Good (and Bad) Beginner Fish
by Dean Hougen
This article considers fish choices for the beginning aquarist, covering good choices for the complete novice ("Good First Fish''), good choices for the near novice who wishes to expand his or her options for new fish ("Good Second Fish''), and poor choices for beginning aquarists ("Bad First Fish''). Copyrighted.
Contents
Good First Fish:
Cyprinids, Corydoras
Catfish and Rainbowfish.
Good Second Fish:
Loaches, Dwarf Plecos,
Tetras, Cichlids,
Anabantids and
Livebearers.
Bad First Fish:
Goldfish*,
Piranhas, Knife fishes,
Hatchet and Pencil fishes, Elephant
Noses and Baby Whales,
Chinese Algae Eaters, Bala
Sharks, Iridescent Sharks,
Glass cats,
Plecos, Long-whiskered Catfish,
Red-tailed Catfish, Spiny
Eels, Painted Glassfish, Dyed
fish, Brackish fish and Saltwater
fish.
Introduction
Since even a small amount of material can be difficult for a newcomer in
any field to digest and retain, the novice aquarist may wish to read only
the "Good First Fish'' section to begin with. Then, while consulting a good
beginner's book (the most essential item for any novice aquarist to own),
she or he should choose a small number of possibilities for the fish with
which to start her or his new tank.
If someone familiar with the local fish stores is available, it is
wise to get a recommendation for where to shop for fish. Otherwise the beginner
should try looking for shops that specialize in fish, either exclusively
or as a major part of their business. This is no guarantee, of course, but
it does improve the odds of finding a good store.
If, upon reaching the store, none of the selected fish can be found,
the novice should refrain from purchasing any fish that he or she is unfamiliar
with, even if recommended by the store's employees. (Some stores have very
knowledgeable staffs but many, alas, do not. It will take some time before
the new fishkeeper can discern a good store from a bad one, or good advice
from poor.) At this point, another store could be sought out or further reading
done to determine alternate choices for first fish.
Assuming that desirable choices for first fish can be found, the beginner
should carefully inspect the specimens for sunken bellies, sunken eyes, clamped
fins, labored breathing (often with gill covers quite extended), and any
sort of external blemishes that might indicate parasites or disease. If the
fish appear healthy, the novice should ask to purchase a very small number
of fish, depending on the size of the tank and the fish. A twenty gallon
tank is a good size for a beginner; it is large enough that the water conditions
will be fairly stable, yet small enough that the beginner is not intimidated.
For this size tank a single fish of one to two inches in length, or three
or four smaller fish, is the most the novice should start with. (If more
fish are put into the tank initially, poisonous ammonia will build up and
kill the fish. If the tank population is built up gradually, however, this
will not be a problem. To understand this gradual introduction of fish, known
as `cycling the tank', the novice should read about the nitrogen cycle in
his or her aquarium book.
Good First Fish
If we define a good beginner's fish as one that is easy to feed and
care for, hardy, able to live in a variety of water conditions, and attractive,
then there are a number of widely available fish which fit the bill nicely.
Many of these are regularly sold as beginner's fish.
But watch out! Many of the fish sold as beginner's fish really are
not well suited to that role. Many of the smaller schooling fish make ideal
first fish. These include White Cloud Mountain Minnows, the several commonly
available species of Danios and Rasboras, and most available species of Barbs.
For those with a slightly larger tank, Rainbowfish make a great schooling
fish. Corydoras Catfish are ever popular schooling catfish.
While many beginners are tempted to get just one or two of each of
several different schooling fish, this should be resisted. Schooling fish
do better if there are several of their own species present for them to interact
with. A minimum of six of each of the midwater schooling fish is recommended,
while four is the bare minimum for Corys. In the long run, a school of a
dozen fish showing their natural behavior will be more pleasing than a mixed
group of fishes unhappily forced to share the same tank.
Of course, as mentioned in the introduction, the population needs to
be built up slowly, two or three fish at a time. The aquarist might, for
instance, build up a school of eight Rasboras of a certain species, then
turn to building up a school of six of a species of Cory Cats.
Some Cyprinids - White Clouds, Danios, Rasboras, and Barbs are all Asian fish related to the Carp and the Minnow. All of these fish belong to the family Cyprinidae. White Clouds, Danios, Rasboras, and Barbs are small, active, hardy, and colorful.
