8 Top Aquarium Fish Species for Starters

Here are in my opinion top 8 aquarium fish species that are recommended for starters. They won't cause you a lot of trouble if you provide them with a basic level of care and love.

Zebra Danio (Danio rerio)

Size: 1-1.3 inch (5cm)

Active in the middle and top area of the aquarium, likes to school. He can be kept in water with temperature between 64 - 73 F (18 - 25 C), your ph should be neutral (7)

Harlequin Rasbora(Rasbora Hetoromorpha)

Size: up to 1 inch (4.5 cm)

Need to be kept in group ( preferably 10 or more), temperature 24-30 C, range of ph 5,5-7. The tank need to be well planted. Very active fish.

White cloud mountain minnow (Tanichthys albonubes)

Size: about 3-4cm (1inch)

You don't need a heater to keep this fish, it can survive in water temperature of few degrees Celsius above zero. Recommended is 17-22 C ( 62-71 F).

Sumatra Barb (Puntius anchisporus)

Size: 1.5 inch ( 6cm)

Very active fish, require a large space to swim but the tank should also be well planted
Likes to school, shouldn't be together with fish that have long fins.
Requires: Temperature 23-26 C (73-79 F), ph 6-7.

Albino paleatus catfish (Corydoras paleatus)

Size: 1.8 inch max (7cm)

One of many members of corydoras family. Likes to search the surface of your aquarium for food so you shouldnt have sharp gravel. My advice is to have a group of 6 or more of these.
Temperature 18-24 (64-75 F) ph - 7

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Size: male 1inch (4cm) female 1.5 inch (6cm)

Popular fish for beginners, can take a lot and reproduces easily
Preferred temperature is 22-27 degrees (71-80 F) ph-7.
There are many colour variants of this fish, generally males are characterised by colorful fin, females are olive-gray.

Rainbowfish family

Size: up to 3 inches (12cm)

Group of fish that are a little bigger than the ones presented above, but they are peaceful fellas. Optimal temperature varies between particular species but generally it is a range of 22- 27 C (71-80 F), ph 6.5-8.

Neon tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)

Size: 0.25-1 inch (1-4cm)

This fish presents great in big shoal, minimum size of the group should be 10. In smaller ones neons become very shy. Water temp 22-25 (71-76 F),ph in range of 5-7.

Stay tune more on other aquarium fish species very very soon.

Tips on Neon Tetra Care and Breeding

Neon tetras or Paracheirodon innesi are members of the family Characidae. Characidae are commonly referred to as Characins. This species is native to southeastern Columbia, eastern Peru, and western Brazil, including the tributaries of Solimoes. They can be found in black water or clear water streams.

Neon tetras and cardinal tetras look very similar in appearance. Put them in the same aquarium together and most people wouldn't be aware they are two different species. Both have metallic neon blue upper bodies and a brilliant red stripe in the center of their bodies. This stripe is found mid-body running to back the tail in neons. The stripe runs the entire length of a cardinal's body.

Both neons and cardinals are a favorite among the freshwater aquarist who prefers smaller aquarium set ups because of their intense color palette. They really brighten up a desktop aquarium.

Tetras make good community fish as long as the other members of the community are all smaller varieties. These fish are slender bodied fish that only reach 1.5 inches fully grown. A large adult fish can swallow one whole as a snack. They tend to be a shy species so give them with plenty of plants and aquarium décor to hide in. This will also provide sanctuary from more aggressive fish.

Water in South America is slightly acidic, around pH 6.8. Water temperature ranges from70-79°F. Your fish will thrive in similar conditions.

These are mid-tank swimmers. They are shoaling fish. Shoaling fish do not cope well when isolated from other members of their own species. Many will not survive in solitude. It is advisable to have at least four neons in your aquarium.

This species is omnivorous. They are perfectly cable of surviving on common tropical fish flakes.

Males and females look pretty much the same. Female body tends to be a little fuller. This is more apparent when she is carrying eggs.

Breeding Neon Tetras

All tetras are egg layers. They will spawn in captivity. Feeding them a diet high in protein will help initiate the spawning cycle. Brine shrimp, tubifex or bloodworms will help achieve the desired results. They will not breed in hard, alkaline water. Slightly acidic water between pH 6.0-6.2 is conducive to spawning.

If you are unable to sex your neons, place the entire group in a properly prepare breeding tank. Water filtered through peat or a small layer added to the substrate will simulate optimum breeding conditions. Make sure there are no chemical additives or fertilizers on the peat.

The breeding tank should have an abundance of floating plants. Hornwort will work just fine. Keep the breeding tank in a dimly lit room.

Neon tetras will scatter their eggs. Once spawning is complete all the adults should be promptly removed from the tank. Egg layers are known to feast on their un-hatched eggs.

Fry will hatch in about 24 hours. They will be free swimming in a couple of days. Once they are free swimming they, can be fed infusoria or some other liquid fry food formulated for egg layers. When they get a little bigger switch their diet to newly hatched brine shrimp, powdered fry food or powdered eggs.