5 Fish Breeds for First-Time Fish Keepers

When embarking on your first fish keeping enterprise, you might find yourself at a loss when confronted with the myriad of fish breeds and the different ways of caring for them. Fret not, fish keeping doesn’t have to be as daunting or confusing as it initially seems if you choose good beginner fish. These fish breeds are hardier than most, making them ideal for first-time fish keepers. They’re also more peaceful than most fish so that you won’t have to worry too much about fighting or territorial disputes.

Vibrant Neon Tetras

These brilliantly coloured fish are a lively addition to your tank, relatively easy to care for and sociable. With a striking blue stripe across their bodies, you’ll be able to see them zipping about, even at night. Growing to roughly 2.2cm, a 38-litre tank will suffice. As they do best in groups, having about five or so is recommended although you can have many as you like (one neon tetra per 4 litres of water is recommended). Just keep in mind that large changes in water conditions can be fatal to them so only make minor changes to avoid harming them. As omnivores, they can survive on fish flakes but you can also supplement their diet with bloodworms and brine shrimp!

Easy Peasy Platies

The Zebra Danios

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The Zebra Danios is an energetic fish that is known for its iconic Zebra stripes and is pretty hardy, as it is able to survive in quite a few water conditions. Growing up to about 5 to 7 cm, it thrives in groups and a minimum number of Zebra Danios you should have is five. As such, the tank should be at least 38 litres and ideally, 77 litres as Zebra Danios are an active fish breed. You will find that the Zebra Danios often frequents near the surface of the water – so do keep your tank covered as this breed has been known to jump out of the tank! Easy going omnivores, the Zebra Danios is good with fish flakes but for a healthy diet, consider feeding them with insects, crustaceans and bloodworms.

Swashbuckling Swordtails

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Named after their tails that look similar to a sword, Swordtails come in a variety of colours and are pretty hard to kill. Including their long tail fin, they can measure up to 12 cm when fully grown so a tank size of 77 litres is recommended. Being a community fish, you are encouraged to keep them in schools of at least five Swordtails. While they are usually peaceful, you may, at times, notice the males behaving aggressively to each other. As these fish are often found in fast-flowing streams, consider simulating their natural environment by having a channel of faster flowing water in your tank. Being omnivores, they can live on fish flakes but you should supplement their diet with plant-based food as well as other live or frozen food.

Peculiar Bristlenose Pleco

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Also known as the Bushynose Pleco, this strange and rather cute fish is a bottom feeder that can withstand most tank conditions. Despite being one of the smaller variations of plecos, the Bristlenose Pleco grows up to 13 cm and as such, a 114-litre fish tank is ideal. The Bristlenose Pleco tends to hide in caves or under driftwood, so ensure that there are the necessary areas for it to seek shelter under in your tank. Mainly herbivorous, this fish will help you in keeping your tank rather algae free although you should feed it algae wafers and even some kinds of vegetables to keep it well-fed.

Although these fish are indeed hardier than most, it’s important to still ensure that the tank conditions are optimal. Always ensure that your tank is properly cycled and kept at a consistent temperature (most of these are tropical freshwater fish) with a good filtration system. You should also regularly test the water to maintain the hardness and pH levels. The fish breeds mentioned above are also good practice, especially if you intend to graduate to more delicate fish breeds in the future. Remember, these fish may be easier to rear than most other pets but they deserve all the effort you can spare for them to have a comfortable and happy life!

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