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20 low-maintenance fish for busy owners
If you live a busy life but still want to be a pet owner, these low-maintenance fish are well worth considering. While starting an aquarium and keeping it healthy does take some work, there are fish out there that are easier to care for than others – which can make your life relatively hassle-free in the long run.
Regardless of the species you get, there are some tips for taking care of fish that you’ll want to bear in mind. No matter how fuss-free your finned friends are, you’ll still want to ensure you house them in the right size tank, keep fish who have similar temperaments and requirements together, and keep the tank clean.
If you’re new to keeping fish, there are many types of fish for first-time owners that are hardy, adaptable, and fairly easy to care for. You’ll be able to sit back and enjoy watching them (when time permits!) but also relax when you’re out of the house knowing they’re happy and healthy. Here are a few of our favorites…
Low-maintenance fish
1. Betta fish
When it comes to caring for a betta fish, you’ll be relieved to hear that as long as you provide your finned friend with the right tank setup, you’ll have a relatively low-maintenance fish on your hands.
A great pet for first time fish owners, these colorful characters are curious and playful, and most betta fish will recognize their owners and get excited when they see them approach their tank.
While they are calm and slow moving when housed alone, they can be very aggressive and territorial where other betta fish are concerned so you’ll want to avoid keeping them in pairs or groups.
These fish are not particularly active, so they don’t need lots of space, they’re easy to feed and require minimal daily interaction.
2. Zebrafish
A hardy fish that’s simple to house and easy to breed, the zebrafish is one of the most beautiful freshwater fish you can keep as a pet. Their small size means their care needs are straightforward and their social nature makes them a great addition to a tank with other peaceful breeds.
Robust fish that thrive in a range of different water temperatures, zebrafish are prolific breeders so expect to see a steady supply of this fish in your tank! Disease resistant and with a fairly simple diet, you’ll find the zebrafish is a very simple little creature to take care of.
3. Standard goldfish
Did you know that there are over 200 different breeds of goldfish? It’s true! The standard (or common) goldfish is the most commonly kept freshwater species of fish on the planet and they’re a great choice for beginners.
A hardy and resilient little creature, the goldfish is very adaptable and can thrive in a variety of settings. Because they don’t require a ton of special care, they’re very cost effective and won’t take up much of your time.
However, they still need a spacious tank, regular water changes and a balanced diet comprising flakes and pellets.
4. Neon tetra
A colorful tropical fish to brighten up your aquarium, the neon tetra is a peaceful fish who thrives in community tanks with other tranquil species. Quiet yet active, they love swimming in the middle to lower levels of their aquarium but they do need to be kept in odd-numbered groups of five or more to prevent aggression with each other.
They can live up to 10 years with proper care and while they are generally low-maintenance, they are sensitive to water conditions so you’ll want to ensure the water is soft and slightly acidic.
5. Harlequin rasbora
Harlequin rasboras are a fantastic choice if you’re new to keeping fish and short on time. Hardy, peaceful and able to thrive in a range of different water conditions, they like to be kept in schools of 8-10 and away from aggressive species.
Harlequin rasboras need a tank that’s a minimum of 10 gallons in size and they prefer water that is slightly acidic with plenty of plants so they can hide when they want to. Couple this with low water flow and dim lighting and you’ll have some very happy fish on your hands.
6. Cory catfish
Looking for fish that clean the tank to make your life easier? Look no further than the cory catfish, a bottom-dwelling species that’s constantly scavenging for leftover food, algae and debris.
Peaceful and active, this robust and social fish likes to be kept in groups and enjoys the company of their own kind. Cory catfish can tolerate a wide range of water temperatures and can adapt to a range of tank sizes as long as it’s 10 gallons or bigger.
They’re not picky eaters and will happily gobble up a range of different foods including flakes, pellets and frozen treats.
7. Guppy
A beginner-friendly fish that’s adaptable enough to be able to thrive in a wide range of tank conditions, the guppy is a delight to watch thanks to its lively swimming behavior.
Peaceful and easygoing, they do well in community tanks with other non-aggressive fish species and because they’re generally hardy, they don’t succumb easily to disease.
Guppies eat a wide variety of foods making them every easy to feed and as long as they’re housed in a large tank with good filtration and lots of plants that they can explore and hide in, you’ll find they stay happy and healthy.
8. Cherry barb
A great community fish with a lively personality, the cherry barb is typically very peaceful and calm and they love to be kept in groups so they can playfully chase each other.
You’ll want a 20-gallon tank minimum for this species with plenty of hiding places in the form of caves and driftwood as cherry barbs tend to be shy. They like gentle currents rather than fast flowing water and they’ll readily accept a wide range of foods, making them very easy to care for.
9. Kuhli loach
The kuhli loach is a chilled out fish who can peacefully co-exist with other tranquil community fish. Far from fussy, these non-picky eaters will readily accept all kinds of food and they are generally very hardy.
Excellent scavengers, the kuhli loach is a brilliant choice if you’re looking for species that will help you to keep your tank in tip-top condition. A bottom-dwelling fish that enjoys burrowing in the sand, they’re very social and enjoy the company of their own kind.