"White Cloud Mountain Minnows" - Tanichthys albonubes Found in mountain streams in China, White Clouds can be kept in unheated tanks (down to 55F). Some people advise against putting these fish in tropical tanks but I have found that they do fine in heated aquaria as well, as long as the temperature is not kept above the mid 70s. They can be fed any small food and they spawn often but fry will not be seen unless the parents are removed to another tank. White clouds are brown with a red tail and a silvery white line down the side that shines in the light. They get to be 1 1/2" long.
Danios - Several species of Danios are often found in pet stores,
including the Giant Danio - Danio aequipinnatus, the Zebra Danio -
Brachydanio rerio, the Leopard Danio -
Brachydanio frankei, and the Pearl Danio - Brachydanio
albolineatus.
These fish are fast swimmers and are always in motion. Different patterns
of blue markings allows one to tell these fish apart. Most Danios stay under
2 1/2" long, although Giant Danios can get up to 4".
Rasboras - The most popular Rasbora is the Harlequin Rasbora - Rasbora heteromorpha. A very similar looking species, Rasbora espei, is also available, as is the Clown Rasbora - Rasbora kalochroma and the Scissor-Tail Rasbora - Rasbora trilineata. Orange, brown, and red are usual colors for Rasboras, and their stop-and-start swimming makes them interesting to watch as a school. Scissor-Tails can get up to 6" long and Clown Rasboras up to 4" while Harlequins stay under 2" long.
Barbs - By far the most commonly seen and commonly cursed Barb
is the Tiger Barb - Capoeta
tetrazona.* It nips the fins of other fish
if not kept in a large school of its own species and because it is over-bred
it is susceptible to diseases. Several aquarium morphs are also available
(such as the greenish "Mossy Barb" and an albino variety) but these are even
more sickly and often deformed. Don't give up on the Barbs too fast though,
as many are well suited as first fish, especially for those with moderate
sized tanks. Capoeta titteya, the Cherry Barb, is a terrific little
barb - up to 2" long and with a wonderful orange-red color. Mid-sized barbs
(up to about 4 1/2" long) include Clown Barbs - Barbodes everetti,
Rosy Barbs - Puntius conchonius, and Black Ruby Barbs - Puntius
nigrofasciatus. The artificial morphs (long-finned, albino, etc.) of
the Rosy Barb should be avoided though, as these tend to be sickly. Checker
Barbs - Capoeta oligolepis and Spanner or T-Barbs - Barbodes
lateristriga are large, peaceful barbs (Spanner Barbs up to 7" long).
Unless you have a very large aquarium avoid Tinfoil Barbs - Barbodes
schwanefeldi. They grow to be over a foot long!
Note that many barbs don't school as "nicely" as do Danios
or Rasboras, but most should be kept in schools nonetheless. Also note
that many authors may put all of the above mentioned species in the genus
Barbus.
Corydoras Catfish - Cory Cats are members
of the family Callichthyidae, a family of armored catfish from South
America. Corys are small (generally 2 1/2" long or less), schooling fish
that are always searching the bottom of the tank for food. There are at least
140 species of catfish in the genus Corydoras. Some of these are quite
delicate and die quickly even in the hands of experts. The fragile ones,
however, are rarely seen in pet stores and are high priced when they can
be found. The Corys you will see for reasonable prices are hardy and
can even survive in a tank with low oxygen as they can swallow air from the
surface and absorb it through their intestines. Some Corys you may encounter
are the Bronze Cory - Corydoras aeneus, the Spotted Cory -
Corydoras ambiacus, the Leopard Cory - Corydoras
julii, the Skunk Cory - Corydoras arcuatus, the Bandit
Cory - Corydoras metae, and the Panda Cory - Corydoras
panda.
Corys generally feed at the bottom of the tank and special sinking
foods should be fed. These include sinking pellets like Tabi-Min and frozen
blood- worms. Care should be taken to insure that all frozen foods are eaten
quickly as they decay rapidly and can foul the tank. Don't overfeed!
Rainbowfish - Rainbows are extremely colorful fishes native to Australia, New Guinea, and Madagascar. Like the Cyprinids described above, Rainbows are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of six or more. Larger, somewhat more expensive, and harder to find than many of the schooling fishes already discussed, Rainbows are easily cared for, active, and make good first fish for those who want to try something a little less common. Look in your dealer's tanks for the Australian Rainbow - Melanotaenia splendida, Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia boesemani, Turquoise Rainbows - Melanotaenia lacustris, and the Celebes Rainbow - Telmatherina ladigesi.
