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Best Beginner Aquarium Fish

Edited by Ivan F.

These species are forgiving of the small mistakes everyone makes with a first tank.

How we pick: Species rated Absolute Beginner or Easy in our care scale.

Fitting the same tank size does not mean these species can live together. Check each species' tank mates before you buy.

African Dwarf Frog
Hymenochirus boettgeri
Min tank
10 US gal
Group
3+ fish
pH
6.5–7.8
Swim zone
Bottom
EasyPeaceful
Betta
Betta splendens
Min tank
11 US gal
Group
Single fish
pH
6–8
Swim zone
Top
EasyTerritorial/Aggressive
Celestial Pearl Danio
Danio margaritatus
Min tank
11 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6.5–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Min tank
11 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
5–7
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Endler's Livebearer
Poecilia wingei
Min tank
11 US gal
Group
3+ fish
pH
7–8.5
Swim zone
Top
EasyPeaceful
Fancy Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Min tank
11 US gal
Group
3+ fish
pH
7–8.5
Swim zone
Top
EasyPeaceful
Panda Corydoras
Corydoras panda
Min tank
11 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6–7.4
Swim zone
Bottom
EasyPeaceful
Sparkling Gourami
Trichopsis pumila
Min tank
11 US gal
Group
2+ fish
pH
5–7.5
Swim zone
Top
EasyPeaceful
Cardinal Tetra
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
3.5–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Cherry Barb
Puntius titteya
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6–8
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish
Melanotaenia praecox
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6.8–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
5–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
2+ fish
pH
6–7.5
Swim zone
Top
Absolute BeginnerPeaceful
Kuhli Loach
Pangio kuhlii
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
3.5–7
Swim zone
Bottom
EasyPeaceful
Lambchop Rasbora
Trigonostigma espei
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
5.5–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
4–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
3+ fish
pH
7–8.2
Swim zone
Top
Absolute BeginnerPeaceful
Pristella Tetra
Pristella maxillaris
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
Min tank
14 US gal
Group
10+ fish
pH
6–8.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Glowlight Tetra
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Min tank
18 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
5.5–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Peppered Corydoras
Corydoras paleatus
Min tank
18 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6–7
Swim zone
Bottom
EasyPeaceful
Albino Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus (albino)
Min tank
19 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6–8
Swim zone
Bottom
Absolute BeginnerPeaceful
Black Neon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Min tank
19 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
5–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Bronze Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
Min tank
19 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6–8
Swim zone
Bottom
Absolute BeginnerPeaceful
Kribensis Cichlid
Pelvicachromis pulcher
Min tank
19 US gal
Group
2+ fish
pH
5–7.5
Swim zone
Bottom
EasyTerritorial/Aggressive
Lemon Tetra
Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis
Min tank
19 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
5–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Serpae Tetra
Hyphessobrycon eques
Min tank
19 US gal
Group
12+ fish
pH
5–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasySemi-Aggressive
Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
Min tank
19 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
5–8
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasySemi-Aggressive
Clown Pleco
Panaqolus maccus
Min tank
20 US gal
Group
Single fish
pH
6.8–7.6
Swim zone
Bottom
EasyPeaceful
Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Min tank
20 US gal
Group
Single fish
pH
6.5–7.5
Swim zone
All Levels
EasyPeaceful
Blue Gourami
Trichopodus trichopterus
Min tank
21 US gal
Group
Single fish
pH
5.5–8.5
Swim zone
Top
EasySemi-Aggressive
Gold Barb
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Min tank
21 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
6–8
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Molly
Poecilia sphenops
Min tank
21 US gal
Group
3+ fish
pH
7–8.5
Swim zone
Top
EasyPeaceful
Pearl Gourami
Trichopodus leerii
Min tank
21 US gal
Group
2+ fish
pH
5.5–8
Swim zone
Top
EasyPeaceful
Rummy Nose Tetra
Hemigrammus rhodostomus
Min tank
21 US gal
Group
10+ fish
pH
5.5–7
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
Min tank
21 US gal
Group
8+ fish
pH
6–8
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Min tank
29 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6–7.5
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful
Angelfish
Pterophyllum scalare
Min tank
53 US gal
Group
6+ fish
pH
6–7.4
Swim zone
Mid-Water
EasyPeaceful