Raising pets can be quite a chore, especially if we’re talking about puppies. While life may be much better with pets, some smaller ones like fish are often a lot easier to raise. Goldfish and tropical fish are lovely to have around your home and add life and colour without having to train them.
When it comes to choosing fish for your aquarium, some species are quite demanding, however. Perhaps not as much as many dog species, but some fish really do have specific conditions they require to live and thrive. Conversely, many species are much easier to raise and are safer picks for beginners.
Below are five of our top picks for great goldfish and tropical fish suitable for children and adults alike:
01. Thai Orandas
The gentle but noble Thai Oranda fish is an excellent goldfish for people of all ages. They’re distinguished by their puffy, cute faces and round bodies and their sharply angled tails. Most Orandas have a vibrant red or orange colour, but calicos and black Orandas aren’t too uncommon, either.
Orandas do need stable, cool water and fairly large aquariums, but they’re quite peaceful and amenable to beginners including children. Make sure to give them a healthy but varied diet and change their water regularly for best health.
02. Ryukin Goldfish
The Chinese Ryukin Goldfish is another favourite amongst goldfish connoisseurs and aficionados. It’s a hardy but gentle fish that can live for around seven years if well-kept. They love protein and need fairly large aquariums, ideally kept at around 30℃ as they’re accustomed to the relatively warm waters between Okinawa and Taiwan.
Ryukin are notable for their humped backs (technically the shoulder area) and their incredibly deep red colour, although many other colours (solid or calico) are also popular.
03. Comet Fish
A favourite for beginners, the long-tailed and gracious Comet Fish is a great pick. Comets are similar in many ways to the common goldfish, and they’re quite amenable to different conditions. Naturally, you should make sure to feed them well and keep their water kept at a reasonable temperature, but they’re sturdy enough to tolerate all sorts of conditions (within reason).
Children are sure to enjoy Comets just as much as adults can find joy in watching them swim around with their long tails.
04. Guppies
Far more social than the others listed above, Guppies are great for beginners so long as they’re kept amongst friends and family (fish, that is). Guppies thrive in groups and pretty small and come from South America, so they do best in aquariums with temperatures around 25-28℃.
As with Comets, Guppies are also quite hardy and can tolerate various conditions. This makes them ideal for beginners since they aren’t quite as sensitive as many other tropical fish.
05. Betta (Fighting) Fish
Add a splash of colour to your aquarium with one of the most popular tropical fish, the Betta Fish (Fighting Fish). These little fellas have impressive colours and tails, and they also thrive in warmer waters - they’re tropical, after all.
While raising one or perhaps a few Bettas is somewhat forgiving for beginners, it should be noted that they can be aggressive towards one another - males in particular. They’re territorial and might not play nice with other long-fin fish like Guppies, so keep them alone if possible. Female Bettas are much more peaceful and get along fairly well with many other species.
Zen Aquarium
Purchase beautiful fish and aquarium supplies from Zen Aquarium.