15 Best Low Maintenance Fish For Your Aquarium In 2022

If you’re thinking of setting up an aquarium, you must consider choosing the best low-maintenance fish. Starting with low-maintenance fish is a good option because entering the world of fish care can be demanding.

By so doing, it will help ease some of the worries that come with learning to keep fish. Low-maintenance fish are typically hardy and more comfortable for beginner aquarists, who are more likely to make some early mistakes than other fish.

From betas to tetras, there are several low-maintenance fish to consider for your first aquarium. It takes time and effort to set up and maintain an aquarium, but certain fish are much easier to start with than others.

If you’re ready to know the best choice of low-maintenance fishes for your aquarium, let’s go!

What Is A Low-Maintenance Fish?

Low-maintenance fish are those that demand less attention and care. They are tough, versatile, and prefer to be alone in the tank. They could also be terrific tankmates when it’s feeding time.

Regardless of their species, these kinds of fishes show great resistance to stressful environments and can survive over varying water conditions.

Considering how exciting starting an aquarium can be, you don’t want to complicate your experience by subjecting your time and energy completely to struggling with fish that are not quite as simple to maintain.

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What Are The Best Low Maintenance Fish 

Aquarists should choose fish that can adapt to changing water conditions, aren’t picky eaters and have a calm temperament. You could be wondering right now which fish species require the least amount of care.

Here is a list of the 15 best low-maintenance fish for your aquarium.

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1. Bettas Fish

Bettas are low-maintenance aquarium fish since they require less room than other fish. it is Roughly 2.7 inches (6.8 cm) in length. There are also accounts of it reaching up to 3 inches (7.6 cm).

They’re small enough that a single specimen can fit in a 3-gallon aquarium. They are appropriate for novices, most of them begin with a modest fish tank.

Another reason you can regard the Betta as an easy-to-care-for pet fish is that it is relatively hardy. These betta fish are surprisingly resistant to a variety of harsh situations.

A water temperature of 75 °F to 82 °F (24 to 28 Celcius) and a pH range of 6.4 to 7.4 would be suitable. In low-oxygen situations, they have a labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe surface air.

Also, they aren’t choosy eaters, but they do have basic food needs, and they will thrive in a tank with plants, a heater, and enough swimming room.

Fish flakes and pellets, as well as frozen or freeze-dried brine shrimp, are all favorites. 

However, be cautious because they can be aggressive. Male Bettas would prefer to be alone in a tank with a capacity of 5 gallons or more.

Betta fishes have a reputation for being unpleasant and won’t allow anything else to move in their tank.

It’s possible to find appropriate friends for them to live with, as long as you consider the surrounding décor and the size of your tank.

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2. Mollies

Mollies, scientifically known as Poecilia sphenops, are another popular tropical aquarium fish that requires little maintenance.

They range in size from 3 to 4.5 inches. Adapted to a wide range of aquatic environments. They are not only good with other fish species, but they also adapt well to a variety of water types.

They are one of the easiest freshwater fish to keep because of their capacity to adapt to changing aquatic circumstances.

Nonetheless, the water’s conditions would be ideal at a temperature of 71.5° to 82.5° F and a pH range of 7.0 to 8.0. They can survive in salt water, fresh water, and even brackish water, making them an excellent choice for practically any tank.

These low-maintenance, brightly colored fish come in a variety of colors and patterns to brighten up your tank. Mollies are placid communal fish that get along with most other fish that require comparable water conditions, like guppies and platies.

Mollies are also sexually dimorphic, which means that males and females have obvious differences. This allows you to keep an all-female or all-male tank without having to worry about reproduction.

This allows you to keep an all-female or all-male tank without having to worry about reproduction. 

3. Platies

Platies (Xiphophorus maculatus) have their origins in Central America, with a petite size of just 2 inches. Like molly, platies are hardy fish with a set of varying color patterns that bring beauty to your aquarium.

Because of their passive temperament and ability to get along with other fish, you can consider them one of the best low-maintenance fish for your aquarium. 

They eat freeze-dried flakes and pellets, as well as most other varieties of ready-to-serve fish food. They’ll also eat the algae in the tank, which will help keep it clean.

Similarly, platies are livebearers that are easy to keep happy. They are not selective in diet and can thrive in low-quality water. They come in a variety of interesting colors and types, making them a great choice for kids. To protect the survival of the fry, they require plant cover.

Although Platies are sexually dimorphic, the differences between the sexes are minute and difficult to distinguish.