Good Second Fish
The previous section talked about good fish for the complete novice
aquarist. This section will discuss good fish for beginning aquarists who
have had some experience or who are willing to do more careful research and
shopping before buying their fish. Many of the fish recommended here are
every bit as hardy, adaptable, and easy to care for as those in the first
section. However, in the first section I was able to recommend whole groups
of fish or at least say to watch out for only a species or two in each group
as bad choices. Here, however, the groups will be quite mixed with many good
choices and many poor ones. Also, some of the fish in this section are hardy
only if some special needs are cared for. If you wish to successfully keep
fish from these groups you need to be sure you know which species you are
getting and what their needs are.
Why bother? If you are a complete novice, perhaps you shouldn't. The
great choices from the "First Fish" list should allow you to get your feet
wet (as it were) with minimum risk. However, as you gain experience you may
decide to give some of these fish a try. Many are quite beautiful and/or
have interesting behaviors and some aquarists become so taken with them that
they join specialist clubs just to learn about and trade one group or another
of these fish.
Loaches - Loaches are long-bodied Asian
fishes distantly related to the Cyprinids (Barbs, Danios, etc.) described
above. Like Cory Cats, loaches have a down-turned mouth equipped with
barbels - an adaptation for living and feeding at the bottom of ponds and
streams. They will scavenge the tank bottom eating the food missed by other
fishes, but you should take care to see that they get enough to eat. Special
sinking foods are a must.
Some loaches are sensitive to poor nitrogen cycle management, which
is why they are included here, rather than in the Good First Fish section.
Once the tank is established and the beginner seems to have gotten the hang
of maintaining a tank, however, loaches make great additions to most community
fish populations.
The most commonly seen loaches are the Kuhli
Loaches - Acanthophthalmus species. These are long, ribbon-like
fishes which grow to be 4" long. Brown with yellow stripes and bands, Kuhli
Loaches are shy and spend a lot of time buried in the gravel. Another
popular group of loaches are the members of the genus Botia. Clown
Loaches - Botia macracantha, Yo-Yo
Loaches - Botia lohachata, Skunk Loaches - Botia
horae, Blue Loaches - Botia modesta, and Striated Loaches
- Botia striata are all seen in the hobby. Some of these (notably
Clown and Blue Loaches) can get big, but they grow extremely slowly and can
live in a small aquarium for several years. Loaches will often be happier
if kept with a few of their own species.
Weather Loaches - Misgurnus fossilis and Spotted Weather Loaches
- Cobitis taenia should be avoided. They are cold water species and
have the unfortunate habit of jumping out of aquaria, especially at the approach
of a storm.
Dwarf Plecos - "Pleco" (a shortening of
the genus name Plecostomus) is the common term used for suckermouth
catfish of the family Loricariidae. As mentioned below in the Bad
First Fish section, common Plecos (Hypostomus species) are often sold
to beginners as algae cleaners. Unfortunately, these fish get too large for
the relatively small tanks of most beginners.
Some species of suckermouth catfish, however, do stay small enough
for most beginners to keep. The Clown Plecos of the genus
Peckoltia have alternating transverse bands of darker and lighter
brown, tan, or yellow and generally stay under 4" long. The Bristlenose or
Bushynose Plecos of the genus Ancistrus possess, as their common names
imply, numerous projections from the area between their eyes and mouth. Within
each species the bristles are larger on the male, especially near breeding.
In fact, Bristlenose Plecos are among the few Loricariids to be
successfully spawned in the home aquarium.
Otocinclus Cats, often just called Otos,
are the smallest Loricariids and will clean algae from live plants
without hurting any but the most delicate of them. Otos sometimes die shortly
after purchase for no apparent reason, but if they make it past this critical
time they make very good community tank residents.
While the various suckermouth catfish will indeed help to keep
the aquarium free from many common algae types, the beginner should
not make the mistake of thinking of these fish as simply algae eaters or
scavengers. They should be given foods intended just for them, such as zucchini
which can be blanched or weighted down to sink it to the Pleco's level. Some
fish food manufacturers have recently realized that there is a market for
specialized Pleco foods and now sell products such as sinking algae wafers
which fit this bill nicely. These foods should be fed in the evening when
the light reaching the tank is low, as most Plecos are more active at this
time and most other fish which might compete for the food are less active.
Pieces of (uncoated) driftwood in the tank are also important for many Pleco
species, which rasp at the wood and ingest the scrapings. By the same token,
Plecos should *not* be kept in wooden tanks, or even acrylic ones for that
matter, as they may chew into the tank material damaging it and/or themselves
(by ingesting toxins or undigestible matter).
