Choosing your first fish is exciting, but the wrong choices can make the hobby far harder than it needs to be. These ten species are hardy, peaceful, and forgiving, while the five to avoid catch out countless beginners every year.
The 10 Best Beginner Fish
1. Guppies
Colourful, active, and adaptable to a wide range of water. Just be aware they breed readily.
2. Platies
Peaceful, hardy livebearers that come in many colours and tolerate beginner mistakes well.
3. Zebra Danios
Extremely tough, active schooling fish that tolerate a range of temperatures. Keep them in groups of six or more.
4. Neon and Cardinal Tetras
Stunning schooling fish for established tanks. Best added once your tank is fully cycled and stable.
5. Corydoras Catfish
Peaceful bottom-dwellers that are endlessly entertaining. Keep them in groups on soft substrate.
6. Harlequin Rasboras
Hardy, peaceful schooling fish with a lovely copper colour. Ideal for community tanks.
7. White Cloud Mountain Minnows
Tolerant of cooler water and very forgiving, a great choice for unheated or low-tech tanks.
8. Cherry Barbs
Peaceful (unlike many barbs), colourful, and undemanding.
9. Mollies
Hardy and personable, though they appreciate slightly harder water.
10. Bristlenose Pleco
A small, manageable algae-eater, unlike the common pleco, which grows enormous.
💡 Pro tip: Almost all of these are schooling or social fish. Keeping them in proper groups dramatically reduces stress and brings out their best colours and behaviour.
5 Fish to Avoid as a Beginner
- Common Pleco: sold tiny, but reaches 45cm+ and produces enormous amounts of waste.
- Goldfish (in small tanks): they're messy, grow large, and need far more space than a bowl or nano tank.
- Bettas with the wrong tankmates: beautiful, but males are territorial and easily harassed or harassing.
- Tiger Barbs: notorious fin-nippers that bully calmer community fish.
- Oscars and other large cichlids: intelligent but aggressive and far too big for a beginner tank.
Before You Buy Anything
Make sure your tank is fully cycled, research each species' adult size and temperament, and check they suit your water hardness. A little planning prevents most beginner heartbreak.
Find tanks, filters, and everything to start your community aquarium in our Aquatics range.