10. White cloud mountain minnow
The white cloud mountain minnow is a tranquil and sociable fish who thrives when kept in groups of at least six or more of their own kind. This docile species makes a great addition to a community tank with other placid fish and they do best in cooler water temperatures.
Small, colorful and easy to care for, they’re a hardy fish which makes them a brilliant choice for beginners. White cloud mountain minnows like a mix of open swimming areas as well as planting to the sides and back of their tank, so that’s something to keep in mind if you plan on keeping this species.
11. Angelfish
Beginner-friendly and low-maintenance, the beautiful angelfish is hardy, adaptable and generally peaceful, although they can become aggressive and territorial when breeding.
They are best kept in groups with larger, tranquil fish as smaller fish can be viewed as food. A majestic species that requires a tall and large aquarium of at least 55-gallons due to their long finnage, the angelfish likes lots of live plants, rocks and driftwood, as well as soft and smooth substrate.
12. Bolivian cichlids
A peaceful species ideally suited to community tanks, Bolivian cichlids are loved for their vibrant colors and docile temperament. Hailing from South America, they are relatively robust and tolerant of water fluctuations, adapting well to temperatures between 75-82°F.
These fish like to hide, so you’ll want to provide them with a sandy substrate they can burrow in as well as caves, rocks and driftwood. Bolivian cichlids will accept a wide range of food and they get on well with species such as tetras and rasboras.
13. Swordtails
Easy to breed and take care of, swordtails are generally placid and active fish with lively personalities. Compatible with a wide range of community fish, they love to explore their environment and their social nature means they enjoy interacting with their tank mates.
It’s worth noting that males can be aggressive towards each other if they have to compete for females, so it’s worth keeping them in large groups where females well outnumber males.
Due to the males elaborate courtship ritual that involves dancing to attract females, swordtails can be a wonderful species to sit back and observe. Swordtails can tolerate a wide range of water conditions and will readily accept flakes, pellets and frozen treats.
14. Molly
Mollies are small fish found along the Gulf coast of the United States and they come in lots of different varieties. Colorful and relatively fuss-free, mollies are tropical fish with active personalities.
Livebearers who can have up to 100 babies at a time, they’re usually very peaceful, however male mollies can become aggressive when they want to mate with females. On the whole, they are robust and adaptable fish who like moderately hard water and warm temperatures between 75-80°F.
15. Platy
Platies are livebearing fish native to east coast of Central America and southern Mexico. These fish are a dream come true if you’re looking for a low-maintenance species that’s hardy, tolerant of different water conditions and friendly enough to include in a community tank.
Playful and curious, platies come in different varieties and thrive when housed with other peaceful fish such as mollies and tetras. Their fondness for algae makes them a great choice if you’re after a species that will help keep your tank clean and they’re easy to breed and feed.
16. Bristlenose pleco
Bristlenose plecos are docile fish with a calm nature. They love to snack on algae, so they do a brilliant job of keeping the tank clean, and while they’re typically peaceful, they can become territorial when it comes to space and resources.
These bottom-dwellers aren’t big swimmers, so they don’t tend to interact with fish at other levels of the tank and because they’re nocturnal, you’ll want to provide them with caves that they can hide out in during the day.
Bristlenose plecos are a fairly hardy species and can adapt to a wide range of environments.
17. Buenos Aires tetra
Buenos Aires tetras are active shoaling fish who like to be kept in groups of at least six. Extremely popular due to how hardy and easy to care for they are, Buenos Aires tetras are generally peaceful but are known to engage in fin-nipping, so it’s best to avoid housing them with long-finned fish.
Omnivores who will quite happily munch on a wide variety of foods, they can tolerate a wide range of tank conditions but they are sensitive to ammonia so regularly water changes are recommended.
18. Endler’s livebearer
A robust fish that’s great if you’re time-poor or new to keeping finned friends, the Endler’s livebearer is one species you won’t get bored of. An active and curious species who loves to zip around their tank and explore every nook and cranny, Endler’s livebearers do best when housed with similarly sized, docile fish.
A well decorated tank is a must for this species who love live plants, vegetation and algae – live plants are particularly important as they offer both a food source and a place to hide.
Visually striking and very hardy, they’re a great choice if you’re after a fuss-free fish to add to your aquarium.
19. Siamese algae eater
The Siamese algae eater does an outstanding job of controlling different types of algae, so they’ll make an outstanding member of your clean up crew.
They’re also really easy to take care of once you have your aquarium set up to give them the conditions they need to thrive – including soft, sandy substrate, moderate to high water flow and plenty of hiding places in the form of plants and driftwood.
Active and playful, they’re peaceful in nature and are compatible with most community fish.
20. Honey gourami
Honey gouramis are robust fish that are very low-maintenance and beginner-friendly. Hardy and adaptable, they thrive in a range of different tank conditions and aren’t fussy when it comes to food.
Gentle and docile, they’re great community fish but bear in mind that they can be very shy, so they’ll appreciate having lots of hiding places that they can sneak off to when they’re in need of some peace and quiet.
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