Pleco species can be quarrelsome amongst themselves and may be
picked on by other fish due to their generally slow-moving nature. Provide
a hiding cave for each Pleco and give them territories proportional to their
size (e.g. 10 gallons for a 3" fish.)
Tetras - Like many of the fish in the
first section, Tetras are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of
six or more of the same species. Tetras are native to Central and South America
and Africa. In some regions of South America the water is quite soft (very
little rock is dissolved in it) and acidic. (Another way of saying "acidic"
is to say that it has a low pH - one below 7, which is considered "neutral".
A strong acid has a very low pH. Liquids above pH 7 are said to be
"basic".)
Unless you know that your tank water is also soft and acidic, the Tetras
that need that water should be avoided. Before you buy a Tetra that you are
not sure about, look it up in your book. If it says that it needs a pH below
6.5 you should probably avoid it. While many beginning aquarists are tempted
to simply adjust the pH of their water by buying little containers of chemicals
in the pet store, do not give in to this temptation! Water chemistry is very
complex and you can easily kill all your fish by trying it.
On the other hand, if your tap water is naturally soft and achieves
a consistent acidic pH, there is no reason that you can't try your hand at
some of these fish. Two very popular Tetras which need soft, acidic water
are the Neon Tetra - Paracheirodon innesi
and the Cardinal Tetra - Cheirodon
axelrodi. These are quite attractive red and blue fish. The red line
on the Cardinal runs from the head on back, while in the Neon it starts only
in the belly region. But their attractiveness is their only advantage. Besides
its water requirements the Neon has the added drawback that almost all of
them are bred in the Far East in huge numbers with no regard to quality.
Further, the raising ponds for the young fish are filled with medicines.
The medicines keep diseases in check but as soon as the fish are shipped
they begin to get sick. They die in huge numbers in the stores and in buyer's
home tanks. Probably less than 1 in 10 Neons lives for more than one month
after being removed from the pond it was raised in. Further, those two or
three tiny neons for a dollar at the local store can easily introduce
a disease that kills all the fish in your tank.
Cardinals will have a greater chance of not dying immediately after
purchase but even they will probably not live long in your home tank. They
are wild caught in Brazil as adults so they may have lived most of their
naturally short life span before you buy them.
Other Tetras which need acidic water include the Blue Neon Tetra -
Hyphessobrycon simulans, the Flag Tetra - Hyphessobrycon
heterorhabdus, Hyphessobrycon metae, the Loreto Tetra -
Hyphessobrycon loretoensis, the Black Phantom Tetra - Megalamphodus
megalopterus, and the Red Phantom Tetra - Megalamphodus
sweglesi.
So what about those aquarists without acid water? There are plenty
of hardy Tetras out there for beginners without special water. These include
the distinctive Black or Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi,
the brightly colored Glow Light Tetra - Hemigrammus erythrozonus,
the radiant orange Jewel Tetra - Hyphessobrycon callistus, the Flame
Tetra - Hyphessobrycon flammeus, and the red-tailed Pristella
- Pristella maxillaris, all of which grow to less than two inches
long. Slightly larger Tetras include the Penguin Tetra - Thayeria
obliqua and the closely related Hockey-stick Tetra - Thayeria
boehlkei, both of which are easily recognized by the black lines
originating in the lower half of their caudal (tail) fins and running forward,
the shiny Diamond Tetra - Moenkhausia pittieri, and the beautiful,
trident-tailed Emperor Tetra - N. palmeri. Finally, the only African
Tetra frequently seen, the Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus
is a gorgeous fish which grows up to four inches long.
Cichlids - Cichlids, members of the
family Cichlidae, come from Central and South America and Africa,
with a few species found in Madagascar, the Middle East and into Asia.
Cichlids are quite unlike any of the fish discussed so far. They are related
to and resemble the Perch and Sunfish of US waters. For aquarists, cichlids
pose four major problems: (1) Some need special water conditions, (2) some
have specialized diets, (3) some get quite large (the largest up to 3' long),
and (4) all are territorial.
Again, why bother? Because for those willing to take the challenge,
the rewards can be great. If any fish can be said to be intelligent, Cichlids
can. They display this in their everyday activities as well as in their
specialized mating, breeding, and fry-raising activities. The fish mentioned
in the previous sections all lay eggs and then ignore or even eat them! Cichlids,
on the other hand, care for their eggs and young. It is said that one of
the most rewarding sights an aquarist can see is parental Cichlids herding
their fry around the tank and protecting them from all dangers. And, even
if your Cichlids never breed, they will be more responsive to you than perhaps
any other fish. Cichlids can be much more "pet-like"than you might think
a fish could be.
