Find the right pet fish for you
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What fish should I get?
Get a fish that fits your tank, your tap water and the time you can give it each week. For most first-time keepers that means a hardy freshwater fish such as a betta, platy or guppy, not the brightest fish in the store.
The pet fish quiz above works this out in 13 questions. It ranks 77 pet fish (60 freshwater and 17 saltwater) and shows your top 3 with a match percent, the reasons each one fits and what to know before you buy. You can change any answer on the results page and the list updates.
Answer for the tank you have or will really buy. Your tank size is a firm limit: a freshwater fish that would outgrow your tank never appears in your results.
What fish should I get for my tank?
These are the fish the quiz picks most often for a first-time keeper with average tap water.
| Tank size | Good first fish | How to stock them |
|---|---|---|
| 5 gallons | Betta, endler livebearer | One betta on its own, or a small group of endlers |
| 10 gallons | Platy, honey gourami, harlequin rasbora | Choose one main species. Rasboras need a group of 6 |
| 15 to 29 gallons | Zebra danio, bronze cory, bristlenose pleco | 6 danios and 6 corys share a tank well |
| 30 to 55 gallons | Cherry barb, bronze cory, three-spot gourami | Groups of barbs and corys, with one gourami |
| 75 gallons or more | Rosy barb, Boesemani rainbowfish, pearl gourami | Large groups of active fish |
To see how many of each fish a tank can hold, use the aquarium calculator. It checks a stocking list against the volume and filter of your tank.
Freshwater or saltwater?
Start with freshwater unless you have a clear reason not to. A freshwater tank costs less, forgives more mistakes and offers far more fish that suit a small tank. The quiz shows saltwater fish only if you ask for them, and “Not sure yet” gives you freshwater matches.
Saltwater fish need mixed salt water, steady water chemistry and at least 20 gallons. If you want one, the ocellaris clownfish and royal gramma are the most forgiving fish on our list.
How we score each fish
Every fish gets a score from 1 to 5 on 17 traits, including fit for a first-time keeper, hardiness, weekly upkeep, setup cost, temper, group size, personality, safety with plants, water hardness and lifespan. The scores are ours. We set them from care references such as Seriously Fish and FishBase, then compared the species against each other. Minimum tank sizes match our aquarium calculator.
Your answers set limits on those traits. A one-point miss costs a little and a three-point miss costs a lot. Some answers act as hard rules: fish that eat smaller fish stay out if you already keep small fish, and fish that need expert care stay out of a first-timer’s top 3.
Before you buy your first fish
- Set up the tank first. A new tank needs about 4 to 6 weeks to grow the bacteria that break down fish waste. Add fish slowly.
- Check your tap water. Your water supplier publishes hardness and pH. Discus and rams want soft water. Mollies and African cichlids want hard water.
- Skip the bowl. Fancy goldfish need at least 20 gallons and common goldfish need 55. See the characteristics of a goldfish for how large they grow.
- Check the adult size. Common plecos and oscars sell as small juveniles. A common pleco needs about 125 gallons as an adult.
- Buy groups of group fish. Tetras, rasboras and corys are stressed when kept alone or in pairs.
Want to learn the fish you just met? Try the fish identification quiz, browse our list of cute fish or see all our animal quizzes.
What pet fish should I get? FAQ
What fish should I get?
Get a fish that suits your tank size, tap water and weekly time. Most first-time keepers do well with a betta in a 5 gallon tank, or platies in a 10 gallon tank. Take the quiz at the top of this page to match 77 pet fish to your setup.
Is there a quiz for what pet fish I should get?
Yes. The free pet fish quiz on this page asks 13 questions about your tank, water, time, budget and goals. It takes about 2 minutes, needs no sign-up and returns your top 3 fish with a match percent and care notes.
What is the best pet fish for beginners?
Platies, guppies, bettas, zebra danios and bronze corys are the best beginner fish. They are widely sold, eat flake food and tolerate small water mistakes. Platies and zebra danios are among the most forgiving on our list.
What is the easiest fish to take care of?
The betta is the easiest pet fish for a small tank, because one fish lives alone in 5 gallons and adds little waste. It still needs a heater, a filter and weekly water changes. For a larger tank, the zebra danio is the hardiest choice.
What fish should I get for a 5 gallon tank?
A single betta is the best fish for a 5 gallon tank. Endler livebearers and chili rasboras also fit, in a small group. Goldfish, tetras and most other community fish need more room.
What fish should I get for a 10 gallon tank?
Platies, honey gouramis, harlequin rasboras, neon tetras and guppies all fit a 10 gallon tank. Pick one main species and keep group fish in groups. Our aquarium calculator shows how many fit.
What fish should I get for my kids?
Platies and guppies suit families best. They are sturdy, active and easy to feed, and they breed in home tanks, which children enjoy. An adult should handle water changes and measure the food.
Should I get a freshwater or saltwater fish?
Choose freshwater for a first tank. It costs less and forgives more mistakes. Saltwater needs at least 20 gallons, mixed salt water and steady water chemistry, so it suits keepers with some experience or a larger budget.
Can a goldfish live in a bowl?
No. A bowl has too little water and no filter for a fish that produces this much waste. Fancy goldfish need at least 20 gallons and common goldfish need at least 55 gallons.
Which pet fish need no heater?
Goldfish and white cloud mountain minnows live without a heater in a normal room. Zebra danios also tolerate room temperature well. Bettas, guppies and most tropical fish need a heater.