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n4. Zebra Danios<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n5. White Cloud Mountain Minnows<\/h2>\n