What is the best first fish to have?

October 25, 2025 •

5 min read

Over 12 million households in the U.S. own a pet fish, and choosing the right one is crucial for a positive experience. A great first choice makes the fishkeeping hobby enjoyable, manageable, and highly rewarding. This guide answers the question, "What is the best first fish to have?" by exploring the most beginner-friendly species for your new freshwater aquarium.

Quick Summary

This guide outlines the best freshwater fish for beginners, detailing hardy species like guppies, cory catfish, and neon tetras. It covers essential care requirements and tank setup, helping new hobbyists succeed with their first aquarium.

Key Points

Start with Hardy Species: Guppies, bettas, and cory catfish are excellent, resilient choices for beginners.
Match Fish to Tank Size: A 10-gallon tank is a good start, but always confirm the needs of your specific fish. Larger tanks offer more stability.
Cycle Your Tank First: Never add fish to an uncycled tank. The nitrogen cycle is essential for creating a healthy, non-toxic environment.
Mind Social Needs: Some fish, like cory catfish and neon tetras, are schooling fish and need to be kept in groups. Bettas, however, are often best kept alone.
Avoid Overfeeding: Feed only what your fish can eat in a few minutes to prevent excess waste and maintain water quality.
Perform Regular Water Changes: Weekly 25% water changes are crucial for a healthy tank environment.
Consider Long-Term Needs: Some fish, like common goldfish, require surprisingly large tanks as they grow, so plan ahead.

Top Contenders for Your First Freshwater Fish

When selecting your very first fish, look for species that are known for their hardiness, peaceful temperament, and adaptability to a range of water conditions. Several freshwater fish consistently rank high on lists for beginners due to their forgiving nature and manageable size. These include guppies, bettas, cory catfish, and a variety of small, colorful schooling fish like neon tetras and platies. Choosing the right species depends on your specific tank size and whether you want a single-species tank or a community aquarium.

Guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Guppies are a classic choice for new aquarists for many reasons. Their vibrant colors and active nature add life to any tank. They are incredibly hardy and can tolerate a variety of water parameters, though they thrive best in a temperature range of 72-82°F (22-28°C). A minimum 10-gallon tank is recommended for a small school. A key consideration with guppies is their prolific breeding. If you wish to avoid a tank full of fry, it's best to keep a single-sex group. Guppies are also peaceful community fish, but their flowing fins can attract fin-nippers, so tank mate selection is important.

Betta Fish (Betta splendens)

Known as Siamese fighting fish, bettas are prized for their stunning fins and brilliant colors. Despite their aggressive reputation towards other male bettas, a single male betta can be an excellent pet for a beginner. They have minimal space requirements, thriving in a 5-gallon tank with a filter and heater, but still need a well-maintained environment. Bettas possess a labyrinth organ, allowing them to breathe air from the surface, which makes them resilient. They are relatively slow-moving, so ensure the filter flow is gentle to prevent their fins from being damaged.

Cory Catfish (Corydoras)

For a beginner looking for a bottom-dwelling fish, cory catfish are an ideal choice. Species like the panda cory, bronze cory, and albino cory are peaceful, social, and enjoy scavenging the substrate for leftover food. They prefer to live in groups of at least four to six of their own species and should be housed in a tank of 20 gallons or more with a soft substrate like sand. Corys are not demanding in terms of water chemistry and are a fun addition to a community tank, where they add activity to the tank floor.

Neon Tetra (Paracheirodon innesi)

Neon tetras are a visually striking and popular schooling fish known for their bright red and electric blue stripes. These peaceful fish are best kept in a school of at least six, which helps them feel secure and display their vibrant colors. While they can be delicate in fluctuating water conditions, a properly cycled tank provides a stable environment for them to thrive. A minimum 10-gallon tank is sufficient for a small school. Neon tetras are an ideal species for a planted, peaceful aquarium.

