Pet Fish is a great choice for a number of reasons; whether you want to buy them for your children as pets, or because you just like to watch fish swim in an aquarium. The hard part is choosing which pet fish are the best ones to buy.
So I spent many hours doing research and testing several fish and then choose the following list of the 12 Best Fish To Have As Pets. But first, let me convince you that you should have a pet fish.
Why Have Fish As Pets?
Here is why:
- Fish aren’t messy.
- You can take them anywhere.
- They’re quiet.
- You won’t have to walk them.
- They require a minimal time commitment.
- They’re affordable.
- They don’t require much space.
- They can live for a long time.
- They have low maintenance requirements.
List Of Best Fish To Have As Pets
So if you have made up your mind to buy a pet fish, then here is the list of best fish to have as pets:
1- Neon Tetra
Neon tetras are one of the most popular aquarium fish to keep. They are easy to care for, they are relatively inexpensive and they do not require a lot of space. They come in a variety of colors and patterns but the most popular color is neon red.
It is a live-bearer fish that will lay eggs every two weeks until she has had enough. You can expect your female to lay around 200 eggs per spawn. Once your female has spawned she is no longer going to produce any more eggs so you will need to remove her from the tank after her last spawn. If you want more neon tetras then you will need another female in order for her to continue producing offspring.
Neon tetras grow up to 1 inch long and will live up to 3 years in captivity if properly cared for by their owner.
It is one of the most popular choices when it comes to getting a pet fish because it does well with other species of fish and doesn’t require too much maintenance or attention from its owner.
2- Betta Fish
Betta Fish are also the best fish to have as pets and There are many benefits of having betta fish. They are beautiful, colorful, and very easy to care for.
Betta fish can live in small bowls or large aquariums. It is important to provide them with enough space to swim and lots of hiding places so they can feel safe. In the wild, betta fish live in rice paddies and slow-moving streams in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
They are usually sold when they are between 2 and 4 weeks old, which is when they have reached about 1/2″ (1/4″ for smaller varieties). Betta fish that have been bred in captivity will not grow as large as wild-caught bettas.
Bettas prefer freshwater, so change their water often using dechlorinated tap water (or bottled spring water). Bettas are very territorial and need lots of space! Make sure you have at least a 10-gallon tank (20 gallons or larger if possible) with lots of hiding spots (caves) and plants on the bottom of the tank that acts as a barrier between them so they don’t see each other all day long!
3- Goldfish
Goldfish are also the best fish to have as pets. They are the most popular aquarium fish in the world. The reason for their popularity is because they are easy to care for and can live for a long time. They can also be kept in small tanks or bowls.
You will find many benefits of having goldfish as a pet fish in your home. They are easy to care for as I have mentioned earlier and do not require expensive equipment or extra care like other types of fish do. They can live in smaller environments, like a bowl or a small tank, without any problems at all. All you need is a small bowl filled with water and some food once in a while.
They are inexpensive compared to other types of fish that require more room, equipment, and maintenance costs such as aquariums or ponds. You can buy them at local pet stores or even online if you prefer shopping online instead of going out shopping personally.
Goldfish can live up to 10 years or more which means you will be able to enjoy them for longer than other types of fish that only live up to 5 years or so before dying off naturally due to old age or illness.
4- Guppies
Guppies are another best fish to have as pets. They are easy to care for, hardy, and colorful. Guppies originated from South America and were originally called “the poor man’s goldfish” because they are inexpensive and easy to find in pet stores.
It has also been called a “live-bearer” because it gives birth to live young instead of laying eggs as some other fish species do. The babies are born with their eyes open, so they can swim right away! They also have an interesting behavior where they will jump out of the water when frightened or excited by something that happens in their environment.
Guppies don’t grow very big (usually about two inches long), so they make great starter fish for kids who want pets but are not ready for larger aquariums yet! They are also great for beginners who aren’t sure how much time or effort is involved with caring for fish on a daily basis.
5- Golden Dwarf Barbs
Golden Dwarf Barbs are also one of the best fish to have as pets. They are small, beautiful, and easy to care for. They can be kept in groups or alone. But they are not aggressive towards other fish species, so you can easily keep them in a community tank.
They require very little space, so they can be kept even in a small tank. They breed easily in captivity and it’s quite easy to breed them yourself if you want more than two or three fish. These fish do not need much maintenance or care; they just need clean water and some food every day!
The only disadvantage is that they are very sensitive to poor water conditions, so it’s important to keep your tank clean all the time!
6- Zebra Danios
Zebra Danios are one of the best fish to have as pets because they are colorful and friendly, but they also have some unique qualities that make them interesting and fun to watch.
Zebra Danios are native to Asia, but they can be found in many parts of the world. They range from India to Japan and China. Their bodies are long and slender with stripes running down their sides. They have golden eyes and a black stripe through the center of their body. These fish grow to about 2 inches long on average but can get up to 3 inches in length if they are kept in a large enough tank.
The most important thing to know about Zebra Danios is that they need plenty of space! They like roomy tanks with lots of hiding places so they can feel safe and secure while exploring their new home. The average recommended tank size for these fish is 20 gallons or larger, but if you want them to be happy then go even bigger. And if you have any plants in your tank, make sure that they aren’t too dense or overgrown because it will be difficult for them to swim around.
7- Angelfish
Angelfish are also considered to be one of the best fish to have as pets because they are beautiful and require little maintenance. They can live in freshwater or saltwater and do not need a large tank. While they are easy to care for, there are some things you should know about the species before adding them to your fish tank.
