Over the past few weeks, I’ve taken a look at some easy “beginner” fish if you’re new to the aquarium hobby. Some popular starter fish include zebra danios, platy, gold and cherry barbs, and tetra.
But as the old saying goes, there are many fish in the sea. And out of the sea! With such a wide variety of fish available at your local aquarium shop, pet store, or online retailer, how do you choose the best fish for your tank?
Doing your research can make a big difference. If you know as much as possible about a particular species of fish, you’ll be prepared to give it a good home.
- Know how big your fish will get when it reaches full size and how much space it will need.
- Know the water parameters your fish need. Do you need a heater to keep things at an appropriate temperature?
- Know the best foods for your fish. Will a flake food be sufficient? What kinds of supplements will your fish eat?
- Does your fish live happily alone, or in a school?
- Is your fish generally peaceful, or will it harass other types of fish? Some fish don’t get along well with fish of a different size; others do.
- Does your fish breed easily (and often)? Do you have the room for babies? Do you have a second tank where you can segregate the parents so they don’t eat the eggs?
- Is the fish hardy, or will it succumb easily to fish diseases?
Remember that an aquarium is a long-term commitment. It can take several weeks just to get your tank set up! Don’t load your tank with fish immediately — add fish a few at a time so that your filters have time to adjust to the new bio-load.