4 Beginner Fish To Avoid For Your First Aquarium!

Starting your first aquarium is exciting, but choosing the right fish is one of the most important steps to long-term success. Some species look perfect for beginners but actually come with hidden challenges that can lead to frustration, disappointment, or even high losses. In this video, I’ll go over a few popular fish that I recommend avoiding if you’re just starting out, and I’ll share some hardier alternatives that are still beautiful, fun, and rewarding to keep. Let’s begin with guppies. They’re colorful, lively, and often sold as the ultimate beginner fish, but in reality, they can be surprisingly fragile. Modern guppies are heavily inbred, which lowers their survival rate and makes them more vulnerable to parasites and diseases. It’s heartbreaking to lose fish early, especially when you’re new to the hobby. If you love the look and activity of guppies, try Endler’s livebearers or Japanese Medaka rice fish instead. Both are hardy, energetic, and bring just as much color and personality to your tank. Next are neon tetras. They’re one of the most iconic schooling fish, but the truth is, many mass-bred neons struggle with health problems. Diseases like Neon Tetra Disease can wipe out an entire school in no time. A stronger alternative is the cardinal tetra. They look nearly identical, with a striking red and blue glow, but cardinals are usually hardier since many are still wild-caught. Bettas are another classic choice, loved for their bold personalities and flowing fins. Unfortunately, years of selective breeding have weakened many modern bettas. Even with perfect care, they sometimes don’t live as long as they should. If you’re drawn to their personality, consider gouramis instead—honey gouramis and sparkling gouramis are peaceful, colorful, and excellent centerpiece fish for small tanks. Finally, zebra danios. Once considered indestructible, they’ve lost a lot of their hardiness due to poor breeding practices. A fantastic alternative is the White Cloud Mountain Minnow. They’re resilient, inexpensive, and can thrive even in unheated aquariums. Choosing the right fish makes a huge difference when starting your aquarium journey. By avoiding these common beginner mistakes and going with healthier, hardier species, you’ll set yourself up for a much more enjoyable fishkeeping experience. #aquarium #fishtank #fishkeeping