When starting out as a beginner aquarist, you will want things as easy as possible to enable you to learn as you go without things being overwhelmed with a ton of responsibilities too early.
So one of the main ways to minimize this problem is less maintenance, and a good place to start is to ask “what is the most low maintenance fish?”
It’s important to say that no fish are ever 100% hands off, all fish require some kind of work. It’s just that some are a lot easy to handle than others. Some of the fish on this list also make little mess which means less cleaning and maintenance.
In this guide we are going answer the question of “what is the most low maintenance fish?” by giving you our recommendations.
Low Maintenance Fish For Aquarium
1. Black Skirt Tetra
Black Skirt Tetras are a great choice for beginners who are looking for a stress-free tank with low maintenance. In comparison to other Tetras, they are quite large but they are still very peaceful.
Being carnivores, their diet includes bloodworms and brine shrimp a well as pellets and standard flakes.
Black Skirt Tetras are one of the main species of Glofish which means they are engineered pets and are commercially available.
The process involves jellyfish and Coral DNA under UV lighting.
- Scientific Name: Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
- Origin: Brazil
- Size: 2½ inches
- Temperament: Peaceful; Schooling
- Suggested Tank Size: 20-gallon
- Suggested Water Temperature: 70°F to 85°F
2. Dwarf Otocinclus
Algae eaters generally get aggressive and grow large with age which can make things hard work inside of a community tank.
An excellent alternative to this is the Dwarf Otocinclus which not only stay under 2 inches, but are also very peaceful creatures. Don’t let their small size put you off because they are just as good at eating algae as larger fish.
As well as algae, vegetarian food should also be provided to them either on a morning or an evening due to them not being able to compete with other fish.
- Scientific Name: Otocinclus vittatus
- Origin: Amazon River
- Size: 1 to 1½ inches
- Temperament: Peaceful; Schooling
- Suggested Tank Size: 10 gallons (4-6 Otocinclus)
- Suggested Water Temperature: 75-84℉
3. Dwarf Gourami
Gouramis are a diverse group of medium to large fish from South and Southeast Asia. If you are looking for an alternative option that is smaller and very low maintenance, then the Dwarf Gourami is the perfect option.
They are great for a small community tank that will not give you any stress or hassle. As well as oxygen from the water, they can also breath atmospheric air just like Bettas.
Even though Dwarf Gourami compete for females, they are nowhere near as aggressive as Bettas. If you give them at least 10 gallons of space each, multiple males are more than fine to live together.
- Scientific Name: Trichogaster lalius
- Origin: South Asia
- Size: 3 inches
- Temperament: Peaceful; Territorial
- Suggested Tank Size: 10 gallons minimum
- Suggested Water Temperature: 76-84℉
4. Neon Tetra
Neon Tetra are small brightly colored blue and red fish and make great starter fish for any new hobbyist.
What makes them so great for beginners is that not only are they easy going, but they will also have very minimal impact on the quality of the water due to their size which is generally 1cm – 4cm.
It’s ideal to start with three to five Neon Tetras as they like to school together. When it comes to diet, provide pellets small enough for them to consume, as well as flakes.
One thing to be aware of is that Neon Tetras are easily bred in captivity. Signs of inbreeding include asymmetrical mouths, misshapen fins, and missing operculum (gill cover).
- Scientific Name: Paracheirodon innesi
- Origin: South America
- Size: 1½ inches
- Temperament: Peaceful; Schooling
- Suggested Tank Size: 10 gallon
- Suggested Water Temperature: 68-79℉
5. Betta
Although Betas occasionally have poor social skills, there are virtually no downsides to keeping these beautiful fish who are low maintenance and make a great addition to a stress-free tank.
Male Bettas are very well known for being aggressive towards each other, and will even fight to the death.
They are gentle towards females, and will generally ignore most other tank mates, so for beginners it is recommended to start with just one male Betta on it’s own.
When it comes to the tank, the larger the betta. As Betas are tropical fish, more volume of water means it is easier to keep a constant temperature, as well as the advantage of having a looser maintenance schedule.
- Scientific Name: Betta splendens
- Origin: Thailand
- Size: 2 to 3 inches
- Temperament: Peaceful to Semi-Aggressive
- Suggested Tank Size: 5 gallon minimum
- Suggested Water Temperature: 78-82℉
6. Celestial Pearl Danio
Very popular for planted aquariums, Celestial Pearl Danio are tiny nano fish with beautiful coloration.It’s a good idea to have plenty of decoration because males like to create small territories. Without this, males will fight.
Male Celestial Pearl Danio will also compete for the attention of groups of females. Other than this CPDs are shy creatures who love plenty of plants which enables them to feel secure.
The only major requirement is that the water is 70-75℉ with a pH of 6.5-7.5 which is close to neutral and slightly cooler conditions than other tropical fish.
- Scientific Name: Danio margaritatus
- Origin: Myanmar
- Size: 1 inch
- Temperament: Peaceful; Shy
- Suggested Tank Size: 10 gallons
- Suggested Water Temperature: 70-75℉
7. Ghost Shrimp
Ghost shrimp are a popular choice to use as feeders, but they also make great pets. Due to to their size, it’s important to keep them in a tank with fish that are too small to eat them.
The reason for their name is because of their near-transparent camouflage. Ghost shrimp may not catch your eye when looking for fish in a store because they look pale and very unappealing.
Once they settle into an aquarium they can actually turn red antennae and marbled patterns. It’s easy to get a small group of Ghost shrimp because they are so inexpensive.
This North American native can tolerate a wide range of water chemistries as well as both hot and cold temperatures in the range of 65-80℉.
Read our full Ghost Shrimp guide here.
