Best Beginner Fish for a First Aquarium

Hardy, peaceful, forgiving species that shrug off the wobbles of a brand-new tank.

By The Aquarium DB Team • 84 species
Ember Tetra Ember Tetra Neon Green Rasbora Neon Green Rasbora Ramshorn Snail Ramshorn Snail Red Lip Nerite Snail Red Lip Nerite Snail Dawn Tetra Dawn Tetra Nerite Snail Nerite Snail Assassin Snail Assassin Snail Cherry Shrimp Cherry Shrimp Endler's Livebearer Endler's Livebearer Glowlight Danio Glowlight Danio Gold Ring Danio Gold Ring Danio Malaysian Trumpet Snail Malaysian Trumpet Snail Neon Tetra Neon Tetra Tail-spot Corydoras Tail-spot Corydoras Trinidad Guppy Trinidad Guppy Pygmy Corydoras Pygmy Corydoras Glowlight Rasbora Glowlight Rasbora Blue Danio Blue Danio Emperor Tetra Emperor Tetra Flame Tetra Flame Tetra Ghost Shrimp Ghost Shrimp Glowlight Tetra Glowlight Tetra Golden Dwarf Barb Golden Dwarf Barb Phoenix Tetra Phoenix Tetra Red Phantom Tetra Red Phantom Tetra Rosy Tetra Rosy Tetra Yellow Phantom Tetra Yellow Phantom Tetra Black Phantom Tetra Black Phantom Tetra Gold Tetra Gold Tetra Lemon Tetra Lemon Tetra X-ray Tetra X-ray Tetra Yellow Tetra Yellow Tetra Amano Shrimp Amano Shrimp Axelrod's Cory Axelrod's Cory Bandit Corydoras Bandit Corydoras Checkered Barb Checkered Barb Cherry Barb Cherry Barb Five-banded Barb Five-banded Barb Forktail Blue-eye Forktail Blue-eye Harlequin Rasbora Harlequin Rasbora Honey Gourami Honey Gourami Japanese Trapdoor Snail Japanese Trapdoor Snail Julii Corydoras Julii Corydoras Masked Corydoras Mystery Snail Mystery Snail Skunk Corydoras Skunk Corydoras Stoliczka's Barb Stoliczka's Barb Zebra Danio Zebra Danio Bloodfin Tetra Bloodfin Tetra Rust Corydoras Agassiz's Corydoras Agassiz's Corydoras Blackline Rasbora Blackline Rasbora Diamond Tetra Diamond Tetra Elegant Cory Elegant Cory False Julii Corydoras False Julii Corydoras Glass Bloodfin Tetra Glass Bloodfin Tetra Guppy Guppy Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish Neon Dwarf Rainbowfish Pearl Danio Pearl Danio Platy Platy Corydoras Catfish Corydoras Catfish Spotfin Corydoras Spotfin Corydoras Costa's Tetra Costa's Tetra Croaking Gourami Croaking Gourami Melon Barb Melon Barb Peppered Corydoras Peppered Corydoras Spotted Corydoras Spotted Corydoras Gold Barb Gold Barb Black Kuhli Loach Black Kuhli Loach Scissortail Rasbora Scissortail Rasbora Brilliant Rasbora Brilliant Rasbora Burmese Loach Burmese Loach Silver Tetra Silver Tetra Thick-lipped Gourami Thick-lipped Gourami Giant Danio Giant Danio Keyhole Cichlid Keyhole Cichlid Kuhli Loach Kuhli Loach Molly Molly Porthole Catfish Porthole Catfish Upside-down Catfish Upside-down Catfish Murray River Rainbowfish Murray River Rainbowfish Bristlenose Pleco Bristlenose Pleco Giant Kuhli Loach Giant Kuhli Loach Rubber Lip Pleco
Buyer's guide

How to choose a beginner fish

The best first fish are peaceful, stay a sensible size and tolerate the small water-quality swings every new tank goes through. Everything on this list ticks those boxes — but none of them are bowl fish: give them a cycled, filtered, heated tank and they reward you for years.

Add fish slowly over several weeks rather than all at once, keep up with weekly water changes, and stock shoaling species (most of these) in groups so they feel secure. Get the routine right on easy fish first, then branch out.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest fish to keep?

Livebearers like guppies and platies, and small shoalers like neon tetras, are about as forgiving as it gets — provided the tank is cycled, filtered and heated. They are hardy, peaceful and widely available.

How many fish should a beginner start with?

Start understocked. Add one small group at a time over the first month so your filter can keep pace, and aim well below the old "one inch per gallon" rule — filtration and water changes matter far more.