So, you’re setting up a small home aquarium and looking for a few colorful fish to add. Unfortunately, many of the fish sold at your local pet store will not work well in the average fish tank, and buying the wrong species can be a big mistake! In this guide, I’ll introduce five fish species that many beginner fishkeepers end up regretting. Read along to learn why these fish are a bad choice and discover some great alternatives that you’ll love.
1. Redtail Catfish
The redtail catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) is a striking freshwater catfish from South America. These colorful cats are especially eye-catching when they are young, and some beginner fish keepers make the mistake of buying them for a small home aquarium.
Unfortunately, these fish grow surprisingly large, and they will need a tank of over 1,000 gallons (yikes!) when fully grown. Redtail catfish are predators, too, so you might find fewer and fewer fish in your tank as the weeks and months go by. These monster catfish are not the only predatory pets you need to watch out for. Check out this guide to ten fish that eat their tankmates to learn about some other aggressive fish.
Fortunately, there are heaps of other cool catfish species that are great for new fishkeepers with smaller aquariums. I recommend the small and peaceful Corydoras catfish as a much better alternative for beginners. These interesting little fish can thrive in aquariums as small as 30 gallons and they won’t bother their tank mates.
2. Chinese Algae Eater
The Chinese algae eater (Gyrinocheilus aymonieri) sounds like the perfect fish for cleaning up your aquarium, but think twice before adopting this large species. To be fair, Chinese algae eaters are good tank cleaners when young, but adults have some scary habits. Unfortunately, these fish have a nasty reputation for latching on to other live fish and eating the slime coat that covers their scales!
The Siamese algae eater (Chrossocheilus sp.) is a much better alternative. These fish stay much smaller (up to about 6 inches) and can be kept in tanks of about 30 gallons or larger. Siamese algae eaters are more suitable because they aren’t aggressive towards their tank mates. They are also much better aquarium cleaners and are known to eat stubborn hair algae.
3. Bala Shark
The Bala shark (Balantiocheilus melanopterus) is a popular aquarium fish that grows way too big for the average home aquarium. These attractive fish aren’t actually sharks, although their powerful fins create a similar outline. Bala sharks are peaceful fish that grow to about 14 inches and require an aquarium over six feet long when fully grown.
So, what kind of fish should you choose for a smaller aquarium? Check out this helpful guide to the 10 best fish for a small tank for some great ideas!
4. Pleco Catfish
Algae is a common problem in fish tanks, and many aquarists turn to algae-eating fish to manage it. Plecos can be helpful, but it’s important to choose the right species for your tank. The common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) grows surprisingly large (up to 20 inches!) so adding this species to a small home aquarium is a really bad idea.
A little algae is normal in aquariums, but an imbalance between light and nutrients in the water can lead to excess growth. Start by choosing the right lighting (strength and schedule) and perform regular aquarium maintenance and water changes. If that doesn’t fix your algae problem, consider adding smaller algae eaters like nerite snails, otocinclus catfish, or a bristlenose pleco. Read this article on the 8 best freshwater tank cleaners for even more ideas.
5. Tiger Barb
The tiger barb is a small and colorful schooling fish that does not need a gigantic aquarium. Sounds good on paper, right? Unfortunately, these tiger-striped fish have a reputation for being a little aggressive. They tend to bite the fins of other fish, especially if their tank mates have large, flowing fins.
Tiger barbs don’t necessarily deserve this reputation, and you can often avoid the worst of their behavior by keeping them in a large enough school. But, if you don’t have the space or budget for 15 or more tiger barbs, consider a different schooling species.
Cherry barbs are a great peaceful alternative, but there are also many species of tetras, rasboras, and danios with beautiful colors and peaceful personalities.
How to Choose the Right Fish
Choosing the right fish can be pretty daunting. Most pet stores will have knowledgeable staff that will make good suggestions, so chat with them rather than picking your fish at random. Go ahead and verify what you’re told by reading about each fish on the internet or in a reliable book before you make your final decision.
There are a number of factors to consider, but make sure you can answer yes to the following questions:
- Does this fish stay small enough to live in your aquarium for its entire life?
Avoid buying fish that will outgrow your aquarium. Many fishkeepers buy large fish species with the plan of upgrading their tank in the future. It’s much safer to set up an appropriate tank from the start, just in case you don’t have the space or pocket money available when your fish outgrow their home.
- Is this fish peaceful?
Choose peaceful community fish that are not territorial or predatory. Some fish get extra aggressive when breeding and some species are just plain mean. Most fish will eat smaller fish if they can, so choose fish that are roughly the same size.
- Is this fish easy to keep and adapted to your water conditions?
It’s best to choose easy fish if you’re just getting started in the fish-keeping hobby. Some fish are just hardier than others, so select low-maintenance fish to give yourself the best shot at success. Water chemistry is another important consideration. Some fish are adapted to soft, acidic water, while others need hard, basic water. Test your water with a test kit before choosing your fish and ask the folks at your local fish store for more advice.
