51 Selecting ``Good'' Fish
Description
This article is from the Beginning Fishkeeping FAQ, by Thomas Narten with numerous contributions by others.
51 Selecting ``Good'' Fish
So you've got your tank set up and the filter running, you know about
the nitrogen cycle and a little water chemistry. You've got all your
test kits poised and ready to monitor your first month. Armed with
this knowledge, you make your way to the local fish store to buy your
first fish (or two). In this section, we'll deal with some of the
common questions about keeping your fish. (Whew! Didn't think we'd
actually get to fish, did you?)
There are so many things to say about good beginner fish, we've
covered it in a whole separate FAQ (oddly-enough, called the GOOD
BEGINNER FISH FAQ); it contains many suggestions for particular fish.
Here is the author's general advice:
If we define a good beginner's fish as one that is easy to feed and
care for, hardy, able to live in a variety of water conditions, and
attractive, then there are a number of widely available fish which fit
the bill nicely. Many of these are regularly sold as beginner's fish.
But watch out! Many of the fish sold as beginner's fish really are not
well suited to that role.
Many of the smaller schooling fish make ideal first fish. These
include White Cloud Mountain Minnows, the several commonly available
species of Danios and Rasboras, and most available species of Barbs.
For those with a slightly larger tank, Rainbowfish make a great
schooling fish. Corydoras Catfish are ever popular schooling catfish.
While many beginners are tempted to get just one or two of each of
several different schooling fish, this should be resisted. Schooling
fish do better if there are several of their own species present for
them to interact with. A minimum of six of each of the midwater
schooling fish is recommended, while four is the bare minimum for
Corys. In the long run, a school of a dozen fish showing their natural
behavior will be more pleasing than a mixed group of fishes unhappily
forced to share the same tank. (``Mom, why is that one fish hiding
behind the heater and that other one just hanging in the corner?'')
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