If you do decide to take the Cichlid challenge, choosing your
Cichlids can be difficult. Some can be added to your community tank
and will do fine with the schooling fish talked about above. These include
Curviceps - Aequidens (really Laetacara)
curviceps, Dorsigers - Aequidens (again, really
Laetacara) dorsiger, and the less frequently seen Nannacara
anomala, all from South America, and Thomas' Dwarf Cichlid -
Anomalochromis thomasi from western Africa. Unlike the monster Cichlids,
these fish stay small (3 1/2'' is a good sized adult) and are relatively
peaceful. Two or three may be placed in a 10 gallon tank and they should
still all find places to live if there are rocks and other decorations in
the tank.
Other Dwarf Cichlids you may see are the Ram - Papiliochromis
(some books use Microgeophagus or Apistogramma)
ramirezi, Apistos - Apistogramma species, and the Checkerboard
Cichlid - Dicrossus filamentosus (referred to as Crenicara
filamentosa in the books). These fish vary in their difficulty for keeping
as aquarium fish, but all of them should be avoided by beginners.
Keyhole Cichlids - Aequidens (really Cleithracara)
maronii, Festivums - Cichlasoma (really Mesonauta)
festivus, and Angelfish - Pterophyllum
scalare can be good fish for the relative novice, but only if healthy
specimens can be found and this is often not easy. For this reason, small
Keyholes and Festivums should not be purchased. Adults of these two species
are generally better choices; still, one should look the fish over carefully
and not buy them until they have been in the store tanks for at least a week.
Similarly, for the very popular Angelfish, one needs to be very careful when
buying them. Before you buy, ask the salesperson to tell you where the store
gets its Angels. If the salesperson doesn't know, won't tell you, or says
that they come from ``the wholesaler'' (and who knows where before that?)
don't buy them. If you are told that they come from a local breeder then
you have at least a chance of getting healthy fish. Also, Angels should be
kept in tanks both taller and longer than a 10 gallon aquarium. Keyholes,
Festivums, and Angels are all shy fish and should be provided with cover
-- preferably a planted tank.
Discus, like Angels, need tanks higher and
longer than 10 gallon tanks. Their specialized needs do not stop there, however,
and beginners should shy away from these difficult and demanding fish.
At the other end of the difficultly scale, a very good choice, especially
for those with a 20 gallon or larger aquarium, is the "Jurupari'' -
Satanoperca leucosticta (formerly referred to in the hobby as
Geophagus jurupari). It does get large (up to a foot), but it grows
very slowly and may still be less than six inches long when several years
old. It is a very peaceful Cichlid which will help to clean your tank by
sifting through the gravel for uneaten food. A similar fish, Geophagus
surinamensis, is also a good choice.
Kribs or "Kribensis"- Pelvicachromis pulcher are a widely
seen West African Cichlid that will do well with the larger schooling
fish and should be kept in a twenty gallon or larger tank. Male Kribs grow
to be 4" long and females stay a bit smaller.
Most of the remaining cichlids which are commonly available are
too aggressive and/or grow too large for the beginning aquarist to
effectively deal with. This includes the very popular Oscar -
Astronotus ocellatus which grows rapidly
to over a foot, is opportunistically piscivorous, and is a very messy
species. If the aquarist is truly interested in keeping more cichlids than
those recommended above, she or he should be prepared to set up special,
separate (and probably larger) tanks for these fish and to read more extensively
on cichlids before buying them.
Anabantids - Anabantids are another
group of fishes that are quite different from those already discussed. Distantly
related to Cichlids and Perch, Anabantids are found in Africa and Asia. Members
of the families Anabantidae, Belontiidae,
Helostomatidae, and Osphronemidae, Anabantids are also referred
to as the "labyrinth fishes". This is due to a special breathing organ referred
to as the labyrinth organ which is essentially a maze of tunnels near the
fish's gills. Labyrinth fish gulp air at the surface of the water and absorb
it through the labyrinth organ, allowing them to live in water with too little
oxygen to support fish which only breath through their gills. Some Anabantids
can survive out of water for several hours breathing only through their
labyrinths, as long as they stay moist. Anabas testudineus, known
as the Climbing Perch, is said to be able to climb trees and to live out
of water for up to two days.