4. Guppies

Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are a popular aquarium fish because of their broad range of colors and patterns, as well as their laid-back personality. They also flourish in a variety of water environments, making them quite easy to maintain.

These bright South American fish are one of the most prolific breeders in freshwater aquariums at home.

Because they are livebearers, plenty of plant cover is necessary to ensure the survival of your guppy fry.

Guppies have been inbred to obtain specific colors and patterns, so they can be sickly when purchased from a pet store. They are, nevertheless, extremely solid fish once they have settled into a new home.

When purchasing guppies, keep in mind that males are far more colorful than females and will coexist happily, making them the best choice. They prefer to live in groups of three, so you can buy them in multiples of three.

5. Goldfish

They are one of the world’s most popular pet fish. There are approximately 100 distinct varieties of goldfish to pick from, some of which are extremely rare.

However, beginners should begin with long-bodied goldfish, such as the comet, sarasa, and shubunkin kinds. For more intermediate fish keepers, fancy goldfish are a preferable choice.

They have two sets of paired fins and three single fins, no scales on the head, extremely large eyes, and appear in a variety of hues including red, orange, blueish-grey, brown, yellow, white, and black.

Typically, fancy goldfish reach a size of 6 to 8 inches. So, in a 20-gallon tank, you may keep two fish by adding an extra gallon of water for each additional inch of fish.

Nevertheless, whatever variety of goldfish you choose, bear in mind that you’ll need a minimum of 20 gallons per fish to get started! Goldfish will require an upgrade to a larger aquarium as they grow larger.

6. Zebrafish (Zebra Danio)

The horizontal black and white stripes that run the length of their bodies distinguish these little, attractive, and tranquil fish.

Some have the traditional white body with black stripes along the length of it, while others have yellow scales.

The fish is relatively small, measuring about 2-3 inches in length. That they are adaptable is the best reason for their beginner-friendliness. They’re tough, low-maintenance, and simple to breed.

They are native to South Asia, are great in cold water tanks, and require a well-oxygenated environment to thrive.

Also, keep the temperature in mind when it comes to water factors. Zebrafish, unlike much other tropical fish, dislike warm water conditions. They will be stressed if the temperature rises above 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Apart from the difficulty of always keeping an eye on a heater, zebrafish are an excellent low-maintenance fish.

The feeding cycle is simple, and they will eat almost anything you offer them. They can eat flake fish food or topical micropellets. 

Maintain a regular maintenance schedule for your aquatic pets’ water, just as you would for any other aquatic pet.

7. Neon Tetras (Paracheirodon innesi)

Neon tetras are genuinely hardy tropical pet fish that no aquarist looking for a low-maintenance fish should overlook. Tetras are low-maintenance because of their modest size, placid disposition, inexpensive cost, and hardiness. 

You may easily keep them in a community tank with other peaceful fish, and they aren’t particular about what they eat (cheap fish flakes and pellets will suffice). Tetras are colorful and active fish that should be kept in groups of at least six, depending on the size of your tank.

Neon tetras will establish themselves in an aquarium that is biologically mature and stable, and you will have no trouble keeping them alive.

Despite their small size, these fish are strong swimmers who require a lot of space. Do not keep them in a small fish tank with limited shoaling space. For keeping Neon Tetras, a 10-gallon or 20-gallon long aquarium will be enough.

In any case, neon tetras are regarded as placid. However, they can become aggressive if they feel threatened.

8. Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii)

The swordtail is a popular tropical fish of the Poeciliidae family of live-bearer fish.

It is a long fish with a normal fish size of up to 6.5 inches. The female ones are larger and can reach up to 6.5 inches, while the male ones grow up to 5 to 5.5 inches in size.

It has a long sword-like extension of the lower tail fin lobe in the male. The fish is related to the platy and is being extensively employed in genetic and medical studies. 

The swordtail, originally green with a red stripe on either side is now bred in a variety of colors.

However, whether you intend to keep them as a single aquarium species or in a community aquarium, the swordtail fish is popular for its hardiness and its ability to remain healthy in a diverse environment.

9. White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys albonubes)

If you’re looking for a low-maintenance freshwater fish, the White Cloud Mountain Minnow is another resilient species to consider.

These little goldfish cousins resemble Neon Tetras in appearance. Though they require different care. Like goldfish, white cloud mountain minnows enjoy chilly water and are robust even in low water quality.

More so, these resilient aquarium pet fish can adapt to a wide range of temperatures and adverse environmental conditions. A temperature range of 15 to 22 degrees Celsius is advantageous to their life span and immunological response.