- Scientific Name: Palaemonetes paludosus
- Origin: North America
- Size: 1 inch
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Suggested Tank Size: 5 gallon or larger (for a group)
- Suggested Water Temperature: 65-80℉
8. Zebra Danio
Their name matches their appearance with horizontal stripes covering the body and they make excellent fish for beginner hobbyists.
Zebra fish like to school in groups, but unlike many other fish they actually don’t like warm water with tropical temperatures. This means there is no need to use pre-set heaters.
Water at room temperature is ideal which is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. During the cold winter months, you may need just a small heater to prevent your tank from getting too cold.
As well being striped, Zebra fish come in a variety of fin-lengths and colors. Due to genetic engineering with fluorescent jellyfish protein, they also come in a special day-glow variety.
- Scientific Name: Danio rerio
- Origin: South Asia
- Size: 1½ – 2 inches
- Temperament: Peaceful; Schooling
- Suggested Tank Size: 10 gallon
- Suggested Water Temperature: 64-74℉
9. Platy
Platy had to make our list of the most low maintenance fish as they are very well known for being easy to care for with a stress free personality.
Platies come in an incredible array of colors and will eat just about anything you offer them.
One thing to be aware of is that livebearers are well know for eating their own young, even their own mother will do so. If you are looking to raise the fry, it’s a good idea to move the female into a separate tank.
Other than that, Platy are excellent fish who will not cause trouble and will just ignore a majority of their tank mates.
- Scientific Name: Xiphophorus maculatus, variatus
- Origin: Mexico
- Size: 2 inches
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Suggested Tank Size: 10 gallon
- Suggested Water Temperature: 70-82℉
10. Standard Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Goldfish are very common and almost everybody at some point in their life has owned a goldfish. Most people associate goldfish as being small, but surprisingly they can grow 8 to 24 inches.
This means that you can also keep them in an aquarium as well as a bowl. The reason why a lot of them die is due to the accumulation of waste product as they outgrow a bowl.
They do have a taste for soft plants such as Anacharis or Cabomba, but being omnivores, they will eat virtually anything. The only real downside is that goldfish love to dig. So if you have an aquarium full of lovely plants, don’t expect them to stay in one place.
Other than that, as long as your aquarium is clean and you keep it free of ammonia, goldfish are an excellent choice. There are also hundreds of different varieties with similar care requirements that you can mix and match.
- Scientific Name: Carassius auratus
- Origin: East Asia
- Size: 8 to 24 inches
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Suggested Tank Size: 20 gallons
- Suggested Water Temperature: 68-74℉
11. Ramshorn Snail
Ramshorn Snails are very low maintenance to keep who do a great job of eating leftover food, fish waste, plant matter, and algae.
The main thing to be aware of is that they possess both female and male organs, making them hermaphrodites.
The reason this is a problem is because they can self-fertilize, even when there are no mates around. This means they breed extremely easily and in a matter of a few weeks, one can turn into hundreds.
One way to manage the number is to add a piece of fresh lettuce near the bottom each night. They will get attracted to this which means you can keep the population down by removing as many as you need to.
Another option is to add things such as Assassin Snails or Pea Puffer Fish who are predators and love to eat Ramshorn Snails.
- Scientific Name: Planorbidae family
- Origin: Worldwide
- Size: Up to 1 inch in diameter
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Suggested Tank Size: 5-10 gallons
- Suggested Water Temperature: 70-78℉
12. White Cloud Minnow
Often known as the poor man’s neon tetra, they are cousins to Goldfish and Barbs and been around for decades. They have a broad iridescent stripe which catches the light and acts as a signal to both rivals and mates.
Males have a brighter body stripe as well as red fin edges and a ruby red nose.
White Cloud Minnow live in temperatures between 62-72℉ and can even cope with temperatures as low as 41℉ which makes them cold water fish.
If the water temperature is above 72℉ then they will fade in color and start to become stressed. They are very low maintenance and easy to look after as they are mostly peaceful, even in groups.
- Scientific Name: Tanichthys albonubes
- Origin: Southern China & Northern Vietnam
- Size: 1½ inches
- Temperament: Peaceful; Schooling
- Suggested Tank Size: 10 gallon
- Suggested Water Temperature: 62-72℉
13. Kuhli Loach
Unlike many catfish, most Kuhli Loach are very peaceful and social which makes them great with other tank mates and low-maintenance fish.
They are colorful with a very unusual shape and scaleless skin which can get scratched by gravel. This happens because they love to burrow, and for this reason you should use a fine sand substrate.
As well as prepared foods, loaches also like bloodworms and invertebrates. Unlike other Loaches, Kuhli Loaches are the only ones that will breed in captivity. For this to happen you will need acidic conditions and a planted tank.
- Scientific Name: Pangio kuhlii
- Origin: Malaysia & Indonesia
- Size: 4 inches
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Suggested Tank Size: 15-20 gallon
- Suggested Water Temperature: 73-86℉
14. Guppy
Although Guppy are low maintenance and peaceful when living with other fish, Guppy males tend to chase females.
It’s also common for Guppy parents to eat their young. This is why it is important to provide plenty of living space with dense plants. A great option is Guppy Grass (Naja guadalupensis).
This allows the fry safe spaces to avoid their parents and allow them to reach maturity. When it comes to food, Guppies are omnivores and eat blood worms, larvae, mosquito, and other insect larvae.
- Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata
- Origin: South America
- Size: 1 to 1½ inches
- Temperament: Peaceful
- Suggested Tank Size: 5 gallon (minimum)
- Suggested Water Temperature: 75-82℉
The Most Low Maintenance Fish Conclusion
So there you have it, that is our list of 14 of the most low maintenance fish that are ideal for beginner aquarist. Always remember that no fish are ever 100% hands off, they all require some form of work.
Do you have any of the fish on this list? Let us know in the comments section below.
