I've been fantasizing about getting a fish. I don't know what kind of fish or anything else. I'd probably keep him/her (gender reveal upon purchase) in my office so the tank would ideally be on the smaller side.
Do we have any fishianados on SN? What's a good starter fish that does well alone and in a small tank?
I kept a freshwater planted tank years ago with harlequin rasboras, a large population of cherry shrimp, and a few assorted snails. There were also a bunch of plants and rockwork. It was like maintaining a zen garden, but with more technical details - lightning, dosing nutrients and even a CO2 diffuser to keep the plants healthy. I definitely enjoyed fiddling with and studying it. The fish were peaceful and the shrimp were fun to watch. Check out "ADA nature aquarium" for some impressive examples.
Now my son has a similar sized saltwater reef tank with a couple clowns, a tail spot blenny, emerald crab, tuxedo urchin and soft corals. There's just as much to learn about and many similarities, but it feels like more work without the tranquil payoff. The fish look a little more stressed out trying to keep their territory and pecking order on the reef. At the same time, there's more going on and I can still stare at it for quite some time.
A betta is the way to go:
https://bettafish.org/care/
Many years ago, I had an orange betta fish. It was super crazy; on two occasions it jumped out of the fish tank and almost died.
Second this. When I was a kid I was a tropical fish nerd among many other things.
Betta easy and more interesting than gold fish. And, if you want to add more fish or get a bigger tank they can usually get along with others. As long as there are no other males.
I hear good things. They are almost too elegant though.
I'm more of a goldfish kind of guy but from what I'm reading they are high maintenance.
Yes. Bettas can survive neglect better than most. They tolerate crappy conditions.
Small tanks are the most difficult, they look cool but are more difficult to manage properly. That said, Bettas can survive less than ideal conditions better than most fish. 10 gallon tank is still small enough to fit almost anywhere, but big enough to require less frequent attention, especially with only 1 fish.
Yes you could keep a fish bowl or a little 2 gallon, but the poor fish is just not going to live as long or happy (I know, its just a fish, but still...) I'll admit I'm not a fish bowl keeping expert, perhaps there is a way to keep one with ideal conditions without much fuss.
This is the best title I can recall on SN.
I want to name it Gulp.
I probably shouldn't get a fish.
Also give it a name plate.
GulpSpa ManagerAre you ready for the responsibility?
Seriously I'm not sure. It sounds like doing it right requires a lot of maintenance.
I just wanted a cool fish that I can nod to when I get into work or imagine is cheering me on when I'm troubleshooting a bug.
Well I believe in you, for what that's worth. Luckiest fish ever.
Bettas are lovely!
But get a minimum 10-15G tank with them. Females are community friendly, Males are solitary although have the most gorgeous fins.
Ensure they have hammocks, real plants are extra beneficial, and they like blood worms. Lots of bubblenests means they are extra happy ☺️
I had one in a fish bowl for quite some time and it was very healthy. It has a water Lily in the bowl too. Rarely fed the fish because the roots would shed, and the fish ate the plant roots. Had it on the counter at my workplace and people loved it. (except for the crazy animal rights people who thought keeping a fish was a crime)
I can tell you without doubt, my buddy has fish 🐟 and he spends soooooooo much time 'cleaning my fish out'
Don't get me wrong, he loves it, and after he spends hours 'watching his fish' 😂😂😂
I guess it's an addictive hobby.
No idea on breeds though, I've heard Discus banded around by other people but a quick search says they're a large fish and need a large tank with at least 6 fish in the group, so that's probably a no.
BTW is there a bug in the SN keyboard because if I make a spelling mistake, I can't delete it, it just keeps running through the suggested words
Maybe it's my 📱 phone playing up, typed this in notes app and pasted across
If you're on Android @sox is working on a fix.
Ranchu goldfish
Not low maintenance though, from what I've read about them
Most gold fish put off a lot of ammonia and require frequent water changes.
Though like this one they can be cool.
Check your flooring and your bank account. If you can afford to pay to replace it, get your fish. If not, get a dog.
🤣 pensé en un pez gordo 😂 pero no va a caber en la pecera 🤣
I agree with the Beta fish. I had one with a plant/flower growing in it, and the fish lived off the roots of the plant. It was very nice looking and low maintenance.
Don’t take part in that animal slavery economy. Fish belong free in lakes, rivers, and the ocean, not stuck in tiny tanks.
There is many factors on life similar to this concept.
This reached the top spot? Did the algorithm change lol
edit: title was funny to me personally because chatgpt and gemini recommended I need to eat more white fish and salmon