Suggestions for First Fish Please

[Kurly]

Hi,
My 8 year old daughter wants a fish and I would like to know what kind of fish is the easiest to take care of? Fresh water fish or Salt water Fish? She does not want a gold fish but wants something "pretty". She also wants 2 or 3 of them and says they have to be nice fish and get along with each other.

I have absolutely zero fish knowledge and am hoping that someone here can give me a little advise.

I am not really sure where to post this question so if this is the wrong place, please accept my apologies.

Thanks!

[Apotheosis]

Freshwater fish will be alot easier to keep. It's not hard to keep fish, you just have to read up a bit. Buying a book would be a good start.

As for fish, guppies are colorful and stay small.

[JustOneMore20]

Freshwater is probably better to start out with and learn. Be sure to read the stickies on the nitrogen cycle. ---> http://www.fishforums.com/forum/gene...le-basics.html

Tetras are easy fish to keep. They come in all different colors and need atleast 6 in a group.

Do you have a tank/aquarium yet?

If not, I suggest starting out with a 20 or 29g tank. There will be alot of room for various fish, but its not a huge tank. Start with the biggest fish tank you can. A 10g would be an ok tank to start out with as well, but has limited stocking and new fish owners (I was one of them) are eager to fill the tank up with all the different choices of fish at the fish store....and the fish store lets them.

With an aquarium, you'll need a stand, a heater (one that is around 5 watts per gallon, so with a 10 gallon, get a 50 watt heater); a filter (hang over the back types are pretty cheap and popular); substrate (gravel or sand); and some type of hood or glass top (not totally necessary for all fish though).

Welcome to the site!

[Kurly]

Thanks for the welcome and the information

We don't have a tank/aquarium yet. I really don't want anything too large because it will be kept in my daughters room but I will make sure that it is large enough for whatever type of fish we decide on. I am going to look up information on tetras (I have never heard of these fish) as well as guppies and will also get a book on fish. I wanted to ask questions first and research as much as possible to make sure that we have everything set up correctly in hopes of keeping alive whatever fish we do buy.

Again, thank you for replying and if anyone else has something to add, please feel free to do so. I have already been given some very good suggestions but am eager to hear more.

[Apotheosis]

You already have a great mindset. Too many aquarists jump into fishkeeping without researching anything. It's fun and exciting to start out, but if you research everything beforehand, you'll have far less problems down the road than others would.

If you have any questions or are confused about something, let us know. We're more than willing to help new fishkeepers.

[kamanut]

White Cloud Minnows are colorful, hardy, fun in a school, inexpensive, and don't need a heater. Mine kind of get thrown around everywhere, and I have yet to have one die. I recommend them for all my friends (instead of a betta or goldfish) that want to get fish.

[Danh]

Danios are bulletproof! Many people even use them to cycle tanks they are so hardy. I recommend 4 or 5 of them in a 20g or so, then get some cories or a few other fish to be decided later on after the tank is cycled.

[Apotheosis]

Oh, and make sure to do a fishless cycle when the time comes. Cycling with fish will put the fish under unnecessary stress and will make them susceptible to ammonia poisoning and especially nitrite poisoning.

[Kurly]

I have another question... My daughter wants a male Betta but still wants more than 1 fish. I know that you shouldn't have more than one Betta in a tank so I was wondering if it would be okay to have one Betta in the tank with either danios, white cloud minnows or tetras? I would hate for the Betta to harm the other fish.

We will probably buy either a 10 gallon or 20 gallon tank and all the equipment later this week so we can cycle the tank. This is all so new to me so I will be sure to take my time and do it correctly.

Thanks again

[Apotheosis]

Actually, it would be the other way around if you kept a betta with danios. Danios are nippy and would shred the betta's fins and most likely cause it to die of stress.

Most tetras do well with bettas. Not sure about white clouds, but I think they prefer a lower temp than a betta would be comfortable with (not 100% sure on this though).

[Kurly]

Oh, we'll say no to danios for sure! I have seen some pictures of tetras online and they are pretty so I think that we will probably get some of those in addition to the Betta.

You have been very helpful Apotheosis

[JustOneMore20]

Bettas do need a slightly higher temp than the White Clouds....and I agree about the Danios. They can be nippy.

