Fish are easy pets, but only if you know how to care for them properly. Here is the complete guide to different types of tropical fish and what to feed them.
An aquarium can be a colorful, animated mini-scape of nature in your own house or apartment.
While many animal-lovers would love to own a pet, they are often discouraged by the thought of shedding and odors, which would bring additional cleaning responsibilities into their living spaces.
An exotic fish aquarium brings chromatically, movement, and greenery into homes in every type of neighborhood.
For prospective fish owners, choosing the right breeds for their first aquarium can be a daunting task. How will you know which types fish can be paired together? What do you feed them, and how often should water be changed?
It’s important to select types that are easy to care for if it’s your first time owning aquatic pets. Hardy fish can live in water that’s not changed quite as often as it should be, or isn’t always at an optimal temperature.
You’ll want fish that have low levels of aggression and can live amicably with other fish. Ideally, your first fish would not grow to more than two or three inches in length, as larger types will sometimes eat smaller ones.
What are some great types of tropical fish for your first tank? Check out 10 great ideas below!
1. Danios
These active, small fish flip by in sherbert colors like red, yellow and green. While these fish are lively, they’re not aggressive, and rarely grow to more than two inches in length.
Danios like to swim in schools of six or more and get along best with other active fish. They love color flakes, tropical granules, and shrimp pellets. Prepare a large-enough aquarium for them with gravel and plants on the bottom.
The water in danios’ tanks is optimal at a comfy 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH should be maintained between 7-7.8.
2. Black Molly
Black mollies are easy to care for because they get along swimmingly in fresh, brackish, or salt water. While they’re comfortable in many aqua-settings, they prefer water temperatures from 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperature fluctuations will make them more prone to disease, especially Ich and Velvet.
Short-finned mollies can be platinum-colored, dusty-gold, or black. They love flake and pellet foods, bloodworms, and brine shrimp.
Black mollies should be given plenty of water. A tank with thirty gallons is a great place to start, and adding tough plans like Java Fern, Sagittaria, and Anubias will give them a fabulous aquapark for playing hide-and-seek.
Mollies should not live with large fish. They live happily alongside fish like danios, barbs, or rainbows. Black mollies like to travel in groups of three or more.
3. Platies
These friendly, attractive fish come in a kaleidoscope of colors including blue, purple, red-orange, and yellow. Platies are selectively bred so that new color blends are produced.
Even though they’re not schooling fish, platies love to live in playful communities with other passive fish.
A ten-gallon tank will comfortably house five platies. Males will grow to about 1.5 inches in length, and females will grow to 2.5 inches.
Platies prefer warmer water that is between 70-77 degrees Fahrenheit. They like to eat flake food, freeze-dried food, and algae.
4. Betta
Betta fish are vivaciously colored pets that originated in Southeast Asia. The shorter bettas are available in half-moon, double-tail, and crown tail shapes.
Betta fish do best in aquariums with regular water changes. They prefer water that is between 76-82 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold water can suppress their immune systems and cause illness.
You can clean their tanks without alarming the fish by changing about one-third of the water at a time, giving fish a chance to adjust to the pH of the clean water. Betta fish prefer slightly acidic water, at a pH between 6.5-7.
Bettas eat on the surface of the water with upturned mouths. The best food for them is pellets that give them the vitamins they need for bright color and longevity. While most live between two and three years, some are known to live well into their teens.
5. Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are small, brilliantly-colored fish with silver/white abdomens and bright blue backs. They live amicably in groups with other small fish.
Tatras prefer slightly acidic waters and temperatures that are around 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Guppies
Guppies are fabulous, playful fish that love to breed. If you put two guppies of different sexes together, expect lots of teeny guppies soon!
These fish love to eat brine shrimp, bloodworms, and daphnia. Guppies will also munch on veggies like lettuce, peas, and cucumbers. Beware of overfeeding your guppies, as they have small stomachs and it can lead to blocked intestines.
Male guppies will grow to about 1.5-3 cm, and females will usually grow to 3-5 cm. Males are brightly colored with spots, and females are typically gray.
Guppies can live for up to two years in an aquarium with rocks and vegetation.
7. Rainbow Fish
As their name advertises, rainbow fish come in a variety of vibrant colors. While neon rainbows may appear dull in the pet store, they develop stunning blue bodies with red or yellow fins after you bring them home.
Since they are docile and can even be described as shy, they can live pleasantly with other small, non-aggressive fish.
Rainbows like to eat vegetable matter and meat-based foods. They prefer a water temperature between 74-78 degrees Fahrenheit, and a pH between 7.4-8.
8. Glofish
These pets are glowing zebra danios inserted with the gene of a jellyfish, giving them their neon shine.
While they are hardy, glofish should not be paired with overly aggressive fish. They will accept any food chemistry but prefer to eat fish flakes or leafy plants.
Glofish will grow to be only a little over an inch in length. They prefer a water temperature between 72-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. Corydoras Catfish
These fun-loving fish come in a rainbow of colors including emerald, bronze, and albino. They love to swim in groups of five or six at a time.
Corydoras catfish are bottom-feeders and will eat algae as well as debris from the bottom of the tank. They prefer a pH between 7-8, and a temperature between 74-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
10. Angelfish
True to their name, angelfish are beautiful and graceful. They should not, however, be paired with smaller fish like guppies or neon tetras, as they may eat them.
Angelfish eat brine shrimp, mealworms, bloodworms, and small insects. They prefer a pH between 6-8, and a temperature between 74-80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Time to Choose from the Different Types of Tropical Fish
Now that you know some of the best types of tropical fish for your aquarium, you can make the best decision for you.
Small, hardy, and friendly tropical fish like danios, black mollies, and platies will make your tank-world brilliant and friendly. Glofish and rainbow fish will brighten up your tank. Of course, you can never go wrong with the majestic angelfish.
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