What tropical fish should i start with




















This covers half of their body, making them look very special, compared to most other species on this list. But being among the most beautiful fish, comes with a price: they rarely get along with others. Usually, Bettas hardly get along with each other. Because of this, adding other species to the tank should be done carefully. The Siamese Algae Eater, like its name suggests, is most commonly known for its algae eating capabilities.

Most people who add this breed to their aquarium, do it because this species will clean the tank from most of the algae. If you want a fish that works well with most other breeds, the Siamese Algae Eater is a great choice.

It is a peaceful species, that lives well in community tanks. If you want to, you can keep only 1 or 2 of them in the tank as well. They thrive, no matter their numbers. They are omnivores, so feeding them will be quite easy. They will mostly eat the algae that in the water, but you should give them other food supplies too. Pellets and wafers that sink to the bottom of the tank, are a good choice. The Otocinclus breed, is another fish, that is well-known for its algae eating capabilities.

Because of this, feeding them will be quite easy, similar to the Siamese Algae Eaters. There is a difference however:. The Otocinclus Fish, is an herbivore species. So, avoid giving them meat, or other food products that include meat as well. A good choice, would be the algae wafers you can buy at any fish store. Usually, 1 piece at every 2 days is enough to feed them.

Green vegetables are loved by the Otocinclus. Lettuce, spinach and zucchini are great, if you cut them into small pieces. If you have a tank of small, fresh water fish, the Otocinclus can prove to be a great addition. Due to its peaceful nature, it will thrive with other peaceful species in a community tank. The Danios are a bigger family of fish. They come in many different versions.

You need at least a gallon tank for housing Zebra Danios. Being so small and peaceful, makes them great choices for community aquariums.

Differently from many other species in this article, the Zebra Danios will thrive in colder waters, just as well as warm ones. But a great water filter is a must. They need a crystal clean water, to thrive in. Make sure you buy a cleaner that does a good job at this. The Rainbowfish is a popular breed, both among beginner and experienced fish keeping enthusiasts.

They are small fish, that live well together with other community fish species. Because of their small size, you should avoid putting bigger fish in the same tank as them Bettas for instance.

They are schooling fish, so make sure you have 5 or 6 at least in a group. This way, they will feel at home in their new environment. If you keep multiple ones together, the males will exhibit their best colors towards the females. The group will look much better because of this. Feeding them is pretty simple, since the Rainbowfish are omnivores. You can give them earthworms, pellets, simple vegetables, or specially made food for their kind.

However, they are not bottom dwellers, like others on this list. Make sure, they have plenty of space in the aquarium, because they like to swim around in groups. Usually, a gallon tank is enough for a group of 6 Rainbowfish. Clown Loaches are a popular breed among fish keepers, due to their look and behavior.

They are schooling fish, that are very active during daytime. Clown Loaches have an orange body, that is covered by v-shaped stripes on both sides this is where its name comes from. Because they are schooling fish, you should keep 3 or 4 in the same group. They are peaceful, so keeping them in community tanks is a great choice. Almost any other fish breed will prove to be a great tank mate, as long as it is peaceful and happy to live in groups.

Differently from many other species in this article, the Clown Loaches are a carnivore breed. They eat both live and dry foods, but they prefer live. Earthworms are a great source of nutrients for Clown Loaches. But you can buy food products yourself, if that is what you want. If you want something colorful in the aquarium, then the African Cichlids are among the best choices you could pick. These are beautiful fish, that come in all kinds of colors, you could imagine.

A community tank will look amazing, if you add some African Cichlids into it. Depending on the breed yes, there are multiple different kinds , an African Cichlid can live up to 15 years old. So, if you plan to create a long-lasting fresh water environment, these fish can prove a good choice.

However, there is a downside: African Cichlids are quite territorial and aggressive. If you put them together with other fish that like to swim around a lot, they will get attacked at some point by the Cichlids.

So, if you want multiple breeds to live together with Cichlids, make sure you choose species that live on the bottom of the tank most of the time. This way, both species will have their space clearly set out. The main difference is their behavior. African Cichlids are quite aggressive, as I pointed out above, however Ram Cichlids are not.

Actually, they do best with peaceful companions, just like them. Because of this, a community tank is perfect for Ram Cichlids. They will behave peacefully to one another. The Ram Cichlid is another omnivore fish species, so you can feed it all kinds of different food.

In the wild, they eat small insects mostly. You can replicate that, by giving them mosquito larvae or other small insect larvae. Simple vegetables are also a great food source for Ram Cichlids. Killifish owners are among the largest groups of fish keepers on the globe. Because the Killifish is one of the most beautiful looking species that you can get for a fresh water aquarium.

There are many different types of Killifish that you can buy, but there is something common in all of them: they are all vividly colored. Almost all types of Killifish are peaceful towards other breeds, which makes them great tank mates to almost every community fish species. However, the males could get aggressive against the other males in the tank. Most Killifish breeds are carnivores in their natural habitat.

To feed them properly, you can give them crustaceans, insect larvae and worms. These should all be live when you feed your fish. Killifish require a well-balanced diet, to meet their nutritional requirements. Discus Fish are considered a more complex breed, that require more attention to keep. Even so, you can own some of them, if you do everything by the book. However, the same rule applies when adding the next round of fish.

Moderation: you must add only a few at a time. Fish owners tend to opt for fish with the most physical appeal. Pretty fish are sometimes acceptable beginner choices, but there are other more important factors to consider.

A beginner fish should have these qualities:. Small schooling fish are generally good first fish, but take care to not add an entire school at once if the tank is new. If you want more than one species, do not start them all at the same time. Instead, build one school up before starting the next species. Tetras, for instance, are a schooling fish to avoid in any new tank.

Most are more sensitive to water conditions than other fish, and often will not survive the initial start-up cycle. Although the list seems small, there is quite a variety to choose from. Once your tank matures, you can branch out into other species of fish. If you are wondering why your favorite fish isn't on the "good first fish" list, here are some popular fish that you should not add to your new freshwater aquarium.

Now that you've decided on the species of fish, there is one more important step—choosing healthy individuals. When you go to the shop, don't accept just any fish. Other factors to bear in mind are:. You must keep your aquarium away from anything noisy such as the TV or washing machine, to avoid stress to your fish. It is advisable to keep the aquarium away from strong light such as near a skylight or window, as this may result in a lot of algae growth.

You must ensure that your aquarium is on a stand that can support the weight, and the floor beneath it is also sufficiently strong. You need to avoid placing your aquarium on a slant; otherwise the water may leak and it can cause stress on one side of the tank which may lead to cracks.

Two buckets, one for dirty water and one for clean water — these should never be used for anything else. All electrical equipment that you buy should have a drip loop to ensure any water runs onto the floor and not into your electrical sockets. Make sure you rinse your gravel or substrate well then carefully scoop it into the tank, taking care not to scratch the tank surface.

It is a good idea to create a gentle slope which is higher at the back and lower at the front. Then add the water either saltwater or water treated with de-chlorinator — if you place a small dish on the floor of the tank, you can pour the water into that and avoid displacing the gravel. Then add in your heater, following the instructions that came with it carefully, and set it to the proper temperature. Add in any live plants as these will help prepare the tank for your fish.

Finally test your water for pH, hardness, nitrates, nitrites and ammonia, ensuring that the levels are as recommended. Your pH should never be allowed to drop under 6. This helps the temperature to stabilise and gives you a chance to get the levels right. Your fish should be added in slowly at the rate of small fish per 40 litres at most — and you should continue testing the levels every day. Feed the fish sparingly to start with — every other day is fine.



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