Low-Maintenance Freshwater Fish for Beginners

Fishkeeping is a fantastic hobby that boosts mood and relaxes the mind. Aesthetics and relaxation are some of the reasons we see aquariums in clinics. As a beginner, you might think that keeping fish and caring for them could be challenging, but no!

Fishkeeping is easy if you choose the right type for the aquarium some fish demand timely food, the perfect environment, and extra care to thrive, which is unsuitable for beginners.
Opting for low-maintenance fish is perfect, as these fish are easy to keep and requires little care. Moreover, these are readily available in nearby shops.

Let us discuss some low-maintenance freshwater fish that are easy to keep without much trouble.

Guppies ( Poecilia reticulata)

First on the list is Guppies. These are beautiful vibrant colored fish with attractive patterns on them. These fish can easily survive in poor water conditions as well. Guppies are hasty when it's about increasing their population. A normal guppy fish produces 20-60 little ones at a time. They usually give birth once every 30 days. Female guppies keep the fry with them for almost six months, and they hide when it's time to release their young ones.

A tip: if you are thinking of keeping this fish. Don't be worried if your fish behave a little sick in the beginning because they need time to adjust to their new environment. But, once guppies become familiar with it, they will be your best friend as they can stay long and reproduce rapidly. Guppies are the best for beginners because it only demands care in the beginning. Usually, these are remarkably hardy fish.

Next on our list is :

Mollies( Poecilia sphenops)

Mollies, a variety of livebearers, are bigger and more robust than the Guppy's streamline. They are sexually dimorphic, as even a beginner can differentiate between a male and a female Molly. These fish reproduce rapidly and easily get used to the freshwater of the tank, but they like warm water with neutral pH.

If you want your aquarium to grow crowded, all you need to do is, buy some female mollies. You should keep two female molly fish with a male one. They are so eager to mate that you must keep two female mollies with a male one. Out of five females, one molly will surely be pregnant.

Mollies are good friends, and they can be kept with other fish in the tank, including neon tetras.

Our next contestant for the low-maintenance fish is the relative of mollies, Platies.

Platies(Xiphophorus macalatus)

Platies are happy and friendly with every creature except those who bully them or feed on them. They live in contaminated water and are very easy to feed, as they do not have any feeding preferences.

You should start with almost three to six platies in the beginning. They grow to 7 cm in length. You should keep two female platy fish for a male, as the males always want to mate.

Platies are pleasing to the eyes and mind as they come in several colors and shades. They are ideal community tank residents.

It is hard for a beginner to differentiate between a male and a female Platy. Therefore, for this selection, you would need an expert's advice. They are low maintenance as they demand slow-running water. They do not produce plenty of waste, and a good filtration system would be enough to clean the toxin.

Next on our list is the Zebra Danios

Zebra Danios(danio rerio)

Zebra Danios are cute swimmers and are long in size. They have striated patterns on their body like zebra. They are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of five. They make an amazing fitting with neon tetras because of their peaceful and docile behavior. Make sure not to keep Zebra Danios and Guppies together as later may feed on guppies. Other fish like Cory catfish, Kuhli Loach, and three spotted Gourami can be good friends with zebrafish.

These creatures are mostly in bright colors and are treat to the eyes. They have a mean lifespan of 3.5 years to 5.5 years.

Every fish is comfortable in its own specific environment. Zebra danios are more comfortable in cold water. One doesn't need to thrive for the luxury of a heater, and they are also friendly with smaller fish.

They are really keeper fish as they feed on whatever you feed them. In the wild, they enjoyed insects, worms, algae, and other tiny creatures.

These fishes are excellent for group tanks. Zebra Danios stay healthy in simple tap water.

Betta fish (Betta splendens)

Betta fish is a tropical specie, and it has teeth to bite. They act friendly with Kuhli Loaches, Ember Tetras, and Cory Catfish. 

You should not keep them in bowls; instead, keep them in a 5 to 8-gallon plastic or glass tank. These creatures live more happily in tap water as it's an affordable water source with moderate minerals and pH levels. Betta fish live a long life at 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. This is one of the most favorite pets of fish keepers due to its colorful fins and spirited personality

Goldfish (Carassius auratus)

Goldfish are the most common and low-maintenance species, yet they are beautiful. These fish can be around 9 to 14 inches, the size of a large dinner plate. Whereas Sarasa and shubunkin remain small, up to 10 inches, these are highly recommended because of the variety of colors and small size. These fish contain two sets of paired fins and single fins. They come in several colors, red, orange, brown, yellow, white, and black. These fish don't have scales on the head and have exceptionally large eyes. Common Goldfish live longer than any other goldfish.

Every specie has some good and bad. Goldfish are not good food converters. You will have to make them used to feeding on a pelleted diet to control their waste. Maybe they are ranked among the low-maintenance fish because it's cheap.

You need 20 gallons of water per fish in the beginning, and later you will have to upgrade the tank accordingly.

Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi)

Neon tetras stay happy and peaceful in groups of five to six minimum. They are friendly creatures and get along well with different fish, including, Rasboras, Mollies, angelfish, etc

They can bear in a tank of 10 to 20 gallons, but more swimming space would make them happier. Tetras want light for 1 to 14 hours a day for a better circadian rhythm. They live ten years in the wild, but due to unfavorable pH in tanks, they live only 3 to 4 years.

You can feed them brine shrimp, Mysis shrimps, earthworms, and other things. The Water temperature usually keeps changing, but tetras need a constant temperature, due to which heaters are important.

You should have a good filter as tetras are the top waste-producing fish. That's why you should feed your fish two times a day. 

Water filtration is important for all the fish in the tank as it can remove dirt and other harmful chemicals. It should be kept in mind that you have to serve every creature you keep with your time.