Part 6: Simple Fish Selection Guide

  • 5 min

Choosing the right fish is one of the best ways to make aquarium keeping easy. This guide helps you pick fish that are peaceful, hardy, and beginner-friendly.

1) Start With These 3 Easy Rules

✅ Rule 1: Match fish to your tank size

Smaller tank = fewer fish.
More space = more stable water = easier success.

✅ Rule 2: Pick peaceful fish

Peaceful fish fight less, stress less, and stay healthier.

✅ Rule 3: Add fish slowly

Don’t add everything at once.
Add in small batches and let the tank adjust.

2) Beginner-Friendly Fish (Good First Choices)

Top easy community fish

  • Harlequin Rasboras (very stable, peaceful)
  • Guppies (colourful, active)
  • Platies (hardy, friendly)
  • Mollies (hardy, slightly bigger)
  • Corydoras (bottom fish, peaceful)

If you want a single “main fish”

  • 1 male Betta (solo tank, gentle flow, needs hiding spots)

3) Tank Size → Simple Fish Suggestions

1ft tank (small setup)

Best for:

  • 1 male Betta
  • Optional: small clean-up (depends on setup)
    Keep it simple. Small tanks change fast, so don’t overcrowd.

Easy combo:

  • 1 Betta + easy plants (Anubias/Java Fern) + floating plants

2ft tank (best beginner size)

This is the “sweet spot” for beginners.

Easy community combo ideas:

  • Option A (super stable):
    8–12 Harlequin Rasboras + 6 Corydoras
  • Option B (colourful):
    6–10 Platies or Guppies (choose one type to start)

4) Easy “Safe Combos” (Beginner Approved)

Combo 1: Calm & classic

Harlequin Rasboras + Corydoras
Peaceful, stable, low drama.

Combo 2: Colourful & fun

  • Guppies or Platies (start with one type)
    Simple feeding, hardy fish.

Combo 3: Low-stress Betta setup

  • 1 male Betta + plants + floating plants
    Beautiful and simple.

5) What to Avoid (Common beginner trap fish)

Some fish are popular, but not beginner-easy because they:

  • grow too big
  • are aggressive
  • need special water conditions
  • create lots of waste

Avoid as a first tank (unless you already know what you’re doing):

  • Very large fish
  • Very aggressive fish
  • Fish that need “perfect” water from day one

If you tell our That Aquarium staff  what fish you plan to stock, we can help recommend if it’s beginner-safe!

👉 Next Up: We’ll go over some easy hardy plants for beginners!

Author: Kelvin Phua

Illustrator(s): Rong Sheng

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