You may have heard that caring for saltwater aquarium fish is a lot harder than freshwater ones. It’s true that maintaining a saltwater fish requires more resources and effort, but it’s hardly impossible. Saltwater critters include some of the most beautiful and vibrant fish species on the planet. If you’re an aquarist who wants an […]
You may have heard that caring for saltwater aquarium fish is a lot harder than freshwater ones. It’s true that maintaining a saltwater fish requires more resources and effort, but it’s hardly impossible. Saltwater critters include some of the most beautiful and vibrant fish species on the planet. If you’re an aquarist who wants an attention-grabbing aquarium, saltwater fish are a great place to start!
Beginner aquarists should choose saltwater fish that are generally easy to care for. Let’s take a look at the top 7 best saltwater fish that make great aquarium pets for beginners:
The Dottyback is a beautiful and exotic saltwater fish that thrives well in a 30-gallon tank. A great starter fish for beginner hobbyists, these little fish are generally easy to take care of, and have a snake-like way of swimming. They also, however, have an aggressive and territorial nature, especially if the environment isn’t right for them. Dottybacks need plenty of hiding spots, and a good diet to be content and non-confrontational. Their diet usually includes meaty foods like shrimp and frozen foods.
A gorgeous and unique-looking fish, the Firefish adds a colorful spark to your aquarium. Their bodies are usually light or white colored with a bright red or magenta tail. Their tails can also come in orange colors. These beautiful critters are very easygoing and friendly with other fish species. They’re also quick swimmers, and can outswim any fish going after them. A typical Firefish diet includes zooplankton, algae, shrimp, and prepared frozen foods.
Tangs are stunning saltwater fish with a hardy and flexible nature, making them ideal for beginner aquarists. They can come in colors like powder blue and bright yellow. Tangs can be aggressive with other Tangs but are friendly with other tank fish. To live a long and happy life, these beautiful fish will need a tank that’s at least 100 gallons and a varied diet.
A vibrantly colored saltwater species, the Damselfish is a great choice for beginners. Why? These fish are very easy to maintain, only needing a 30-gallon tank to thrive! Damselfish, like many fish on this list, can be a bit aggressive when it comes to their territory. Make sure they have many hiding spots in their tank so they keep to themselves.
You may already be familiar with the famous Clownfish species from Pixar’s Finding Nemo movie. If you’re interested in adding these gorgeous orange and white colored to your tank, you’re in luck!
Clownfish are not only beautiful and exotic, but also easy to take care of. Their diet usually includes prepared frozen foods, algae, zooplankton, worms, small crustaceans and dry pellets. These fish are also very active and do not enjoy hiding.
Coral Beauties are an incredibly stunning fish that does well in a tank that’s at least 70-gallons or more. This fish usually has a blue body with bright orange stripes. Although their beauty makes them a sight to behold, Coral Beauties prefer a tank with many hiding spots near rocks and plants. Their diet should consist of meaty foods, algae, and prepared foods.
Mollies are quite an interesting fish species. Apart from being attractive, Mollies are super flexible with their environment, and can live in both saltwater and freshwater. They love to feed on algae so you can expect your tank to be algae-free. Mollies are easy to care for and non-aggressive, only needing green foods and water changes to be happy!
Make sure you plan out what kind of tank and accessories you plan to have before purchasing any fish. Consider your lifestyle and your work schedule to best determine whether you’re ready to take on an aquarium. It doesn’t matter if it’s a saltwater tank or a freshwater aquarium—both environments and animals need lots of care and attention to thrive. Research each fish species, and if you still aren’t sure, stop by Petland to ask our Pet counselors the right step for you!
Check out our blog, Top 10 Best Freshwater Fish For Your Aquarium for more beautiful freshwater fish species.
Are you ready to start your freshwater aquarium journey today? Come into Petland Texas where you’ll find all the beautiful fish from this article. Our salt and freshwater fish experts can help you get set up with the ideal living conditions for your new aquatic friends! Contact us anytime and we’ll answer your questions over the phone or in person at one of our Houston or Tyler locations!
