Top 5 freshwater aquarium fishes for beginners

In our previous article, we have discussed the various medical benefits of having aquariums in our living space as well as the logic of Vaastu and Feng Shui principle behind the same. Apart from the plethora of benefits, aquariums can liven up any décor, instantly. One cannot possibly deny the soothing and mesmerizing effect it has on any pair of sore eyes. The cool azure water rippling, the tiny beautiful and colorful fishes swimming, the green aquatic plants swaying under the water current, beautiful pebbles and rocks in a plethora of bright colors, is surely a treat to watch.

Once you have convinced yourself to have your very own aquarium and also done with the process of setting it up, the next most important step would be deciding which fishes would be compatible in your aquarium set up. Factors like whether the fishes are hardy enough to survive in less than optimal conditions, are they compatible with other fishes in the same tank, are they low maintenance or demanding in nature, whether they will fit inside the fish tank once fully grown etc. are to be taken into consideration before adding fishes to your aquarium.

Some low maintenance and friendly fishes that are ideal for beginners who wish to set up their own aquariums are:

1) Tetras: Probably one of easiest and low maintenance fish to care for, tetras come in a myriad of bright hues, are tiny in size and makes sure that it explores and uses every nook and corner of the fish tank they are put in. They love to swim in groups, so the more in number, the merrier and active they are. There are different kinds of tetras available like cardinal tetra, rummy nose tetra, emperor tetra, white cloud mountain tetra, neon tetra, glow light tetra, neon tetra etc. depending on their colors and shapes.

2) Guppies: These colorful fishes are ideal for beginners who are setting up aquariums for the first time without having much knowledge or experience about the same. Guppies come in a wide range of colors and are extremely hardy. They can survive without food for almost a week. Guppies are known to breed fast and therefore to avoid overcrowding, it is best to keep either males or females in one tank but not both together.

3) Cherry barbs: Cherry barbs make great additions to freshwater aquariums, as they are highly adaptable to changes in their surrounding environment. Although they take time to settle in a new tank, once accustomed, they are an absolute delight to watch. They grow up to 2 inches when fully grown, are very active in nature and come in bright hues. Cherry barbs are considered as endangered species in the wild, but are still very popular among fish keepers. They are extremely non-fussy in nature and eat just about any type of fish food given to them. It is advisable to add plants with long leaves for cherry barbs to hide in especially when they are new to the tank. They take time to gel with the new surroundings and are shy in nature in the beginning.

4) Swordtail fish: Characterized by the sword shape tail, hence the name. Swordtail fishes are again a very good choice for beginners. They love to be in schools so ideally 5 or more should be kept in the same tank for their well being. Easy to maintain with low demands for water conditions, they prefer a plant-based diet. Therefore, tanks with naturally occurring algae or vegetable based fish food flakes should be added to the aquarium. They thrive in fast flowing water in their natural habitat and this can be emulated in the fish tanks as well by creating a steady and strong flow of water inside the tank.

5) Mollies: Extremely versatile in nature, mollies can survive equally in both saltwater and freshwater aquariums. Ideal for beginners, they are hardy and not aggressive in nature. They come in varieties, so it is important to check what kind will be perfect for your fish tank. Generally, mollies prefer tropical warm waters with temperatures ranging between 25 and 28 degrees. Like the Swordtails, mollies also prefer a plant-based diet like naturally occurring algae and vegetable flakes.

So go ahead and add the above-mentioned beauties in your fish tank and discover a whole new world come alive in your living space.