FishTankBest fish for beginners
These fish are hardy, peaceful and easy to find. Every one of them still needs a cycled tank, but they forgive the small mistakes every beginner makes.
1. Platies
Colorful, cheerful and very tough. They give birth to live babies, so expect extras.
Tank: 10+ gallons · Group: 3 or more · Temp: 70–80°F
2. Zebra danios
Fast, active swimmers that handle a wide range of water conditions. Keep them in a group or they can get nippy.
Tank: 20+ gallons (they need swimming room) · Group: 6 or more · Temp: 65–77°F
3. Corydoras catfish
Friendly bottom dwellers that clean up dropped food. They're happiest on sand or smooth gravel.
Tank: 20+ gallons · Group: 6 or more of the same kind · Temp: 72–78°F
4. Betta fish
Beautiful and full of personality. Keep only one male per tank, and never in a bowl: bettas need a heater and filter like any tropical fish.
Tank: 5+ gallons · Group: alone (one male) · Temp: 78–80°F
5. Harlequin rasboras
Calm, shimmering schooling fish that look great with plants.
Tank: 10+ gallons · Group: 6 or more · Temp: 72–80°F
6. Guppies
Bright and easy, but they breed fast. An all-male group avoids a population explosion.
Tank: 10+ gallons · Group: 3 or more · Temp: 72–80°F
7. Bristlenose pleco
The beginner-friendly pleco. It stays around 4–5 inches and eats algae. Avoid the "common pleco", which can grow over a foot long.
Tank: 20+ gallons · Group: 1 · Temp: 72–80°F
8. White cloud mountain minnows
Tough little fish that are happy without a heater in most homes. Don't mix them with fish that need warm water.
Tank: 10+ gallons · Group: 6 or more · Temp: 60–72°F
9. Honey gourami
A gentle, golden centerpiece fish for a peaceful community tank.
Tank: 10+ gallons · Group: 1–3 · Temp: 72–80°F
10. Nerite snails and cherry shrimp
Not fish, but great clean-up crew. Nerites eat algae and can't breed in freshwater. Cherry shrimp need a calm tank without fish big enough to eat them.
Tank: 5+ gallons · Temp: 65–80°F
Popular fish to avoid as a beginner
- Common goldfish. They grow big and messy and need a large tank or pond, not a bowl.
- Common plecos. Sold tiny, but they can outgrow most home aquariums.
- Oscars and other large cichlids. Big, messy and often aggressive.
- Neon tetras in a brand-new tank. They're lovely but delicate at first. Add them once your tank has been running a couple of months.
How many fish can I add?
Add a few fish at a time, wait a week or two, test your water, and then add more. Adding a whole tank's worth at once overwhelms the bacteria and causes ammonia spikes. Use the fish stocking calculator to plan your tank and check which fish get along.