Choosing your first fish is one of the most exciting parts of starting an aquarium. It is also where many beginners run into trouble. Some fish sold as “easy” grow huge, need special water, or bully their tank mates. The best beginner fish are hardy, peaceful, stay a manageable size, and forgive a few small mistakes while you learn.
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Before you buy any fish, make sure your tank is fully cycled. Even the hardiest fish can get sick in a brand new tank. Our guide on how to cycle a fish tank explains how.
What Makes a Fish Good for Beginners?
- Hardy: handles small changes in water quality and temperature
- Peaceful: gets along with other community fish
- Manageable size: stays small enough for a normal home aquarium
- Easy to feed: eats flakes or pellets readily
- Easy to find: common in stores, often captive bred
The Best Fish for Beginners
1. Zebra Danios
Zebra danios are active, tough, and handle a wide range of temperatures. Keep them in a group of at least six. They are fast swimmers, so they do best in a longer tank. See our zebra danio care guide.
2. Platies
Platies are colorful, peaceful livebearers that come in many color patterns. They are easy to feed and do well in community tanks. Expect babies if you keep males and females together. Read our platy fish care guide.
3. Guppies
Guppies are small, bright, and lively. Males have the most colorful tails. Like platies, they breed easily, so many beginners keep only males. See our guppy care guide.
4. Corydoras Catfish
Corydoras are friendly bottom dwellers that spend the day searching the substrate for food. Keep them in groups of six or more on smooth gravel or sand, and feed sinking food so they get enough to eat. Read our corydoras care guide.
5. Cherry Barbs
Cherry barbs are calm, colorful barbs that are much more peaceful than tiger barbs. Males turn bright red. Keep them in a small group. See our cherry barb care guide.
6. Betta Fish
A single betta is a great choice for a smaller tank of 5 gallons or more with a heater and a gentle filter. Male bettas must be kept away from other male bettas, and they are not a good fit for tanks with fin nippers. See our betta fish care guide.
7. Swordtails
Swordtails are hardy livebearers related to platies. Males grow a long “sword” on the tail. They grow a little larger than platies, so give them a 20 gallon tank or bigger. Read our swordtail care guide.
8. Bristlenose Plecos
If you want an algae eater, choose a bristlenose pleco instead of a common pleco. Bristlenose plecos stay small, usually around 4 to 5 inches. Give them driftwood and algae wafers. See our bristlenose pleco care guide.
9. Neon Tetras (in an Established Tank)
Neon tetras are peaceful and beautiful in a group, but they are more sensitive than danios or platies. They are a good second step once your tank has been running for a few months. Read our neon tetra care guide.
10. Mollies
Mollies are hardy livebearers that do best in slightly harder water and a tank of 20 gallons or more. Read our molly fish care guide.
11. Kuhli Loaches
These eel-like loaches are peaceful, fun to watch, and shy. Keep a group of five or more on soft sand with plenty of hiding places. See our kuhli loach care guide.
12. Rainbowfish
Many rainbowfish are hardy, active, and colorful. Most need a larger tank, often 30 gallons or more, and a group to show their best colors. Read our rainbowfish care guide.
Popular Fish Better Saved for Later
These fish are often sold to beginners but can be difficult in a first tank.
- Common plecos can grow over a foot long. Our pleco care guide explains the different types
- Oscars grow large, produce a lot of waste, and need very large tanks. See our oscar care guide
- Goldfish are hardy but grow big, produce a lot of waste, and need much more space than most people expect. See our goldfish care guide
- Discus need very clean, warm, stable water and frequent water changes. See our discus care guide
- African cichlids can be aggressive and need specific water and tank mates. See our African cichlid care guide
- Otocinclus are peaceful but delicate and need a mature tank with algae to graze on
Tips for Adding Your First Fish
- Test your water with a liquid test kit before buying fish. Ammonia and nitrite should both be 0
- Add only a few fish at a time, and wait a week or two between groups
- Acclimate new fish slowly. Our fish acclimation guide shows you how
- Research every fish before you buy it, including its adult size and tank mates
- Ask the store how long the fish have been in their tanks and avoid any that look sick
Final Thoughts
The best first fish are hardy, peaceful, and suited to your tank size. Start with a few easy fish, learn how your tank behaves, and add more slowly. Patience at the start makes the whole hobby more enjoyable.
Have a question about your tank? Ask it in our friendly Facebook group, Beginners Fish Keepers, where new fish keepers help each other every day.
