If you’re new to fish keeping, you may be inundated by the sheer number of fish that you can bring home to your newly set up tropical fish aquarium. The tendency is to get the most colourful and attractive fish in the tank without thinking of how they would thrive in a community tank setting. Truth be told, not all tropical fish are tolerant of one another in certain aquarium conditions, so it’s important to have the right combination of tropical fish that can live harmoniously and happily together.
Here are seven best starter tropical fish that will make wonderful pet fish for beginners.
1. Neon Tetra
In the wild, neon tetra fish dwell in warm water streams and rivers. In a home aquarium, these tiny fish love to swim around the upper levels of the tank. They are at their happiest when kept in groups of six or more. They are social tropical fish that can live peacefully with other fish. However, do not keep them together with larger fish species as neon tetras make for a tempting snack.
Neon Tetra fish thrive in a tank that contains ten gallons of water or more. They don’t do well when kept in smaller groups or in a tank with poor quality of water. They’re quite low maintenance as they only need to be fed once or twice daily.
2. Guppy
Guppies are a common household tropical fish that are very easy to care for. Their peaceful temperament makes them suitable for beginner fishkeepers. They come in a variety of colours; some more vibrant than the others. These tiny fish are quite resilient and can adapt to different water conditions. Feeding them is a breeze because they eat almost anything, from regular fish flakes to brine shrimp to blood worms. With their small stomachs, they only need to be fed once or twice a day in small portions.
Guppies are extremely active so it’s best that they are kept in a big tank with at least 20 gallons of water where they can happily swim around. They are sociable and friendly fish that can live harmoniously with the same species and other small fish such as the characins, tetras, and platy fish.
3. Swordtail
Swordtails are crowd pleasers because of their trademark sword-like tail. They come in different varieties including Red Velvet, Black Nubian, Pineapple, and Marigold. Because they can grow to about 4 inches, they must be kept in large tanks that can hold 20 gallons of water. They are easy to care for because they thrive in various water conditions and they are perfectly happy with vegetable-based flakes or any plant-based diet.
Swordtails are generally peaceful fish that can thrive in a community habitant but the males may be territorial and aggressive toward other males upon reaching sexual maturity.
4. Molly
Mollies are great tropical fish for beginner aquarists. The males are slimmer compared to females. They come in the following colours: black, white, and orange, which can also appear in a variety of spotted colourations.
As Mollies are energetic and playful, they are best kept in a tank with open swimming spaces. They thrive in a well-lit tank with hard alkaline warm water with plenty of plants and algae they can snack on. Because they love to dig around and eat algae, they clean up the tank in the process.
5. Zebra Danios
Zebra Danios is a sturdy fish breed that can survive in varying water temperature. They can live well even without a water heater as long as it is under 60°F. They can live peacefully with other tropical fish as long as they do not have long flowing fins. They thrive in groups of at least five fish because they are known as schooling fish. Without a community, Zebra Danios may become stressed and agitated.
As an active breed, they are similar to mollies, which find targets when bored. They are suitable to be kept with barbs, corydoras, catfish, and swordtails.
6. Platy
Platies are active tropical fish that come in different varieties and markings. They are easy to care for because they tolerate most fish food. They also like to nibble on algae they find in the tank.
They are generally peaceful and can live well with tank mates of other fish species such as guppies, mollies, and some tetras. Though friendly, they do not live as a school of fish. It is recommended to keep one male and at least three females. Rearing more than five fish kept in a ten-gallon tank is not advisable.
7. Plecostomus
Also known as the Suckermouth Catfish, the plecostomus are slow-moving and bottom-dwelling tropical fish. They are easily identifiable by their armoured plates. They can live for up to 20 years and are likely to outlive other fish in the tank. They don’t stay small for long as a full-size adult can grow up to 30 inches long in a span of five years.
They are a great addition to any aquarium as they help keep the tank clean by eating algae. They have a calm temperament but they can be territorial with their own species. It is not recommended to acquire more than one if you are keeping them in a small tank. If you wish to have more plecos, make sure to house them in a tank big enough for them to move around or have a space to hide in.
Which tropical fish did you think is the best one for you? Choose one amongst fish for sale in the UK.
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