Best Fish For Beginner

[fishrcool1]

Hey guys,
 
So I want to get some tropical fish.
 
What are the best type of fish for beginners? I want colourful ones but also some weird looking fish.
 
I know its not very descriptive but I'm new!
 
Thanks

 

[NeonTetra97]

Hey fishrcool1, welcome! 

 
It depends what you like and what tank you got. But just of the top of my head, Bettas are nice, Guppies are awesome, they were my first tropicals and they are really nice looking and pretty easy to keep Can I ask what tank you got?

 

[KrystaK]

For a 5 gal tank:  If you get a Crowntail betta, their fins appear shredded, so they look sort of weird.
 
 
for a 10 gal tank: Guppies are also good, they come in some incredible colors; I prefer Platy's myself (Both of these types of fish have a lot of babies, so getting only one gender would be best)
 
Another beginner fish is a Dwarf Gourami, their pretty colorful

 

[fishrcool1]

Hey,

Thanks for all of the responses
 
As of yet I don't have a tank. I guess this is something I should sort out first?
 
I like the look of all the fish you both suggested.
 
Thanks!

 

[fluttermoth]

Hi there

 
There are a few things to think about before you start thinking about fish, tbh!
 
First of all, do you have a place to put a tank and how big a tank do you want? New or second hand? 
 
Oh; how much money are you thinking of spending?

 

[NeonTetra97]

If you don't know about cycling your tank I would advise looking into it as it is nicer for the fish and will hopefully avoid any unexplained deaths. Here is a link that covers it, don't worry if it sounds confusing at first, it did to me when I first heard of it but its so useful once you understand! Good luck with you new fish, I would love some pics when you get them!  
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first/

 

[bluesword23516]

I have guppies, mollies, and tetras. I love them! Tetras are easy and I have a white skirt tetra, it is pink and reminds me of a piranha.

 

[Ch4rlie]

 
Some helpful suggestion already, if this is your very first tank, I would actually suggest you find a suitable place in your house where you would like to have the tank, not too close to a window in direct sunlight (this can cause problems with algae)
 
Then try to get as big a tank as your budget and space in your house allows, the bigger the tank, the better.
The bigger the tank, the bigger the volume of water you have, therefore this makes control of tank water parameters (ammonia, nitrite and nitrates) more controllable compared to a small so called "beginners tank" of 20 litres or thereabouts that your Local Fish Store (LFS) probably supplies.
And more importantly you can have a few more fish! 

 
Anywhere from 90 litres upwards would be my recommended sizes to begin from, this is only if you have the space and budget, if you can only get a slightly smaller tank then thats fine also. 
 
Two further tips I would suggest.
 
1st, do not rely on what your LFS advises you, some LFS have been known to give poor advice as they generally only wants to sell their products. So has been known they will say what you want to hear to encourage sales, be wary.
 
2nd tip, do your research and ask on this forum first if you are ever unsure of anything.
 
Do have a read of the link that NeonTetra97 has given, well worth reading.
 
Look forward to seeing your first tank set up and pictures when you are ready! 

 

[snork6]

If you are just starting off you should get a 10G and if you like fish keeping you can upgrade to a bigger one oh and I love guppy's

 

[tunagirll]

I have a small 25 litre tank that has live plants and a betta; it also has a large filter, a heater, a thermometer. Because it's small, it's unforgiving and I have to maintain it religiously. I don't mind but just confirming that can be the case
 
So I recommend you go along with looking at a larger tank which will be more forgiving of mistakes that are bound to happen when you are learning. There are some VERY cool fish out there - just browse the forums - that you can have as a beginner so long as you have a decent size tank and a willingness to learn how to look after fish! It's the same learning curve so you might as well have fish that you are really excited about

 

[fishrcool1]

I am amazed with the amount of responses, thank you so much everyone!
 
So from reading through all of the comments, the summray is:

• Large tank (possibly 90L+).
• Tank Location and Cycling.
• Fish selection (so far): Bettas, Guppies, Dwarf Gourami, Platys, Mollies, Tetras.

Is this a good starting point?
 
Thanks again!

 

[Ch4rlie]

Yup, sound like you have the general idea of things.
 
Let us know how you get on with things. DO ask if you get stuck or unsure about anything 

 

[NeonTetra97]

Is your fish selection you mentioned a list of possibles you might get or a list of fish you would want to keep together?

 

[fluttermoth]

There are two main ways of choosing a tank and it's stock.
 
You can either start with the tank (if you have a particular spot in mind, for instance) and then choose fish which will be happy in there, 
 
or,
 
you can choose a particular fish, if you see something in  a shop that you fall for perhaps, and then set up a tank specifically for them.
 
Before you make too many plans, or start buying anything, I would advise you to go and look around as many local fish shops (LFS) as you can and see what you like the look of. Do not be talking into, or tempted to buy anything!. Write down anything that catches your eye, and then we can advise you

 

[fishrcool1]

There is one place in the room where the tank can go really.
 
I am looking at big tanks but I'm not sure what is too big for a beginner.
 
I've just seen one about 350L. Is this too big?
 
Thanks