You can house them with other fish of their species. However, they are not true shoaling fish, and males may compete for females if kept in larger groups. This species has some sexual dimorphism, but it is minor.

They are good jumpers, so make sure to cover the top of your fish tank. When they are sad, they jump high, and when they are afraid, they jump even higher.

10. Corydoras Catfish (Corydoras paleatus)

Any low-maintenance aquarium would benefit from having a Cory catfish. It’s simple to look after and gets along with a wide range of fish. Because they spend most of their time at the bottom of the fish tank, foraging for scraps, it will enrich the environment of your tank. As a result, the tank gets cleaned.

Furthermore, there are approximately 175 different species of cory fish, and I believe that scientists will yet discover many more. The Corydoras catfish is just one of several species available.

The Corydoras Catfish comes in a variety of varieties, but they all have one thing in common: they are hardy and easy to care for. For this reason, many beginners prefer to keep them as aquarium pets.

Another reason pepper corydoras are easy to care for is that when housed in a fish tank, they maintain stunted growth, which is an adaptation they have developed to fit in. 

The Pepper Corydoras is one of the calmest fish you’ll find in the pet store.

11. Lambchop Rasbora – Trigonostigma espei

The lambchop rasbora, sometimes known as the false harlequin rasbora, is a ray-finned fish. It gets its name from the dark band that runs the length of its body and looks like a lamb chop.

The lambchop Rasbora is a popular fish species best suited for your easy-care aquarium. Its size ranges between 1.5cm and 3cm.

It is celebrated as a low-maintenance fish as it has no special requirements, providing you take into account their small stature.

However, it thrives when living within a temperature range of 23 – 28°C, pH Range of 5.5 – 7.5, the water hardness range of 18–179 179ppm.

This species is extremely quiet, making it an excellent resident of a well-kept community tank. You can keep it with many of the most popular species in the hobby, including other small cyprinids, tetras, livebearers, dwarf cichlids, catfishes, and loaches, because it has no high water chemistry requirements. 

When choosing a compatible community of fish, careful research is required, and you must take their tiny adult size into account.

12. Black/White Skirt Tetras

These Tetras exist either in the Black Skirt variant, which appears black, the White Skirt variety, being white to translucent, and the Blushing White Skirt variety, with a white or translucent body and red “cheeks” which makes it look like it is blushing. 

Their bodies are higher than they are wide, with long, flowing fins. Although these fish are calm and require shoals, they have been observed shoaling with other Tetra species.

The Black Skirt Tetra is a unique addition to the aquarium. They’re ideal for community tanks, especially if you’re looking for something low-maintenance. They’re easy to get by with and extremely resilient.

This species has a subdued appearance due to its light and dark colors. The flared fin in the back looks like a skirt and adds an attractive feature to it. They’re about the same size as most tetras. 

Also, they are carnivores. So, if you try to feed them vegetables, they will most likely refuse to eat them.

13. Kuhli Loaches

Kuhli Loaches are long, noodle-like fish that require little attention. They are very low maintenance and easy to care for.

Their vibrant yellow and black hues are stunning, and their unique body shape is fascinating to behold. They have become a highly popular aquarium fish due to their distinctive appearance.

The Kuhli Loach is a bottom-dwelling fish that helps preserve the water quality by ensuring that all food is devoured. Further helping to maintain their environment,

Because they are shy nocturnal fish, expect them to hide a lot. Within the tank, they may hide beneath plants and hardscape. They may also dig a hole in the substrate.

They are cautious fish that are frequently offered as singles, but they need at least a small group to survive. Kuhli Loaches become quite active when maintained in groups and frequently exhibit funny stunts.

14. Dwarf Otocinclus

These are little fishes that keep your aquarium clean and move in groups. They not only eat algae, but they also look after the aquarium plants. They are vegetarians, so live feeding will not be beneficial to them. 

However, because they can’t live solely on algae, make sure you feed them other vegetables when caring for them.

The water specifications are quite standard. They require a pH of 5-7 and water temperatures of 75-84 degrees Fahrenheit.

Furthermore, for anyone searching for a little algae-eating fish that will stay small, this is an excellent choice. These small fish grow to be roughly 1-2 inches long, making them an excellent addition to small or big aquariums.

15. Cherry Barbs (Puntius titteya)

Cherry Barbs are typically quiet fish that are kept in group aquariums. Because they’re shoaling fish, they must be kept in groups to keep them healthy and happy.

Their bright red coloration makes them stand out in any tank, and males will turn scarlet or crimson to attract a female for reproduction. If you want to add a splash of color to your tank, cherry barbs are a terrific choice. Do not mix them up with their cousins. 

