What Is an Easy-to-Care-for Fish? A Guide
Roughly 90.5 million families have a pet at home, and a fish is one of the most popular options. Fish are great beginner pets with relatively few needs, making them great for kids, busy adults, and renters.
If you’re interested in taking a fish home for yourself, it’s best to start with an easy-to-care-for fish. Here are a few options to consider!
Betta
The betta fish is one of the easiest fish to care for, as long as you provide them with all the necessities. You can make your betta happier with a five-gallon tank, a heater, and a filter.
The betta is a tropical fish and enjoys temperatures around 78 to 82°F. Bettas can tear their delicate fins on sharp edges, like plastic decor, so keep this in mind when decorating the tank.
Male betta fish will fight each other, so you can’t keep them together. Females tend to do better with others, but it’s best to start with one in the tank, especially as a beginner in fish care.
Goldfish
The standard goldfish has been a classic pet for generations. There are many goldfish varieties, so remember to get a beginner-friendly type.
It’s simple to care for your fish. Feed them goldfish food, choose an appropriate tank size, and keep the tank clean. Goldfish can produce a lot of waste, but a good filter helps.
Black Molly
These pretty and peaceful fish make great beginner pets. The black molly is fairly resistant and can adapt well. In fact, this fish can adapt to fresh water, salt water, and brackish water.
A heater and a filter should help to keep these fish happy. They like temperatures around 70 to 82°F.
You can feed a black molly generic flakes or pellets.
Neon Tetras
These tiny and bright fish look great in an aquarium. Their small size and easygoing attitude make them an ideal addition to an aquarium with other fish.
The neon tetra can grow to a length of 1.5-inches, and they like to remain in a school.
Angelfish
Angelfish are one of the best fish to get if you have a larger tank. They come in a variety of colors and patterns, making a nice addition to any aquarium.
Angelfish are easy to care for, even for beginners, as they are resilient and hardy. Although freshwater angelfish are mostly peaceful, they may not get along with smaller fish.
An angelfish can live ten years or longer in the right conditions.
Captive Bred Fish
Speaking of larger tanks, the captive bred pinnate batfish make excellent pets once you’ve acquired some experience with fish, as long as you have a large enough tank. Cultured fish are hardier than wild stock, making them easier to care for as a hobbyist.
Finding Easy-to-Care-for Fish
This list of easy-to-care-for fish should put you on the right track, so you can find the right pet for you. Make sure you buy the right size tank, keep it clean, and buy filters and heaters (if necessary) depending on the fish type.
Beginner aquarium fish can bring years of enjoyment, as long as you care for them the right way. To find fish care tips and other pet-related articles, check out some of our other content.
