Hardy Fish - The Perfect Choice For Novice Aquarists
Taking care of pet fish can be very rewarding and therapeutic.
A beautiful, well-kept aquarium evokes tranquility and a sense of peace which can easily soothe frayed nerves.
However, as with other pets, fish have specific needs and can only thrive under the right conditions.
Different types of fish need different levels of attention.
There are fussy ones who can only eat certain types of food and who are easily affected by temperature changes or water quality.
And then there are the hardy ones which are pretty low-maintenance and with a high degree of adaptability.
These hardy fish are the best ones to keep for beginner aquarists.
There are many pet fish varieties that are resilient and undemanding.
They are generally preferred by inexperienced fish owners because of their adaptability, wide range of food choice, relative ease in breeding, and generally agreeable disposition.
Some suggested types of hardy fish for beginners include: White Cloud Mountain Minnows They are cute and unassuming, and are often overlooked in favour of more colourful fish.
But, the White Cloud Mountain Minnow is the best fish for beginners because they are not finicky with food and water quality, and can endure temperatures changes that may be unwieldy for the more flimsy fish types.
They grow to about 1.
5 inches and are usually silvery green in colour with a bright red caudal fin.
Minnows thrive better in groups of at least five.
Otherwise, they tend to become shy and lose their bright colour when alone.
Bettas.
These are colourful labyrinth fishes that originate in Southeast Asia.
Commonly known as Siamese fighting fish, these fish can survive happily in small tanks with minimal maintenance.
They are called fighting fish because of their tendency to attack their mirror image.
Bettas are generally peaceful, but the males can be aggressive towards other males.
Bettas are not frequent eaters, but they should be fed small amounts every day or at least every other day.
They thrive on flakes, blood worms and black worms, and brine shrimp.
Catfish and Corydora varieties These are favorite aquarium regulars because they are genial and are generally compatible with other schools of fish.
They also tolerate water quality well and can survive low oxygen levels.
They are not finicky eaters and many actually believe that they are scavengers, because most species are bottom-dwellers.
However, Cory's do not actually eat solid fish waste and they can have a low tolerance for ammonia and nitrite.
They do feed on algae, but it is best to supplement their diet with other food.
Cory's are slow-moving and prefer to move around in large groups.
Guppies, Platies, and Swordtails They are very colourful and are small enough to thrive happily in small tanks.
They are easy to breed and require low maintenance in terms of food choices and water quality.
They are also very peaceful types that can mix well with other fish varieties.
Hardy fish are perfect for novice fish enthusiasts because, despite their low maintenance requirements, they provide the fish care experience that all serious aquarists need to acquire.
Also, low maintenance does not necessarily mean low quality.
Hardy fish can provide just as much colour and excitement to any aquarium as any other fish type.
A beautiful, well-kept aquarium evokes tranquility and a sense of peace which can easily soothe frayed nerves.
However, as with other pets, fish have specific needs and can only thrive under the right conditions.
Different types of fish need different levels of attention.
There are fussy ones who can only eat certain types of food and who are easily affected by temperature changes or water quality.
And then there are the hardy ones which are pretty low-maintenance and with a high degree of adaptability.
These hardy fish are the best ones to keep for beginner aquarists.
There are many pet fish varieties that are resilient and undemanding.
They are generally preferred by inexperienced fish owners because of their adaptability, wide range of food choice, relative ease in breeding, and generally agreeable disposition.
Some suggested types of hardy fish for beginners include: White Cloud Mountain Minnows They are cute and unassuming, and are often overlooked in favour of more colourful fish.
But, the White Cloud Mountain Minnow is the best fish for beginners because they are not finicky with food and water quality, and can endure temperatures changes that may be unwieldy for the more flimsy fish types.
They grow to about 1.
5 inches and are usually silvery green in colour with a bright red caudal fin.
Minnows thrive better in groups of at least five.
Otherwise, they tend to become shy and lose their bright colour when alone.
Bettas.
These are colourful labyrinth fishes that originate in Southeast Asia.
Commonly known as Siamese fighting fish, these fish can survive happily in small tanks with minimal maintenance.
They are called fighting fish because of their tendency to attack their mirror image.
Bettas are generally peaceful, but the males can be aggressive towards other males.
Bettas are not frequent eaters, but they should be fed small amounts every day or at least every other day.
They thrive on flakes, blood worms and black worms, and brine shrimp.
Catfish and Corydora varieties These are favorite aquarium regulars because they are genial and are generally compatible with other schools of fish.
They also tolerate water quality well and can survive low oxygen levels.
They are not finicky eaters and many actually believe that they are scavengers, because most species are bottom-dwellers.
However, Cory's do not actually eat solid fish waste and they can have a low tolerance for ammonia and nitrite.
They do feed on algae, but it is best to supplement their diet with other food.
Cory's are slow-moving and prefer to move around in large groups.
Guppies, Platies, and Swordtails They are very colourful and are small enough to thrive happily in small tanks.
They are easy to breed and require low maintenance in terms of food choices and water quality.
They are also very peaceful types that can mix well with other fish varieties.
Hardy fish are perfect for novice fish enthusiasts because, despite their low maintenance requirements, they provide the fish care experience that all serious aquarists need to acquire.
Also, low maintenance does not necessarily mean low quality.
Hardy fish can provide just as much colour and excitement to any aquarium as any other fish type.