In either the 10g or 20g, a male Betta would be fine with a school of Harlequin rasboras. I find they make a great combo as the Harlies are really peaceful fish and usually the Betta pays them no attention. If he does, they are too fast for him.

If you can't find them, or don't like them, then Glowlight Tetras, Lemon Tetras, or Cardinal Tetras are a few that would be fine.

The 20g would definitely allow you to have more fish and you could even go with a school of tetras or rasboras, the male Betta, and some Cory catfish for the bottom. Cories are super cute and really add some character to fish tanks. Also, you'd be able to have a larger school of tetras and really see some schooling action (more so than the 10g).

[Kurly]

I really like the Harlequin rasboras and my daughter does too. Thank you for the picture JustOneMore20. I would love to go with a 20 gallon tank but I think it may be too big for my daughters room so we may have to get a 10 gallon. Maybe that will change once we get to the Pet Store and see all the fish that you have suggested!

[mcdanielnc89]

Yes, it is possibly to keep fish with a betta depending on the personality of your betta... Just make sure it's a peaceful with tha tis with the betta and I'ms ure your beta won't mind(hopefully)... Tetras are good with them as well as i think guppies would be..(i could be wrong) I have seen guppies in with a betta before but not totally sure if it is acceptable..

[TheOldSalt]

As for the cycling, that is, making the tank safe for fish, here's the simplest thing to do:

Day one: set up the tank

Day two: Get a bottle of Seachem's "Stability" from a petshop or mailorder place. Follow the directions on the bottle, but use a double dose of what it says for that first dose.

Day three: add your fish and continue dosing with Stability for the rest of the week as described on the bottle.


Do not let the petshop try to sell you anything else except Stability. ( unless it's Bio-Spira ) All the other bacteria-in-a-bottle products are junk that won't help you. BioSpira is expensive and needs to be kept in the fridge, but it works in one single dose on day one. Stability is much cheaper and doesn't need to be kept cool, and it works almost as well.

There are other methods, but they are slow, complicated, and annoying. Get Stability and be happy. Your fish will live and your daughter won't be heartbroken.

[Kurly]

I am so glad you posted that info TheOldSalt. I have been reading about how to cycle the tank and was getting pretty confused because I thought we would have to wait weeks after getting the tank to buy any fish to put in there! Some write ups are very confusing. Your instructions are simple, to the point and will be sure to keep my headache to a minimum.

This site is great!

[JustOneMore20]

Originally Posted by Kurly

I really like the Harlequin rasboras and my daughter does too. Thank you for the picture JustOneMore20. I would love to go with a 20 gallon tank but I think it may be too big for my daughters room so we may have to get a 10 gallon. Maybe that will change once we get to the Pet Store and see all the fish that you have suggested!

10g is fine to start with. Thats what I started with...I didn't do any research before buying though and ended up with too many fish in my tank. You are doing much better than I did by researching and asking questions, so your tank should be very successful. I'm sure your daughter will be very happy with her tank...and may even start off a little fish keeping hobby for the both of you.

Originally Posted by mcdanielnc89

Tetras are good with them as well as i think guppies would be..(i could be wrong) I have seen guppies in with a betta before but not totally sure if it is acceptable..

Guppies are not the best tankmates for Bettas, since males have the long flowing tails (Fancy guppies) and they are very tempting to Bettas. Many times Bettas end up nipping guppies, so I'd stay away from them.

[Kurly]

I still don't know if I will ever decide exactly which fish to get! I took my kids to the library today and we checked out several freshwater aquarium and fish books. The more we look at the books, the more fish we like! Of course we will stick to the beginner fish but I am starting to want all of them. I had no idea that fish could be so interesting and beautiful.

I'll be sure to update everyone as we move along. That is if I can ever get moving! I am still researching everything right now. So much to learn about these beautiful little creatures

[JustOneMore20]

Now you can see why some of use have multiple aquariums. We just wanted too many!

[Kurly]

lol yes I do see why. I have to keep saying to myself... stick to one aquarium and beginner fish first and when I learn how to take care of them then maybe later I can get another one!