Best Fish to Have As Pets: The Complete Guide
Have you ever thought about getting a fish as your new pet? Fish can make amazing companions and are easy to take care of. There is a wide variety of fish you can choose from if you want to have one as a pet. Find out below which are the best species of fish to have as pets:
Goldfish
Goldfish are one of the most common types of fish kept as pets. In fact, they are one of the oldest domesticated fish species, with records of them being kept as pets going all the way back to the Chinese Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220).
Goldfish are very hardy, adaptable creatures – making them perfect fish for beginners. They are very easy to care for, as long as you provide them with an aquarium that has enough room for them to swim around (at least 10 gallons per goldfish). Goldfish are also very beautiful creatures, often available in a wide variety of colours. They are one of the easiest fish to keep, making them a great choice for first-time fish owners.
Discus Fish
Discus have recently become a very popular aquatic pet. However, they have actually been kept as a pet since the 1800s. Discus are beautiful, colourful fish that are a great addition to most any home aquarium. Discus can be expensive, so make sure you plan ahead if you are thinking about getting one. They are also a very social species and should always be kept in groups – at least three. If you ever plan on breeding discus, you should have a group of six or more.
Rainbowfish
Rainbowfish are another species of fish that are increasingly being kept as aquatic pets. They are a very colourful species, with some varieties having striking red, blue, green and black markings. Rainbowfish hail from Australia, where they are a popular aquarium fish. Rainbowfish are extremely colourful, but this colour can fade if you don’t keep them in the right conditions. Make sure you choose a species of rainbowfish that is meant for aquarium life – some species are unsuitable.
Swordtail fish
If you have ever seen a ‘planted aquarium’, you have likely seen a swordtail or two. Swordtail fish are a very colourful species, often featuring striking red and orange patterns. They are very hardy and can thrive in a wide range of water conditions. Swordtail fish are also very social, so you should keep them in groups.
Betta fish
Betta fish are often kept in small containers and are often referred to as ‘fighting fish’. There are many misconceptions about how to properly keep a betta, and many people keep them in small containers that don’t provide adequate space. They should always be kept in a tank that gives them enough space to move around, as they are very active swimmers.
Oscar Fish
Oscar fish are a very hearty species that has recently become a popular pet. If you plan on keeping an oscar fish, you should make sure that your tank is large enough. Oscar fish are very active swimmers and need a lot of open space to move around in. They also grow very large – so you should only keep them in a tank that can hold them.
Butterfly fish
They are a very hardy species that is easy to care for. If you want to keep butterfly fish, make sure you get a species of butterfly fish meant for aquarium life. You should keep butterfly fish in a large tank that is well-filtered. If you keep them in a small tank, they will become bored and restless.
Fish can make amazing pets, and they have a lot of benefits over traditional pets like dogs and cats. They don’t need to be walked, they don’t shed, they are relatively quiet and they are easy to take care of. If you are thinking about getting a fish as a pet, make sure you know what species you want.