As well as giving aquarists some additional choices for community-tank
fish, Anabantids offer some unique options to fish keepers as well as
presenting a few problems. Because some Anabantids are able to withstand
cooler temperatures, and because of their ability to survive in water with
very low oxygen, these fishes can be kept in tanks or
bowls* without heaters or filtration. On the other
hand, some Anabantids (particularly males of some species) are very territorial
and some grow quite large.
Breeding Anabantids can be quite rewarding. Some species build nests
out of bubbles into which they place their eggs while others, like some Cichlids,
are mouthbrooders.
The most commonly seen Anabantid is probably the Betta or Siamese
Fighting Fish (which is generally said to be Betta
splendens but is probably a crossbreed). Artificial color varieties
with red, blue, green, purple, and many other colors in various combinations
are widely available. Males are bred to have very large fins and both sexes
are seen with double tails. Siamese Fighting Fish generally make poor choices
for the community tank for two reasons. First, as their name would imply,
they are very territorial. The aggression is greatest between two males,
but can be directed towards any fish that looks to the Betta too much like
another Betta. Second, their long fins make easy targets for many fish such
as Barbs. Siamese Fighting Fish can be kept alone in
bowls* (the larger the better) or tanks without
filtration as long as frequent partial water changes are done. They do need
warm temperatures, however, and are sensitive to temperature changes, so
a constant heat supply is needed if the room is less than about
75F.* A 3" male would be a large adult;
while females stay smaller.
A better choice for keeping alone in a bowl*
or small tank is the Paradise Fish - Macropodus
opercularis. These are much hardier fish than the Fighters and can
withstand temperatures down to 60F. They may jump, however, so the tank should
be covered to be safe. Also, like Siamese Fighting Fish, male Paradise Fish
can be extremely territorial towards one another. Paradise Fish may get up
to 4" long.
Another very commonly seen Anabantid is the Blue or Three-Spot
Gourami - Trichogaster trichopterus. Gold, Silver, and Cosby
Gouramies are also widely available and are simply artificial color varieties
of the Blue Gourami. Blue Gouramies can get up to 6" long. They are not as
aggressive as Fighters or Paradise Fish, but more than one in a small tank
may lead to constant (if not overly deadly) chasing. They will do well in
a tank with larger schooling fishes. Similar, though slightly smaller species
include the Banded or Giant Gourami - Colisa fasciata (which is only
a giant compared to the similarly colored Dwarf Gourami described below),
the hick-lipped Gourami - Colisa labiosa and the somewhat less aggressive
Pearl Gourami - Trichogaster leeri and Moonlight Gourami - T.
microlepis. The Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temmincki grows larger
(up to 12") but makes a good fish for beginners with larger tanks. It is
peaceful, though males will contest with one another by pressing their lips
together and pushing - the so-called "kissing'' from which the common name
derives. Most Kissing Gouramies seen will be of the Pink variety.
Small Gouramies, only growing to 2" or so in length, are also available.
These include the Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia, the Honey Gourami
- C. chuna, and the Sunset Dwarf Gourami (probably a cross between
C. lalia and C. chuna). In theory, these would all be good
fish for the community aquarium. In practice, these fish are often the victims
of poor breeding practices in the Far East (like so many others described
before) and many are even treated with hormones before they are shipped to
make them appear brighter in the store tanks. A good rule of thumb is, "If
it looks too good to be true, it probably is."
Although harder to find, Anabantids which have had less human interference
with their reproduction are generally better choices. Look for the Mouthbrooding
Betta - Betta pugnax, the Licorice Gourami - Parosphromenus
deissneri, the Spike-Tailed Paradise Fish - Pseudosphromenus
cupanus, the Croaking Gourami - Trichopsis vittatus, and the Dwarf
Croaking Gourami - T. pumilus, which range in size from 1" to 4".
Do not buy Chocolate Gouramies - Sphaerichthys osphromenoides which
are quite delicate, or the true Giant Gouramies - Osphronemus spp.
which grow quickly to well over two feet long.
Livebearers - The family Poeciliidae
contains Guppies, Mollies, Platies, and many other fishes. While these fish
are often thought of as beginners' fish they have been intentionally left
off the list until now in order to make a point. The reasons these fish are
often sold to beginners are that they are cheap, brightly colored, and have
a general reputation among non-aquarists as easy fish. Notably absent from
this list is any real suitability for keeping by beginners. For one thing,
many livebearers need high level of salt in their water to be healthy - making
them incompatible with many other aquarium fish. Many common livebearers
also are overbred, resulting in fish not nearly as healthy as those kept
by aquarists of previous generations (or by the authors of most books). Some
are not even able to reproduce without human intervention. Finally, due to
their low market price, they are generally not well cared for and may carry
diseases.