Because they are flocking fish, you must keep them in groups of 6-8.

At least, they aren’t territorial or aggressive. They prefer to stay in the tank for a relaxing and comfortable swim. They are quite interactive and enjoy zooming from one end of the tank to the other.

The fish’s look is what distinguishes it. In the tank, the rich ruby red with orange undertones on the body pops out. It’s fairly simple to breed them, and the males look after the eggs until they hatch.

What’s A Good Low-Maintenance Fish To Keep At My Office?

One type of fish that can withstand low-oxygen environments, as in a small office space, is the Betta fish, which has a peculiar organ called the Labyrinth. The labyrinth aids in inhaling ambient air, allowing the Betta to take in oxygen directly from the water surface.

Not every fish is fit to live in such a small space, but there wouldn’t be enough room for an aquarium at an office, nor would there be enough time to care for it. 

So, you need a fish that is both small enough to fit and low-maintenance, as well as one that can survive on a low oxygen supply.

At this point, a fishbowl is a preferable alternative. It is frequently small, implying that the water surface area is insufficiently large regarding the volume ratio to ensure effective gaseous exchange.

Do not use any fishbowl with a capacity of fewer than 3 gallons to keep live fish.

Organic waste quickly pollutes such small volumes of water, and unexpected ammonia spikes, which are lethal to aquatic life, are common.

A single male Betta might live happily in a 5-gallon bowl with some live plants.

How to Set Up and Care for your Low Maintenance Fish Tank

Here are some guidelines for setting up and maintaining top-quality care for your low-maintenance fish tank.

• First, you must select an appropriate tank for your fish. The size and shape of the tank you choose are critical to your fish’s health.

Overcrowding is a major source of stress and ill-health in all fish species, so be sure the tank you choose is big enough.

Begin with at least a 10-gallon tank and plan to upgrade from there.

• After that, make a habitat. Learning about your fish’s native habitat and replicating those conditions in the aquarium setting is the key to keeping them healthy and thriving.
• Make sure that all the fish you intend to keep have the same water parameters and habitat needs.
• If you’re maintaining tropical fish, you’ll need a heater to keep the water at a comfortable temperature for the fish. Because all fish are susceptible to temperature shock, you must maintain a steady tank temperature.
• Keep the tank in good condition! You should vacuum the substrate once a week to remove any fish waste, dead plant material, and uneaten food. When you leave that material in the tank, it will decay and poison the water.
• Also, once a month rinse the filter media in tank water to avoid getting stuffed. Occasionally, change spent filter media.
• It’s important to note that you must thoroughly cycle your new tank before adding fish. If the nitrogen cycle isn’t complete, the water in your aquarium will include hazardous substances like ammonia and nitrites, which will kill your fish very quickly. So don’t just bring your new companion home from the pet store and toss him into the aquarium.

What Kind Of Lights Are Best For Low Maintenance Fish Tanks?

Choosing the right light is one of the most important aspects of an aquarium. It depends on the needs of the animals and plants you’ll be keeping, the size and dimensions of your aquarium, and your budget.

There are several types of aquarium lights. This variety allows aquarists to choose one that best suits their needs and those of their aquarium inhabitants. Fish and live plants have specific light needs.

You can consider these lights the best for low maintenance freshwater tanks;

• Standard Fluorescent is the most common form of aquarium lighting. Fluorescent lights are a popular choice among aquarists because of their many benefits. These include affordable pricing and a selection of bulbs for different applications.

• LED is another commonly accepted and becoming the most popular type of aquarium lighting. These energy-efficient lights offer features that aren’t available in other aquarium lights. They use far less energy than other lights, do not heat the water, and the LEDs last several years without losing intensity.

FAQs

CONCLUSION

We hope this information has aided you in determining the low-maintenance fish to establish your aquarium with.

Any of the species described here would be ideal for your aquarium, especially for beginners, but each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. 

However, the most important thing is to pay attention to your aquarium and your fish. Your fish will let you know if something is wrong (or right!) by their behavior. Provide them with all the requirements. 

The main point of having an aquarium is to enjoy the hobby. Though you will need to apportion a percentage of your time. They will flourish, providing you with years of fun.

Though there are certain species that are simple to care for, do not attempt to treat any of them as captives. 

References

aquariadise.com -Low maintenance fish

theaquariumguide.com – low maintenance fish for beginners

itsafishthing.com -Low maintenance freshwater fish for beginners

aquanswers.com -easiest fish to take care of low maintenance aquarium pet

aqueon.com-Choosing the right aquarium light

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