If you’re new to the world of fishkeeping and looking for the low maintenance fish or easiest fish to take care of options, you’ve come to the right place. Taking care of fish can be a rewarding and relaxing hobby, but it’s important to choose the right fish for your level of experience and the resources you have available. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the easiest fish to take care of, whether you have a small bowl or a spacious tank. From freshwater to saltwater, we’ve got you covered. So let’s dive in!
Low maintenance or easiest fish to take care of are species that are easy to care for and do not require extensive attention or specialized care. These fish can tolerate a wide range of water conditions, have simple dietary needs, and are generally hardy and adaptable. They are well-suited for beginners or individuals with limited time for aquarium maintenance.
When choosing low maintenance fish, consider their hardiness, diet, and temperament. Hardy fish are more likely to survive and thrive even if you make minor mistakes in their care. Fish with simple dietary needs, such as those that can be fed with readily available foods like tropical flake food, are easier to care for. Additionally, peaceful fish that get along well with others make maintenance simpler, especially if you’re planning to keep a community tank.
Now that we understand what to look for in low-maintenance fish, let’s explore 15 of the top choices for beginners.
Bowls may not be ideal for most fish, but certain low maintenance fish species actually do quite well in these pint-sized environments with proper care and maintenance. Here are some great options for easiest fish to take care of in a bowl:
Overview.
The betta fish is one of the most popular pet fish out there, and for good reason. These lively fish are low maintenance fish, hardy, and perfectly content in bowls and mini tanks of 1 gallon or more. Just be sure to choose longer bowl shapes over round ones, as bettas need access to the surface to breathe air.
Give your betta at least 2.5 gallons of space if possible, along with a heater to keep water between 75-80°F. Perform weekly partial water changes and feed a few betta pellets daily. Avoid tankmates in such small confines. With good care, a betta can live 2-4 years in a bowl!
Overview.
An adaptable coldwater species, the white cloud mountain minnow thrives in unheated bowls and tanks. These active fish grow to just 1-1.5 inches long and prefer to be kept in groups of 5 or more. Provide at least 1 gallon per minnow.
White clouds do well in a wide temperature range of 60-72°F and can tolerate a variety of water conditions. Feed them tropical flakes and pellets once or twice a day. Their hardiness makes them a great choice for beginner bowl habitats.
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Moving up to a compact 5 or 10 gallon aquarium opens up options for more fish species. Here are some top picks on easiest freshwater fish to take care of in small tank for beginners:
A 5 gallon tank may be petite, but it allows you to keep a nice selection of hardy community fish in addition to a betta. Here are 3 great options:
Overview.
Recognizable by their bright blue stripes, neon tetras thrive in planted nano tanks. They only grow to about 1.5 inches long and prefer to be kept in schools of at least 6. A 5 gallon tank is sufficient for a group of 6-8 neon tetras.
Feed them twice daily with small amounts of flake or micro pellet food. Perform weekly 25% water changes and keep their water temperature between 70-77°F. Their peaceful nature makes them ideal tankmates for bettas and other nano fish.
Overview.
Endler’s livebearers are a colorful and active nano fish that stay under 2 inches in length. Groups of 4-5 males or females are quite content in a heavily planted 5 gallon aquarium.
Give them a varied diet of flakes, frozen and freeze-dried foods. Maintain stable water conditions between 75-82°F and pH between 7-8. Females may reproduce regularly, but the fry tend to get eaten in community setups.
Overview.
A fiery orange fish that dazzles in planted tanks, the ember tetra grows up to 1.5 inches long and does well in schools of 6 or more. A 5 gallon tank filled with live plants makes the perfect habitat for a group of these tiny tetras.
Feed them a mix of flakes and micro pellets. Perform regular partial water changes to keep nitrates low, and maintain a warm temperature of 72-82°F. Avoid tankmates that may nip their long fins.
A 10 gallon aquarium provides enough room for a centerpiece fish plus a school of nano fish. Here are 3 easy options for low maintenance fish to take care of in a 10 gallon tank:
Overview.
