So, you’ve decided to purchase your first freshwater aquarium. Now comes the fun part—selecting the aquatic life! Whether you’ve chosen a cold water aquarium or a heated aquarium, there are plenty of wonderful options to choose from. Here are some of our favorite starter fish for your first aquarium.
How to select starter fish for your first aquarium
When it comes to selecting your starter fish, there are many factors to consider. We’ve chosen the fish below because they are easy to care for, compatible with other fish, capable of enduring more difficult situations, and the perfect size for smaller tanks.
Neon Tetra
These small, colorful freshwater fish thrive in cool water and are incredibly easy to care for. Neon tetras are very social and love being in groups, making them a great option if you’re looking to bring a whole family home. They enjoy a simple diet of basic fish flakes, but will also feast on a bloodworm or brine shrimp on special occasions.
Danios
If you’ve never maintained a freshwater tank before, danios are the perfect starter fish for your aquarium. They are very hardy and will survive in a variety of water conditions. They’ll also keep you entertained as they love to swim! Just like the neon tetra, danios are happy with a diet of fish flakes.
Guppies
If you’re hoping to add color to your aquarium, why not bring home a few guppies? This species comes in a wide range of colors and is incredibly hardy. While they can survive over a week without food, give them a few fish flakes each day to keep them happy!
Platies
Much like the neon tetra, platies love communities! Add them to a tank with other passive fish, and they’ll do great. They also come in multiple varieties to choose from. Platies eat flake and freeze-dried food, and will also help you with aquarium maintenance as they will eat algae that develops in the tank.
Goldfish
What beginner aquarium would be complete without at least one goldfish? These fish come in a variety of colors and sizes, including variations with beautiful fanned tails. Goldfish prefer a water temperature in the 62-74 degree range, making them an excellent option for your cool water aquarium.
Armco Aquatics has a wide selection of live stock available for your first aquarium. If you’re ready to meet the newest additions to your aquatic family, contact us today!
Seeing how easy it is to maintain guppies really interests me and makes me want to try owning some. Feeding them only a few days at a time is a lot less stressful than other fish that I’ve heard about from my friends, so it’s likely the best option for a beginner like me. I’ll go and look for a pet store in the area that can help me get the supplies I need to get started.