If you are a fresh aquarium owner, you may have felt quite overwhelmed with the many options available in the market.
Then we newly fish owners are also swayed by the pet shop owners, and give into buying anything they want us to buy. But telling you from experience don’t do that and know what fishes can be too much to handle.
The Possible Problems A Beginner Can Face With an Aquarium
We beginners underestimate how hard it is to maintain an aquarium and responsibly handle a fish . Here are some problems I encountered and have seen my fellow aquarist come across too.
Aquarium Is Too Small: When we first start this new hobby, we often overlook certain factors, especially the size of the aquarium available. With time, this becomes a problem, as small aquariums are mostly more difficult to maintain due to the instability of the environment and insufficient space.
Not Knowing The Maximum Size Of The Fish: The myth that fish grow to the size of their surroundings is just that—a myth. First, we buy small aquariums, then we also don’t research the average size the fish we own can grow to. And when the fish grows to its actual size, there is no sufficient space for it. This affects the life span of the fish, too.
Not Knowing The Water Quality Requirements: Some fish come with a cost: constant maintenance. Some freshwater fish need regular cleaning, certain water temperatures, and other conditions, too. Hence, many new fish owners unintentionally ignore their fish health.
Keeping the Wrong Species Together: Not all species are compatible with each other, and some get quite territorial about their aquarium space. Unfortunately, many pet shop owners won’t tell you this.
Most Difficult To Keep Fish: Types Of Fish To Avoid
Now that we have discussed the problems you might encounter, let’s keep them in mind and see what fish species we ned to avoid. Here is a list of some that I discovered during my research.
Goldfish
Goldfish are arguably the most popular aquarium fish worldwide. Thus, they are also the most miskept fish worldwide.
Goldfish require about twenty gallons for one fish, and an additional ten for each extra. The reason is that goldfish can get quite large, depending on the species.
To keep the water quality under control in a small tank, you would need to do fairly large daily water changes.
Oscars
Oscars can regularly reach a size of 11 to 12 inches and some have been measured at over 15 inches in very large aquariums and in the wild.
This will mean you can not keep anything else with them unless you have a very large aquarium (most say around 125 gallons).
Clown Loaches
Clown Loaches are gorgeous to look at and are very effective bottom feeders. The downside to these fish is that they can grow to around 8 to 12 inches long.
Add on the fact that they need to be kept in groups, and you’re asking for a massive amount of tank space. Usually, no less than a six-foot-long aquarium will suffice for a full-grown group of clown loaches.
Common Plecostomus (Plecos)
These fish are usually sold in stores at a size of around two to five inches, yet they can grow anywhere between one and two feet and have a lifespan of upwards of 15 years.
Buying one of these fish is a lifetime commitment, and your tank will need to grow with the fish to house it properly.
Tinfoil Barbs
The Tinfoil Barb is another fish that is often marketed while it is still very young and small. They tend to be near the other barb tanks, yet can grow up to 14 inches. The Tinfoil Barb is another species that is best kept in groups, further increasing their burden on a small aquarium.
Red Belly Pacu
Many people buy these because they want that “Pirhana-looking fish” without knowing what they are getting themselves into. In my opinion, this fish should only be available via special order and not on display at chain pet stores at all.
Red-Tailed Sharks
The red-tailed shark is not particularly difficult to take care of, but it is extremely territorial. This means that it is not possible to keep other red-tailed sharks or even similar species together at all.
Bettas (Siamese Fighting Fish)
A Betta will thrive in tanks no smaller than five gallons and will require moderately warm water, typically within 75 – 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Moreover, they can’t be be kept in a tropical community tank, without careful consideration and planning.
Discus
Discus are some of the beautiful fishes you will be able to find but unfortunately they are also highly sensitive (many pet owners will skip this detail for you).
They also need a large and tall aquarium with alot of greenery available.
Bala Shark
The Bala Shark is a relatively peaceful and friendly fish and thrives in groups of at least six fish. You’ll need a really large tank to accommodate them and all their friends.
Fish Species You Can Keep In Your Tank
Now that I have scared you with all the intimidating species, it is also my duty that I tell you the ones that will actually be feasible for you. Here is a list of some of the species you can try.
Rasboras
Tetras
Platies
Kuhli Loaches
Zebra Fish (Danio Rerio)
Keep What You Can Handle
All the fish come with their own requirements and as a beginner, I would suggest that you don’t play it risky as difficult fish often become a hassle for newbies and that results in them just giving up on pet fishing overall.
Keep it simple. Buy fish that don’t produce huge amounts of waste so you only need to do minimum water and filter changes. And don’t buy fish that get bigger for your tank (i.e., outgrow it) in the long run or are aggressive in nature. Most importantly, consider your budget, and you will be good to go.
