Most aquarium hobbyists, especially when they’re first starting out, are looking for fish that are easy to care for. Beginners should look for ones that can adapt to fluctuating water conditions, aren’t picky eaters, and have a peaceful nature. Right now, you may be wondering to yourself which species of fish are the most low maintenance?
The top 5 low-maintenance fish for a freshwater aquarium include bettas, goldfish, mollies, platies, and tetras. Saltwater tanks tend to be more work overall when it comes to nurturing and supporting its inhabitants. Therefore, most saltwater aquarium fish aren’t considered to be low maintenance.
Now that you know which freshwater fish are the most low maintenance and great for beginner aquarium hobbyists, let’s explore this topic in more detail. As we move through this article, I’ll answer such questions are what fish are the easiest to care for, which fish eat algae to help keep the tank clean, and whether blackwater aquariums are considered trouble-free or not?
So, if you’re ready to learn all you need to know about low maintenance aquarium fish for blackwater, freshwater and even saltwater tanks, then let’s begin!
What are the Best Low Maintenance Fish? (Easiest to Care for)
The best low maintenance fish are of the freshwater variety and include the following:
Bettas
Bettas are considered easy care for in that they need less space than other fish – that’s not to say they should be kept in cups or tiny fishbowls. Two bettas (one male and one female) should be kept in a 10-gallon tank at the very least! They aren’t picky eaters and will feast on just about anything from fish flakes and pellets to frozen or freeze-dried brine shrimp. Be careful, however, as they can be aggressive.
Goldfish
Like bettas, goldfish are resilient and low maintenance when it comes to space requirements – they can survive in fishbowls but should be kept in a small 10-gallon tank instead. They only need to be fed once a day and east fish flakes which are easily purchased online or at your local pet shop. Perfect for beginner aquarium hobbyists or first-time pet owners, goldfish can live up to 15 years if properly cared for!
Mollies
Mollies are a hardy, peaceful schooling fish that do well in a community tank environment. Their ability to adapt to fluctuating aquatic conditions makes them one of the easiest freshwater fish to keep. They can even survive in brackish water and saltwater aquariums! Mollies breed quickly in captivity and will feed on invertebrates or live plants and algae growing in the tank which helps to keep it clean.
Platies
Like mollies, platies are a hardy schooling fish that come in a variety of colors. They’re considered low maintenance because of their passive nature and ability to get along well with other fish. They eat most types of easily accessible, ready-to-serve fish food including freeze-dried flakes and pellets. They’ll also feast on the algae in the tank, helping to keep the tank clean.
Tetras
Tetras are considered low maintenance due to their small size, calm demeanor, low cost, and resilient nature. They can be easily kept in a community tank with other types of peaceful fish and aren’t picky when it comes to food (cheap fish flakes and pellets will suffice). Colorful and active, tetras should be kept together in a school of at least 6, depending on the size of your tank.
What are the Cleanest Fish for a Tank? (Won’t Uproot the Tank)
The ‘cleanest’ fish (aka fish that won’t uproot plants or disturb substrate) in a freshwater tank include barbs, danios, and tetras. Active fish that prefer to swim freely around the middle or near the surface of the tank likely won’t ‘make a mess’ along the bottom or upset live foliage.
Cichlids, while a popular choice for many freshwater aquarium hobbyists, are not a clean fish as they’ll uproot just about everything in the tank! They’re also highly aggressive and finicky when it comes to water conditions and food. You should also avoid goldfish, monos, and scats in a planted aquarium.
What Aquarium Fish Eat Algae?
Aquarium fish that eat algae are a great addition to any freshwater tank. Not only do they help keep the aquarium clean (which means less work and maintenance for you), but they basically feed themselves – helping you save time and money on fish food!
Types of freshwater fish that eat algae and are also easy to care for include cory catfish, guppies, mollies, and platies. Bottom dwellers like loaches and plecos as well as cleaner shrimp and snails will also help keep algae growth down, thus preventing the tank for looking dirty.
How Long Can Aquarium Fish Go Without Food?
A full-grown, healthy aquarium fish can likely go 3 to 7 days with no food, depending on their species and size. Some have last up to 2 weeks without eating if it has enough body mass/fat reserves to sustain it. It’s recommended that aquarium fish be fed once a day, on average – any more than that and you run the risk of contaminating the tank from uneaten, decaying food and too much fish waste.
Is a Blackwater Aquarium Low Maintenance?
Blackwater aquariums can be considered low maintenance as the fish that dwell in them (such as catfish, molies, and tetras) are easy to care for. These tanks generally don’t require as many water changes either. A 20% water change every 3 weeks is usually enough as opposed to weekly water changes with freshwater aquariums.
What Fish Produce the Least Amount of Waste in an Aquarium?
On average, smaller fish (regardless of the species) tend to produce the least amount of waste in an aquarium. Mollies, platies, and tetras are examples of tiny freshwater tank fish. Carnivores such as bettas tend to produce less waste as well since their diets are more efficient.
Goldfish are very messy fish that eat a lot! They’re not finicky when it comes to food and will even graze on algae throughout the day. As omnivores, they feast on both plants and meat and produce a ton of waste as a result. They should be avoided if a clean tank with little waste is what you’re after.
Are any Saltwater Fish Considered Low Maintenance?
When it comes to marine tank fish, most are thought to be high maintenance due to the amount of work needed to care for and sustain them. Beginner saltwater aquarium hobbyists should consider the following 5 ‘low maintenance’ options:
Clownfish
‘Nemo’ fish are highly popular with aquarium hobbyists and add visual interest to any saltwater tank. Easy to feed and care for, clownfish thrive on a diet of algae, brine shrimp, dry pellets, and small crustaceans. They’re inclined to be aggressive or territorial in nature and should be kept with other of their species of peaceful marine fish of the same size of slightly bigger.
Dottybacks
These vibrantly colored exotic fish are a greater starter fish for saltwater tank enthusiasts. They’re generally easy to care for and can thrive in a smaller, 30-gallon tank. If offered a high-quality diet of frozen brine shrimp and/or krill, dottybacks will be content and non-confrontational. Their somewhat aggressive or territorial nature can also be curbed by providing plenty of hiding places.
Damselfish
These brightly colored fish are also great for beginners and only require a 30-gallon tank. They’re easy to feed and care for but can become aggressive if not given enough places to hide. Plants, rocks, caves, and other decorations will provide damselfish with the space and solace they need to live peacefully in a community tank environment.
Firefish
These small, unique-looking fish add color and life to any saltwater aquarium. With their easy-going and friendly nature, firefish often do well with other peaceful marine fish in captivity. Their ability to out-swim aggressive tankmates makes them the ideal choice for a community tank environment. Their food requirements are typical of other marine fish and include algae, zooplankton, and frozen brine shrimp.
Mollies
The ultimate multi-tank fish, mollies are a must for any aquarium enthusiast seeking a low-maintenance aquatic pet. Attractive and unique, these fish can adapt to almost any watery environment including brackish, fresh, and salt. They also like to feed on algae which helps to keep the tank clean. Mollies are non-aggressive and need only plant-based foods to thrive.
Conclusion
To conclude, the top 5 low-maintenance aquarium fish are of the freshwater variety and include bettas, goldfish, mollies, platies, and tetras. As saltwater tanks tend to be more work when it comes to cleaning, water testing, servicing, and feeding, most marine fish aren’t generally thought of as low maintenance.
Hopefully, this article has provided you with ample information regarding easy-to-care-for aquarium fish. Thanks for reading and good luck with your freshwater aquarium hobby!
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