list of easy fish.

**Kaz** · 05-21-2009, 12:31 PM

I think we should have a stick in the beginner section that has a list of easy fish to keep. We have something for fish beginners shouldn't have but it would be nice to know ones they should have.

All the fish should be able to be kept by somebody with no experience and they should be non aggressive and able to live comfortably in 10-20 gallons. Or we could have a list of fish for 5,10,20,30,50 gallons or something like that.

I do not think that there is a sticky like this but if there is and I somehow missed it please let me know.

What do you think should be on this list?

To start, something like this:

<2.5g

Ghost shrimp

2.5-5g

Betta

10g

Pygmy cories
Neon tetras
Cardinal tetras
Black neon tetras
Dwarf gourami
Guppies

20g

Most other Cories
Blackskirt tetras
Lemon tetras
Serpae tetras
Platies

And there is a lot more but I need to go somebody finish this!

**Lady Hobbs** · 05-21-2009, 12:39 PM

I think it totally depends on the persons water and their maintanence schedule. Like some do 10% water changes every two weeks and others do 60% weekly. Too many varibles here such as individual tank care, pH and hardness levels to have a basic list considered "easy".

**Mvjnz** · 05-21-2009, 01:10 PM

I think any fish can be kept by a beginner as long as they do their research properly. I'm against always recommending livebearers for beginners. I started with them, but within two months I was totally bored with them and wanted to move on, and was then stuck with fish I found boring and didn't want, because I couldn't even give them away. It took several weeks before I found someone willing to take them.

I think rather than making a list of easy fish, we should recommend people reading up on different fish and finding out what THEY are interested in, rather than recommending the same fish for everyone.

Also, I think making a list of fish for beginners might give the impression that these don't require the effort put into making them happy like the more difficult kinds do.

**Wiggs** · 05-21-2009, 02:37 PM

Left out the best one.

Zebra Danios are nearly unkillable :P

**robflanker** · 05-21-2009, 03:32 PM

As opposed to easy, a more detailed appropriate tank size per species. I understand a lot has to do with tank mates etc but just a ball park figure of

"Minimum for an angel 29 on its own" something along those lines. I've noticed there wasnt clear cut info on Clown Loaches in the primer or the article. Esp the fish that one can have for a few years in a smaller tank, but then need a bigger one

**Kaz** · 05-22-2009, 02:41 AM

Well I know that when I was first here I wanted despately to know what some easy fish were. I had no idea on my options and I really wanted to know this kind of info so I could get a referance so I could read more on the fish there.

I did turn to asking for help but the process took a long time and there was a lot of guess work on my part. I would of preffered to pop in with a larger list of fish that I was intrested in.

I understand that a beginner can have almost any fish but some are far easier than others and as a beginner I really wanted to play it safe.

We also have a million people pop in with the question "What can go in my 2.5/5 gallon?"

**William** · 05-22-2009, 02:54 AM

I disagree with neons and cardinals. Tjey are far from the hardiest fish out there. And I agree that we might look for interesting fish as well.

**Kaz** · 05-22-2009, 03:11 AM

Originally Posted by William

I disagree with neons and cardinals. Tjey are far from the hardiest fish out there. And I agree that we might look for interesting fish as well.

But do you like the idea?

I do not know that much about fish and I was rushed when typing this, so this more of a concept.

And of course my intention wasn't for this to be the be and end all, I was hoping somebody would see this, think about some of their options and then ask questions about that sort of tank setup.

**Gemini** · 05-22-2009, 03:49 AM

Hmmmm I do like the idea - maybe we could refine it a tad. Like perhaps cookie cutter set ups with water change requirements, substrates, etc.

So for example:
1G-5G tanks
Very small for most fish.
Good shrimp tanks.
Water changes of at least 25% weekly - keeping levels to 0,0 <20ppm could be:
- 20 cherry shrimp
&
- 5 ghost shrimp
OR
100 cherry shrimp

5G tank
With weekly water changes of at least 25% - levels kept to 0,0 <20ppm
You can keep:
- Betta
- Apple Snail

29G tank
All suggestions are based on a weekly maintenance schedule of 25% water changes and at least a 60G filter.
- pair rams
- 6 x corydoras
- 6 x tetras
- need soft substrate, PH 6.0-7.5 is best

**Not accurate fish numbers just examples**
It would take a bit of work though, and it would never be all inclusive. But I do like the idea.

**mac** · 05-23-2009, 07:40 AM

Hi guys,

This idea of a list of fish for beginners is great idea, but IMO and IME it is very hard to do. I am with Hobbs, and her point.

I think it totally depends on the persons water and their maintanence schedule. Like some do 10% water changes every two weeks and others do 60% weekly. Too many varibles here such as individual tank care, pH and hardness levels to have a basic list considered "easy".

This really is a hard one. Really I am for more trying to get people to research before doing anything with fish. But mind you that can be hard to do. Because not every-one researches first.

I think if a sticky was to be made, maybe there should be something much more in your face, than a sticky. Because to be blunt there is a lot of Stickies in the forum, and IMO another sticky would just be another sticky, cluttering up space.

So I am more for just constantly placing research before you by.

With this in mind, the idea with a stocking and list of fish is. Good and would be great use. But mind you it is hard to do with all types of water conditions and variouse other factors. So IMO I think the option is out.

mac