Great Beginner Fish for the Beginner Aquarist
So now it is time to stock your tank. It is cycled and you are excited about your leap into a new exciting hobby. The first thing to do is research. Do this while your tank is cycling. See what fish match and what fish can be kept together with little or no torment.

The following is a list and some information on some very easy beginner fish for the new aquarist.

The following fish will be less susceptible to changing water perimeters and poorer water qualities than most fish. Keep in mind you should do weekly maintenance, not overfeed, and strive to keep your aquarium as clean as maintained as possible so your fish will thrive.

Rasbora – There are numerous variations of rasbora that are easily kept by new aquarists. Some of these types include harlequin, clown, and the scissor tail rasbora. These are hearty fish that thrive in warmer temperatures as they are naturally occurring in Southeast Asia and Africa. The rasboras are a very large genus that includes more than 70 different species. Most rasboras remain less than 4 inches in length.

Corydoras- Cories are a great starter fish as most species of cory cats are very hearty fish. Cory cats unlike most other catfish as they fall under armored catfish and remain small in size compared to other cats. The cory cat is a very pleasant fish an will be a great addition to almost any community tank that contains smaller fish. They are indigenous to the slow moving streams of South America and do well in shallow lighted tank. Unlike most catfish corys are not nocturnal. They thrive and forage during the day. The corydoras include over 150 species that are mostly very easily kept. Most cory cats are no more than 4 inches in length.

Zebra fish, A danio species - Copyright www.jjphoto.dk

Danios - Danios are also a very hearty fish that are naturally found in southeast Asia. They usually range in size from 1.5 inches through giant danio which can get upto 5 inches. Danios are a very calm and peaceful community fish and can be kept in shoals in a community tank.

Barbs- Barbs range in size and should be kept as a species tank. They are known as fish nippers but are very hearty and will thrive in less than perfect water conditions. Barbs if not kept in large shoals may become a little more aggressive and are commonly wrongfully added to community tanks that include long finned species and livebearers. Longer fins for a barb will be an attraction and do not be surprised if when you mix the barbs in a community tank that some of your other fish’ fins may be tattered.

Livebearers – Livebearers are generally kept by new aquarists. These include endler’s livebearer, guppies, mollies, swordtails and platies. These are probably the most common beginner fish as they have brilliant colors at times and are easily kept in pairs with little to no aggression during mating. Livebearers mate at a steady pace and if serious about growing the fry an aquarist should purchase another tank to setup as a fry tank.

Other Aquarium Articles

Aquarium Cycling - A guide on how to cycle your aquarium.
Aquarium Lighting - Learn the basics of aquarium lighting
Acclimating Fish - A guide on how to acclimate fish.
Breeding Fish - Overview of How To Breed Tropical Fish
Bad beginner fish - Horrible Beginner Fish for the Beginner Aquarist
The beginners tank - A guide to your fist aquarium
Cleaning your filter - Basic filter management
Carbon and aquariums - Information on the effects of using carbon in your aquarium.
Cycling - A guide to aquarium cycling and how it works.
Don’t trust the staff in the fish store! - A text about why you shouldn't alway trust your fish store.
Dry and Rainy Seasons in the Tank - A detailed account of how to simulate seasons in aquariums
Electrical Safety and Aquariums - How to prevent electrical accidents.
Filtration pro and cons - thoughts about filtration
Fry Growth rate - Thoughts on how to optimize growth in fry.
Fish keeping for beginners - An introduction for beginners.
Aquarium Filtration- Llists and describes the different methods of aquarium filtration, and then discusses their benefits and drawbacks.
Finding the Triggers - Information about how to find breeding triggers in different fihs species.
Fry Savers - Information about fry savers and how to construct fry savers.
How to Buy Healthy Fish - A gew tips on choosing healthy fish.
Making a Pebble Cave - A guide on how to make your own pebble cave for your fish.
Modifying Water Chemistry - A technical article about modifying hardness, alkalinity and pH.
Optimizing Growth of Fishes - The factors affecting fish growth - some may be manipulated, others not.
Setting up a tropical freshwater aquarium - Detailed guide on how to setup a freshwater aquarium..
Reverse Osmosis and aquariums - RO is a way to get very pure water in which fish such as dicus and neon tetras can breed and raise their fry.
Safe Rock and Wood Aquascaping - How to make sure that the materials you use in your aquascaping are aquarium safe.
Selecting Community Tank Fish - A guide that will help you choose the right fish for you based on tank size and experience level.
Setting Up A New Aquarium - Help beginners setup their first aquarium
Slime coat - Protecting your fishes vital slime coat
Snails in Aquariums - The biology of snails. Their advantages and disadvantages in an aquarium. How to keep them in check.
Amazon Biotope Aquarium - How to set-up, stock and maintain an aquarium that replicates the Amazon watershed.
Wall mounted aquariums - Information about Wall mounted aquariums
Water chemistry in the aquarium - Hardness, alkalinity and pH are discussed technically, from a chemistry point of view.
Water Chillers - Introduction to water chillers.