A colorful freshwater species, the harlequin rasbora grows to about 2 inches in length and prefers to be kept in schools of 6 or more. Their black triangular shape on a reddish-orange body makes them stand out in any aquarium.
Harlequins are peaceful mid-level swimming fish that are well-suited for 10 gallon community tanks. They appreciate planted setups with plenty of swimming space. Feed them a varied diet including tropical flakes, micropellets, and frozen foods like brine shrimp.
Ideal water parameters are 72-77°F temperature, pH between 6-7, and low nitrates. Perform weekly 25% water changes to maintain water quality. Their active schooling behavior and flashy colors make harlequin rasboras a great choice for small tanks.
Overview.
Male fancy guppies are very low maintenance fish that add serious color to small tanks. Just 3-4 male guppies create a lively display. Females work too but may breed prolifically.
Guppies adapt readily to a range of water conditions. Stick to a 10 gallon tank minimum, and feed them tropical flakes and supplements a few times daily. Partial weekly water changes help maintain high water quality.
Overview.
Platies come in a variety of bright colors like red, blue, yellow and orange. A trio of males or females liven up any 10 gallon aquarium. Feed them omnivore flakes and pellets daily, and fast them 1 day a week to prevent overfeeding.
Perform regular partial water changes to remove waste and keep nitrates down. Platies are very hardy if provided consistently good water conditions between 70-80°F.
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You don’t need a huge tank to enjoy saltwater fish. Here are a few beginner friendly low maintenance fish species perfect for 10-20 gallon nano reef setups:
Iconic clownfish like the ocellaris clownfish do quite well in nano tanks of 10 gallons or more. They only grow to 3 inches in length and form symbiotic bonds with certain coral and anemones. Unless intentionally breeding them, keep just one clownfish.
Feed your clownfish 2-3 times daily with meaty frozen and pelleted foods. Maintain stable water parameters between 74-80°F, pH 8-8.4, and specific gravity 1.023-1.025. Perform weekly 10% water changes.
Also Read: How Long Does Clownfish Live?
Peaceful dartfish gobies stay under 3 inches long and inhabit lower areas of the tank. They appreciate having refuges and caves. A mated pair adds interest and activity to 10 gallon nano reefs.
Provide them a varied carnivore diet of mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and other meaty fare. Water conditions should resemble those of their natural tropical habitat at 72-78°F and pH 8-8.4.
Several blenny species work well in 10 gallon tanks, including the tailspot/bicolor blenny and lawnmower blenny. They eat algae and scavenge for meaty tidbits. Their larger eyes and personalities make them fun to watch.
Feed them twice daily, ideally with vegetable matter and meaty items like brine shrimp and mysis shrimp. Perform regular partial water changes to maintain stable water chemistry for healthy saltwater fish.
Follow these steps when setting up compact fish habitats:
Keeping fish in compact aquariums and bowls can be very rewarding, but does require an understanding of the needs of your chosen species. Focus on selecting easiest fish to take care of, which naturally stay small, aren’t too active, and aren’t overly sensitive to fluctuations in water conditions. Species like bettas, white cloud minnows, neon tetras, clownfish, and shrimp could be a great choice for low maintenance fish to do well in nano tanks and bowls of 5-10 gallons.
When setting up a small habitat, invest in quality filtration and temperature control suited to the tank size, as water quality is extremely important with less dilution. Perform diligent tank maintenance through partial weekly water changes, substrate siphoning, and filter media cleaning as needed. Test water parameters regularly to catch any issues early.
Feed only as much as your fish can consume in a few minutes, once or twice per day. Overfeeding fouls water rapidly in compact tanks. Avoid overstocking and only add tankmates with care, as heavy bioloads quickly deteriorate water conditions in small spaces.
With some planning and proper low maintenance fish selection, even novice aquarists can have great success keeping fish in pint-sized bowls and tanks. The fish highlighted here make it easy by being adaptable, low maintenance, and staying small. A bit of research and commitment to their basic care needs is all it takes to enjoy their beauty and activity within a compact habitat.
With the right fish choices, setup, and care, compact tanks and bowls can make stunning low-maintenance habitats!
Let us know if you have any other questions about keeping fish in small aquariums.
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