Poeciliids, as they are also called, come from the Americas,
primarily Central America. They are called "livebearers" (as opposed to
"egg-layers'', as all the previously discussed fish have been) because the
eggs are fertilized within the female and the fry do not appear until the
eggs have hatched. There are also livebearers from other families in which
the details of reproduction vary.
The well-known Guppy can be found in a number of colors and with as
many as 12 different artificial tail varieties. Also available is the closest
thing that you may find to the wild Guppy - Poecilia reticulata,"feeder
Guppies", which are not bred for color. The fancy strains tend to be fragile
while common Guppies often carry diseases. Guppies should be kept in water
with at least one teaspoon of salt per five gallons of water.
Common Mollies are the Black Molly (which was derived from the Marled
Molly - Poecilia sphenops) and the Sail-Fin Molly - Poecilia
velifera (of which there are also several color varieties available).
Black Mollies need at least one teaspoon of uniodized (preferably marine),salt
per one gallon of water to keep them healthy and prevent the outbreak of
"ich" (Ichthyophthirius
multifiliis, a parasite commonly seen in aquaria). Sail-Fins grow
to 6" while Black Mollies stay less than 3".
Closely related, Swordtails - Xiphophorus helleri and Platies
- Xiphophorus maculatus are also popular fish. A number of color and
finnage varieties are available of each with some of the Platies
also referred to as "Moons". These fish need at least a teaspoon of
salt per gallon of water to be healthy. Some varieties are susceptible to
various maladies (Tuxedo Swords often get tumors, for instance) and as with
so many other fish the naturally colored fish are probably your best bets.
"Green Swords" (which are really multi-colored) are naturally colored
Xiphophorus helleri, but unfortunately wild morphs of Platies are
not often seen. The Variegated Platy - Xiphophorus variatus is sometimes
seen, however, and fills this role nicely.
Bad First Fish
We have already discussed several poor choice for beginners' fish alongside their more desirable cousins. Here are more fishes that are seen in the stores that beginners should be warned about. Many of these fish make good fish for advanced hobbyists while others never make good aquarium fish. Some are even suitable for a well-informed beginner; you just need to know what you are getting yourself into before you buy the fishes on impulse and drop them into your community tank.
Goldfish*
- Goldfish are one of the most common fish sold to beginners, but are
particularly poorly suited to this role. The common Goldfish sold as feeders
are generally full of diseases and parasites which may kill them and other
fish they are housed with. Fancy varieties, which have been selectively
bred for centuries to achieve their unnatural appearances, are subject to
a host of problems associated with their abnormalities.
All Goldfish are cold water fish which do not do well in the lower
oxygen levels found in tropical aquaria, and therefore should not be housed
with tropical species.
Piranhas - Piranhas are among the most
abused of all aquarium fish. They are often purchased in order to watch their
legendary feeding habits. As mentioned above, feeder fish often bring diseases
and parasites with them and these can infect Piranhas. A regular diet of
feeder fish can also be quite expensive.
Piranhas are schooling fish and are generally shy and stressed when
kept as single specimens. Unfortunately, they also get big (many species
well over a foot long), so most beginning aquarists don't have room to house
more than a single Piranha. If enough tank space is available to keep several
Piranhas together, they must be kept well fed or they will turn on each other,
killing and cannibalizing one fish after another.
Knife Fishes - There are several families of fish from South America, Africa, and Asia, referred to as Knife Fishes. Many species of Knives get large, some over 3' long although some of the less attractive species stay as small as 8". All of them are nocturnal predators, a fact that many a beginner could have used before all of his or her small fish "mysteriously" disappeared a few at a time.
Hatchet and Pencil Fishes - Hatchets (family Gasteropelecidae) and Pencils (genus Nannostomus) are Characins from South America. Many of them need soft and acid water and all of them are delicate. Hatchets have the added disadvantage that they tend to launch themselves out of the aquarium to an untimely death.
Elephant Nose and Baby Whale - More fragile fish include Elephant Noses - Gnathonemus petersi and Baby Whales - Petrocephalus bovei. African fishes from the family Mormyridae, these are night feeders and are hard to provide for in the aquarium.
Chinese Algae Eater - Chinese Algae Eaters - Gyrinocheilus aymonieri are often introduced into the aquarium to do what their common (sales) name implies - eat algae. They are usually seen at a small size and many die within a short time of purchase. If they live, however, they get big (up to a foot long) and tend to prefer to rasp at the sides of slow moving fish (making them susceptible to infections).
