What are the best kinds of fish for my new aquarium?

What are the best kinds of fish for my new aquarium?

Marc Grover (Professional Aquarist) gives expert video advice on: Are goldfish easy to take care of?; How many fish should I get to start an aquarium?; How do I choose a healthy fish? and more...

Whatever type of aquarium you're starting, you're going to have what they call "starter fish", a limited number to get the whole process going. What I tell people is inexpensive, and tough. For freshwater, that typically means some type of barb, like a tiger barb or a rosy barb. They're very tough, and they are typically inexpensive. Some tetras will work, usually the bigger bodied ones and not the little ones. In salt water, damsels are pound for pound the toughest fish you can get. They're also the cheapest fish you can get, and they're the go to fish to cycle a saltwater tank.