Some Good First Fish?

[davej89]

hey guys,

Im just starting out with my first tank. Its only 40 litres and im having trouble deciding which fish i should purchase. I have done research on the net but i need some advice from people who have had some real experience. What kind of fish are easy to look after, as i dont want to be put in the deep end with any exotic fish that i know nothing about?

Hope you can help me, Thanks

 

[Ami]

Hi Dave and to the Forum!

If you're a complete Newbie, please check out the beginners thread for lots of important info in the pinned FAQs - for example cycling before adding fish and suitable fish for beginners.

Once you'd had a look, please feel free to post any questions you have either in beginner or chit-chat - we love helping set up new tanks so you're bound to get a lot of suggestions!


Good luck,

 

[mrjames]

hey guys,

Im just starting out with my first tank. Its only 40 litres and im having trouble deciding which fish i should purchase. I have done research on the net but i need some advice from people who have had some real experience. What kind of fish are easy to look after, as i dont want to be put in the deep end with any exotic fish that i know nothing about?

Hope you can help me, Thanks

Hi, i suggest tetras,guppys,mollies and swordtails. they are very hardy and unless something serious happens they wont die. keep levels normal and water changes regular and u will b able to keep alot more than you think!

james

 

[Ami]

Hi, i suggest tetras,guppys,mollies and swordtails. they are very hardy and unless something serious happens they wont die. keep levels normal and water changes regular and u will b able to keep alot more than you think!

james

Especially seeing as three of the suggestions are livebearers and will breed like mad!

If you think I'm exaggerating, take a look in livebearers and be prepared for a major population explosion

 

[charlie d]

Hello and welcome to the forum. I agree with the statement on livebearers, found another load of swordtail fry this morning. They made a very welcome breakfast for the rest of the tank.

 

[pokagon55]

danio's are very good starter fish as well as the white cloud minow...barbs are also good.

 

[Ivan Sloshed]

danio's are very good starter fish as well as the white cloud minow...barbs are also good.

Hi you might like to try neon's they add a little colour to the tank but they like to be in groups of 5 or 7
See ya Ivor

 

[barbiedoll]

Hiya! but I wouldn't put neons in until your tank is well established. you see them everyehere but they like a nicely mature tank - like 4-6months.
Zebra danios are hardy little fish in my experience and 'help' a new tank to settle in. Plus they are really active! and they will eat up the livebearer fry so keep your pop explosions in check if you get boys and girls!
There are so many lovely colours in plattys you might want to look at these.

Think of something for the top - like the danios
something for the middle - like guppies, mollies or plattys - you can always opt for one sex only if you can't stand the thought of the 'David Attenbro-lions bringing down zebra on the Serringetti plains' stuff(see above)
and something for the bottom - how about a clown plec? - they stay small but need a chunk of wood to eat

This is the fun bit
There is masses of advice pinned and in threads on this site
A great little reference book is 'The Bumper Book of Tropical Aquarium Fishes' compiled by Dick Mills pub by INTERPET isbn 1-84286-074-7 available as they say, from all good lfs

Happy fishkeeping

 

[pokagon55]

danio's are very good starter fish as well as the white cloud minow...barbs are also good.

Hi you might like to try neon's they add a little colour to the tank but they like to be in groups of 5 or 7
See ya Ivor

Neon's are not good starter fish, they will die

 

[lljdma06]

A good first fish really is a rasbora, especially Harlequins, or perhaps some of the hardier tetras. Neon tetras prefer a mature tank (tank established, no problems, for 6 or more months). Several barb species are excellent, cherry barbs. Tiger barbs are great fish, but notorious nippers and really do better with a larger system. IMO ten gallons or 11, which I think is your tank size, is a bit too large for danios, which are very active and like room to swim. Just bear in mind that when you see that a fish is a schooling fish, that means it is happy in numbers of at least six. I prefer more, but your tank is small.

Livebearers are lovely, but swordtails and mollies require a larger tank since they get big (some females 5 inches+) Guppies and platies, though much smaller, breed like crazy, be prepared to relocate fry.

With a tank that small you are limited, so please read the pinned topics and ask around.

I forgot myself. Welcome to TFF!

 

[dwarfgourami]

For a 10 gallon tank I would not get either swordtails or danios as they are very active, (and the swordtails also get quite big).

Smaller livebearers (guppies, platies or endlers) are fine: if you are worried about fry, the safe route is to get males only. Best in that case to get a group of 5, if there is aggression, to spread it out a bit.

Harlequin rasboras are lovely fish, schooling, so get at least 5.

A trio of cherry barbs (1 male, 2 females- NOT the other way round!) would look great.

 

[dreworz5]

zebra dianos

really hardy fish!!