Bala Shark - Not a shark at all but a Cyprinid (related to the Carp), Bala Sharks - Balantiocheilus melanopterus quickly outgrow most home aquaria. They get to be over one foot long.
Iridescent Shark - Unrelated to the Bala Shark or to true sharks, the Iridescent Shark - Pangasius sutchi is a catfish. It grows to over 3' and tends to injure its nose against the aquarium glass.
Glass Catfish - Another catfish to avoid is the Glass Catfish - Kryptopterus bicirrhis. While it stays small enough to be an aquarium fish (up to 6"), it is very delicate and should not be purchased by beginners.
Plecos - The suckermouth catfish of the genus _Hypostomus_ are often sold in the stores as algae cleaners. Most of these species get in excess of 12". Some of the slender suckermouth catfish, such as the Whiptail - Dasyloricaria filamentosa and the Farlowella - Farlowella gracilis, are quite delicate species.
Long-Whiskered Catfish - Catfish don't have long whiskers for looks. They are there to help them hunt for their food - other fish! In addition to eating all fish of less than half their size in the tank, many of the piscivorous (fish-eating) Cats will outgrow most tanks. One common species of long-whiskered catfish, the Pictus Cat - Pimelodus pictus grows to 10" while the Channel Cat (a pink form is often seen) grows over 2 feet long. Shovelnose Cats are usually only seen at six inches or greater, so the beginner does have some warning with these. Still, one might not expect them to get 2 or 3' long.
Red-Tailed Catfish - Red Tailed Catfish - Phractocephalus hemiliopterus are particularly large-growing predatory catfish. A dark body with a horizontal white stripe and red tail gives them an attractive appearance at a small size that has unfortunately made them a popular aquarium fish with those who fail to appreciate the enormity of adults. Adults may grow to well over 4' in length and have mouths that more than match their lengths. As such, they are more than many public aquaria can house, not to mention private aquarists.
Spiny Eels - Spiny Eels (family Mastacembelidae) are aggressive fish, some of which grow quite large (over 3'). Some do stay small (less than 4" for one species), but all are likely to have internal parasites.
Painted Glassfish - Painted Glassfish are Glassfish - Chanda ranga which have been "painted" with chemical dyes. This procedure adds a temporary bit of unnatural color (which disappears with time) and stresses the fish, causing them to be prone to diseases and parasites. This fish needs at least 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of aquarium water.
Dyed Fish - While Painted Glassfish were for a long time the only fish commonly seen that had been "colorized" by unscrupulous marketers, the last few years have seen several other fishes subjected to this abuse. One of these is the White Skirt Tetra (an albino version of the Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi) which are sold as Blueberry Tetras, Strawberry Tetras, Rainbow Tetras, etc. depending on the dyes used to color the individuals. Similarly, Blueberry and Strawberry Loaches have also been seen. If you are unsure if a fish has been dyed, ask.
Brackish Water Fish - I have already mentioned some fish, such as Mollies and Glassfish, which come from brackish waters - I simply have not called it that before. Brackish water is intermediate between the fresh water of most rivers and lakes and the salt water of the Oceans. Brackish water is found in gulfs, deltas, and lagoons, as well as a some lakes and rivers. Because brackish water fish need so much salt in their water they are not compatible with most aquarium fish. Further, brackish water fish generally need more room per fish to stay healthy than freshwater fish. Some commonly seen brackish water fish include Monos - Monodactylus species, Archers - Toxotes species, Scats - Scatophagus species, and many species of Puffers (family Tetraodontidae).
Salt Water Fish - If brackish water fish are to be avoided by beginners, then beginners should stay well away from salt water fish. Their bright colors are attractive, but they are generally much more difficult for beginners to keep alive than are fresh water fish.
Conclusion
There are thousands of species of aquarium-suitable fish from a host
of families that are not covered above; this article is far from comprehensive.
Killifish (fish of the family Cyprinodontidae) for example, are widely
kept by many advanced hobbyists, but not often by beginners. This is
not because they are all unsuitable as beginner's fish. In fact, some
of them would make very good first or second fish. They are simply not widely
available in pet stores.
For choices of good beginners' fish beyond those listed here, and for
expanding once one has moved beyond the beginner level, local aquarium clubs
and friends who are aquarists can be very good sources of information. So
can many of the available fishkeeping books and magazines. At every level
of experience, the aquarist will find that good information is well worth
the time and/or money it takes to get it.
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