Comparison Table of Beginner Fish


Feature	Guppy	Betta	Cory Catfish	Neon Tetra
Hardiness	High	Medium-High	High	Medium
Temperament	Peaceful	Semi-aggressive (Males)	Peaceful	Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size	10 Gallons	5 Gallons	20 Gallons	10 Gallons
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore	Omnivore	Omnivore
Social Needs	School of 3+ (Single-sex recommended)	Solo (Males) or single species tank	School of 4-6+	School of 6+
Tank Level	Top to Mid	Mid to Top	Bottom	Mid

Essential Steps for Your First Aquarium

Before you bring your first fish home, proper preparation is key. Following these steps will ensure a healthy and stable environment for your new pets.

Start with the right equipment

Tank: A 10-gallon tank is a good starting point for most beginner fish, but always research the specific needs of your chosen species. Larger tanks (20+ gallons) offer greater stability in water parameters, making them more forgiving for new aquarists.
Filter: A filter is essential for biological, mechanical, and chemical filtration. Look for a hang-on-back or internal filter with an adjustable flow rate, especially for fish like bettas that prefer calm water.
Heater: Unless you are keeping cold-water fish like some goldfish varieties, a heater is necessary to maintain a stable temperature. Many tropical fish thrive in temperatures around 75-80°F.
Thermometer: A reliable aquarium thermometer is needed to monitor your tank's temperature accurately.
Substrate: Choose a substrate appropriate for your fish. Sand is often best for bottom dwellers like corys, while gravel works well for others.
Decor: Provide hiding spots and enrichment with rocks, driftwood, and live or silk plants. Live plants also help with water quality.

Master the nitrogen cycle

Understanding the nitrogen cycle is the single most important lesson for any new fishkeeper. It is the process by which beneficial bacteria convert toxic fish waste (ammonia) into less harmful compounds (nitrite, then nitrate).

Tank Cycling: Before adding fish, you must cycle your tank to establish a healthy colony of these beneficial bacteria. This process can take several weeks.
Water Testing: Use a water test kit to monitor levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate throughout the cycling process. This is the only way to know when your tank is safe for fish.

Feed and maintain correctly

Overfeeding is a common mistake for beginners. Only feed your fish what they can consume in 2-3 minutes, once or twice a day. Remove any uneaten food to prevent it from decomposing and polluting the water. Weekly partial water changes of about 25% are necessary to maintain clean water and healthy parameters.

Consider your first fish selection carefully

Some popular starter fish, such as the common goldfish, have high waste production and require very large tanks, making them less ideal for smaller, indoor aquariums. Fancy goldfish are even more delicate. Avoid impulsive purchases and research your chosen species thoroughly. For additional guidance, authoritative sites like the Aquarium Co-Op offer extensive care guides.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

Choosing your first fish is an exciting step into the world of fishkeeping, but it requires thoughtful preparation. The best first fish to have are hardy, peaceful species like guppies, bettas, cory catfish, or neon tetras, which are more forgiving of common beginner mistakes. By properly cycling your tank, setting up the right equipment, and committing to regular maintenance, you can create a thriving and beautiful aquatic environment. Your success depends on research and patience, ensuring a healthy and happy life for your new aquatic pets.

Frequently Asked Questions

For a beginner's community tank, guppies, platies, and cory catfish are great options. They are peaceful, hardy, and compatible with each other. Neon tetras are another good choice but prefer to be in larger schools of six or more.

While often marketed as beginner fish, common goldfish are not ideal for small, typical starter tanks. They produce a lot of waste and grow large, requiring a 20-gallon tank or more per fish. Smaller, hardier tropical fish are often a better starting point.

Most beginner fish, like guppies and bettas, are tropical and require a heater to maintain a consistent temperature, typically between 75-80°F. Some cold-water species, like white cloud mountain minnows, do not need a heater, but require specific tank parameters.

It is best to feed your fish once or twice a day, providing only as much food as they can eat in about two to three minutes. Overfeeding is a common mistake that can pollute the tank water and harm your fish.

You need to complete the nitrogen cycle before adding fish. Use a water test kit to confirm that ammonia and nitrite levels are zero and nitrate levels are low. This process can take several weeks.

No, you should never keep two male betta fish in the same tank. Their aggressive nature, which earned them the nickname Siamese fighting fish, means they will fight, often to the death. They are best kept alone or with specific peaceful tank mates.

Guppies are notorious for being easy to breed. They are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs, and can reproduce very quickly. To control the population, you can keep a single-sex tank.