The Fish is known for its bright colors and patterns. They come in many different varieties, including black, white, blue, red, orange, and yellow. Their colors tend to be more vibrant when they are young but fade as they age.
Angelfishes also have an interesting behavior pattern. They often swim on the bottom of the tank while they eat or rest but will sometimes swim near the surface if there is something interesting happening above water.
When buying an angelfish, try to find a healthy-looking specimen that is active and alert. Avoid any fish that seem lethargic or have cloudy eyes or gasping mouths. In addition, make sure that you buy your fish from a reputable source that guarantees their health. Many pet stores sell sickly fish at discounted prices.
8- Mollies
Mollies are one of the best fish to have as pets because they are easy to care for, are inexpensive to buy and maintain, and can live in a wide range of water conditions.
They are freshwater fish that originate from Mexico and Central America. They come in many different colors and patterns, including black, blue, red, orange, and yellow. Their bodies are round with no scales on their bellies, making them easy to breed in captivity. You can tell if a molly is male or female by looking at its belly. If it has an ovipositor or egg-depositing tube protruding from its stomach then it’s female; if there’s no tube present then it’s male.
Mollies aren’t picky eaters, they’ll eat anything from flakes to worms to mosquito larvae. If fed properly, they shouldn’t need any additional supplements like vitamin C tablets or frozen bloodworms (though these will help keep them healthy).
They prefer heavily planted aquariums with rocks or other hiding places so they can feel secure when out in open water. They also like having lots of places to hide when they’re not swimming around looking for food.
9- Tiger Barbs
Tiger Barbs are one of the best fish to keep as pets as they are very hardy and can survive in a variety of water conditions. They do well with other fish, especially other barbs.
They also have excellent personalities. They love to be in groups and will playfully chase each other around the aquarium. They are active swimmers and will spend most of their day swimming around looking for food.
The Tiger Barb is also known as a Redtail barb or Redtail shark. It is related to the common goldfish and carp but has more than 100 species. The Tiger Barb is probably the most common species in the aquarium hobby.
It is native to Asia and India, where it lives in freshwater rivers and ponds at various depths from surface to bottom. These fish can grow up to three inches long (8 cm).
10- Oscars
Oscars are also considered to be one of the best fish to buy as a pet. They are very intelligent, beautiful, and easy to feed. Oscars can live up to ten years, so when you are ready for an Oscar, it will be around for a long time. If you want to get an Oscar for your first fish tank or even if you have been keeping one for several years, there are some things that you should know about them before buying one.
Oscar’s diet is very simple. They eat a lot of food and they love live food such as worms, bloodworms, and brine shrimp. You should make sure that the Oscars diet is made up of at least 80% meaty foods such as shrimp and fish flesh because this type of diet will help ensure that your Oscar stays healthy for many years to come.
Oscars need clean water in order to live healthy lives. If their water gets dirty or too dirty then they will become sick or even die in extreme cases. You should change their water at least once every week but more than once per week if needed due to high levels of ammonia building up in the tank or if you notice any other signs of poor water quality such as cloudy water or visible algae growth.
11- Ocellaris Clownfish
Ocellaris Clownfish are a good fish to have as pets as they are very hardy and easy to care for. They have a nice orange body with a blue stripe running from eye to tail fin. The Ocellaris Clownfish is a very popular species of clownfish due to its bright coloring and ease of care. These fishes are peaceful, hardy, and can be kept in pairs or groups. They also make great additions to reef tanks if you have other fish that will tolerate their presence.
The fish tends to eat algae growing on rocks and coral in your fish tank, but it may also eat meaty foods such as brine shrimp and Mysis shrimp. They should only be fed once per day, which will keep them healthy and happy!
It’s easy to care for an ocellaris clownfish because they are hardy survivors that adapt well to captivity. They are not picky eaters and will accept all kinds of frozen food such as brine shrimp or bloodworms along with dry foods like flake food or pellets.
12- Redtail Sharks
Redtail Sharks are also one of the best fish to buy as a pet. They are graceful and beautiful, and they can live in tanks of all sizes.
They are also known as redtail catfish and red-tailed catfish as well. They were named after the red and black bands on their tail fins. They are native to the Amazon River basin in South America, but they have been introduced into other areas worldwide.
Redtail sharks are nocturnal, which means they sleep all day and come out at night. They eat any type of meaty food that floats in front of them as long as it is small enough for them to swallow whole! Their favorite foods include worms and insects like crickets or mealworms.
Redtails also eat small fish and they are very territorial by nature so it’s best to keep just one per tank unless you’re breeding them (which is possible). They can grow up to 12 inches long but usually grow only about 8 inches when kept in captivity because they don’t have enough room to grow any larger than that in most home aquariums.
Which One Is The Best Fish To Get As A Pet?
If you take my opinion, goldfish is one of the best fish to get as a pet. The reason why I say that is because they are very easy to take care of and they can live for a long time (over 20 years if cared for properly).
I have had my goldfish for nearly 3 years now and he’s still alive. If you take proper care of him, he should live for at least another few years.
One thing I did not know was that there are different types of goldfish: Bubble Eye, Cherry Tail, Comet, Common, Veiltail, and Fantail. So make sure to do some research before buying one.
Final Thoughts
If you are thinking of having a fish tank, it is important that you know how to take care of it. No matter how beautiful fish you have at the end of the day secret behind a healthy and beautiful fish tank is to take proper care and maintenance.
I hope you liked my list of best fish to have as pets. Please let me know in the comments which one of these you liked the most.