Good starter fish?

[areias]

I would suggest going with the biggest you can afford. Bettas are typically able to withstand colder temps better than tropical fish. If you get a 12 gallon, you would also be able to regulate the temp better by adding a heater. (Not very expensive, they're worth it too). If you decide not to go with a heater, goldfish types are coldwater fish, although their tank can't be freezing either. Goldfish are also dirtier, so you would have to have less fish per gallon. For easy tropical fish, I would say the normal platys, mollies, swordtails, etc. I have gouramis too, I like them the best I think. It's up to you though.

[wolflady]

I don't mean to high-jack the thread, but this was a good question. I would like to get a fish for my office desk, and was wondering along the same lines...what would be a good, low mainenance fish? Would a beta be good since it just basically requires a bowl? Or do I need to get a fancy tank with filters/heaters...?? I really know nothing about fish

Good luck on getting yours, Iilo!

[king2005]

Flatcoatluver is correct! Goldfish get BIG!

If you ever hear anyone say that they grow to their enviroment SMACK THEM UPSIDE THE HEAD (goes for all fish)! Its a horrible myth! When you prevent a goldfish from growing to its natural size by keeping it in a tiny tank, it will become ill (its insides keep trying to grow) & die young. If you think having a goldfish for 5yrs is a long time, your soooo wrong. They live about 10-20yrs if not more.

[My Peanuts]

Why not get a betta and a heater? I have a small heater in my 5 gallon betta tank. The heater was like $6-$10.

[Chilli]

I agree to go ahead and get a betta. They make heaters for smaller tanks, and like mentioned, they don't cost that much.
Good luck on whatever you decide!

[Flatcoatluver]

Flatcoatluver is correct! Goldfish get BIG!

If you ever hear anyone say that they grow to their enviroment SMACK THEM UPSIDE THE HEAD (goes for all fish)! Its a horrible myth! When you prevent a goldfish from growing to its natural size by keeping it in a tiny tank, it will become ill (its insides keep trying to grow) & die young. If you think having a goldfish for 5yrs is a long time, your soooo wrong. They live about 10-20yrs if not more.

My sophmore project was on goldfish bowls. I got a A and even surprised my biology teacher with all the goldfish myths.

[binka_nugget]

A betta would absolutely LOVE a 6 gallon (12 would be heaven though!) With a 12 gallon, you could even start a betta sorority... though you do have to be careful since some get rather aggressive.

In general, bettas are pretty easy to care for. My 1-5 gallon tanks are unheated but now that it's summer, my tanks have gone from the usual 71-73 up to 79-80. The change is huge! They're much more active and non bubblenesters have started bubblenesting.

A heater for a 6 or 12 gallon wouldn't be too expensive. I paid 35 or so for a submersible one that heats up to 30 gallons I believe. My lower quality heater for the 10 gallon cost about 12 bucks.

[king2005]

My sophmore project was on goldfish bowls. I got a A and even surprised my biology teacher with all the goldfish myths.

like their 5 second memory span, HA! Myth busters proved that was a myth.

[binka_nugget]

like their 5 second memory span, HA! Myth busters proved that was a myth.

LMAO! I loved that episode!

[king2005]

LMAO! I loved that episode!

Its been so long since I've seen that show.. its hard to watch tv with no tv haha

[lute]

like their 5 second memory span, HA! Myth busters proved that was a myth.

i always thought that was stupid! my goldfish learned how to come to the top of their tank when i rang a bell. that ment it was feeding time. they had to have a memory span longer than 5 secs to remember this.

not sure on a good starter fish. i do agree that you can keep a betta if you get a heater. i'm getting a heater for my betta tanks for this winter. i don't have a heater in my part of the house.

[managemysite]

tetras are best, they live the longest, are hardest to kill and their are some pretty varieties, also zebra danios