Top 5 Easiest Freshwater Fish to Take Care Of

Or is that fur? Whatever it is, February means it’s time to celebrate Valentine’s Day (sorry Presidents’ Day). And who better to celebrate the holiday with than the one that gives you unconditional love? HINT: We’re talking about your pet.

Save the cards for someone who won’t accidentally eat them. We have all kinds of Valentine’s Day ideas for your dog and cat that’ll win their hearts.

One of the most common fish for new pet owners is also one of the easiest to care for. Betta fish come in a wide variety of vibrant colors and are often recognized for their long flowing fins. A minimum 2.5-gallon tank with temperatures between 78-82 degrees Fahrenheit is recommended for bettas to live their best lives.

Tip: Male and some Female bettas can be aggressive and should not be kept in the same tank. Females can sometimes be housed together in heavily planted tanks.

A goldfish is a goldfish, right? Technically yes, but goldfish come in many different sizes, colors, and types. If this is your first goldfish rodeo, stick with the Comet, Sarasa or Shubunkin varieties which are the easiest to maintain.



One of the biggest mistakes new goldfish owners make is putting them in a small fishbowl or tank. A goldfish (regardless of the variety) needs at least 20 gallons of water and may need even more as they grow into (or out of) their tank reaching sizes of 8 inches or more.

As their names suggest, Zebra Danios (or Zebra Fish) are known for their zebra-like stripes that extend from their heads to their tails. They are relatively easy, as they don’t require much maintenance and can survive in colder temperatures than most tropical fish (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, to be exact.)



Zebra Danios are used to living in schools of 6 or more, so adding some friends to the mix will help them feel right at home!

One of the most popular freshwater fish for beginners are Glo or Skirt Tetras. These brightly colored fish are not only easy pets to have around, but they’re also pretty cute! These are some of the hardiest tetras that grow to be roughly 3 and a half inches long. Like Zebra Danios, Glo or Skirt Tetras prefer to stick together, so it’s best to start with at least 3-5.



Their tropical roots make them accustomed to warmer waters, so plan on keeping your tank between 74-78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Mollies are small, easy-going fish that thrive in schools and come in over 30 different varieties. Known as live-bearing fish, female mollies store their eggs internally and give birth to live, free-swimming fish. Because of this, it is impossible to tell if the fish you're adopting is pregnant or not, so be prepared for more than you bargained for!

Mollies can live happily in smaller tanks (10 gallons minimum). However, if you plan to have more than 4-5 mollies, it's best to go with a larger tank.

So, whether you are brand new to the world of fish parenting, or you prefer pets that are furless, fun and low maintenance, these five fish species are sure to meet your needs as long as you put in the effort to meet theirs, which luckily, isn’t much!