Top 5+ Worst Fish for Beginners (2024)

Setting up a new aquarium can be quite puzzling. As a beginner aquarist, you might be confused about what to do and what not to do in your new fish tank. But don’t worry! We are here to assist you on your aquatic journey.

In today’s article, we will discuss the five worst fish for beginners. These fish should be avoided if you are a new aquarist, as they require high maintenance. Although fascinating, they demand a lot of effort and care to thrive in captivity. Instead, you should start with “easy fish” that can tolerate some negligence and beginner mistakes.

Have you ever wondered which fish are the worst for beginners? Generally, high-maintenance fish that are hard to care for are the ones to avoid. For a more detailed insight, read the following list of the most challenging fish for beginners.

Oscars

Oscars are one of the most popular fish due to their beauty and interactive nature. However, they are well-known as one of the worst fish for beginners.

worst fish for beginners

The main reason behind this dislike is their rapid growth and water requirement. These fish can quickly reach lengths of 12 to 14 inches, which is pretty large for beginners. Moreover, they require at least a 75-gallon tank to survive. Managing such a large tank is costly and difficult. Also, if the tank is not upgraded as it grows, the fish can become ill and aggressive.

In addition, the Oscars are known for their territorial behavior. They often bully other tankmates, stirring up fights and injuring other fish.

Interestingly, even tank decorations aren’t safe. This fish often tends to move the tank decor and uproot plants. This rearrangement makes maintenance a lot harder. Guess who wants to be an interior designer!

Lastly, the Oscars produce a lot of waste. They eat aggressively, make a mess, and produce significant fecal material. These habits combined, make the tank water very dirty, requiring frequent water changes. This fish requires extra care, which demands experience and effort, making it unsuitable for beginners.

Bala Sharks

Bala Sharks have a sleek, shark-like appearance and peaceful nature, and who wouldn’t want that beauty in their tank? However, this is one of the worst fish for beginners, here’s an explanation.

worst beginner fish

First of all, this fish can grow up to 14 inches in length. As it grows, it requires more and more space due to its active lifestyle. On average, Bala Sharks need at least a 125 gallon fish tank, which is expensive and hard to maintain as a beginner. You should aim for a fish that requires about 10 to 30 gallons of space.

Secondly, the Bala Sharks need pristine water quality with ideal parameters. Any fluctuation can cause immediate health issues and stress. Managing such a big water tank, with constant monitoring for temperature, toxin, and pH levels is a hassle.

Lastly, the Bala Sharks have a habit of jumping out of the water. So, you will require a tightly fitted lid for your tank. In addition, Bala Sharks thrive in groups, hence require additional fish in the tank. This will further increase the tank size and maintenance requirements.

Flowerhorn Cichlid

The Flowerhorn Cichlid is well known for its vibrant colors and unique looks. It has a beautiful flower-like extension on its forehead called the “kok”, hence the name. However, it’s suggested as the worst fish for beginners due to its aggressive nature.

The Flowerhorn Cichlid is highly territorial and often attacks tankmates. So as a beginner, you should avoid this fish, especially if you are planning for a community tank.

Additionally, a Flowerhorn Cichlid requires a large tank of at least 75 gallons. Anything smaller than this will induce stress, aggressive behavior, and health issues. A large space is crucial for the fish’s survival and reproduction, however hard to manage as a beginner.

Maintaining water temperature, pH and Ammonia levels will also be a hassle. Any deviation in water parameters can cause serious illness and stress. Overall, this fish has all the appearances a beginner could wish for, but the price to pay is too much.

Clown Loach

Clown Loaches have vibrant coloration and playful behavior. However, they are not suitable for novice aquarists.

These fish demand quite a lot of space. Boasting a size of 12 inches in length, they require at least a 75 gallon tank to thrive. This space is vital for their survival and active lifestyle. Moreover, this fish has a social nature, so it will require tankmates. These tankmates will further increase the tank size and maintenance effort.

Proper water conditions are crucial for Clown Loaches. They are very sensitive to fluctuations in the water parameters such as temperature, pH, and Ammonia levels. Any deviation may cause serious health issues like ich and skin flukes. The tank conditions must be pristine, requiring frequent monitoring, water changes, and filtration.

Additionally, this fish has a nocturnal nature. So, it might not provide much entertainment to the owner. It also needs a lot of hiding spots in the tank, which might make the tank setup more complex. All in all, this fish is a beauty like no other, but it’s not suitable for beginners.

African Cichlids

African Cichlids have a striking appearance and interactive behavior. However, they are not suitable for a new aquarist due to many reasons. Here’s a breakdown of why they are considered one of the worst fish for beginners.

Firstly, African Cichlids have a highly aggressive and territorial nature, making them hard to manage in a tank. This fish is known for bullying and hurting tankmates, especially in community tanks. Moreover, they turn violent during breeding seasons, making them a challenging choice for beginners.

Additionally, these fish need specific water conditions and a large tank. You must provide a minimum of 55 gallon space with ideal water parameters. Any fluctuation in water parameters like temperature and pH will lead to more aggression and health issues. Fulfilling these needs as a beginner can be very tough, so we recommend avoiding such options.

More Worst Fish for Beginners

Follow our articles for more amazing fish advice. For now, here is a list of fish that you should avoid as a beginner aquarist. These are considered as the worst fish for beginners, thanks to their costly and demanding maintenance.

  • Goldfish
  • Pufferfish
  • Freshwater Angelfish
  • Kissing Gourami
  • Plecos (Large varieties like Common Pleco)
  • Betta Fish (with other tank mates)
  • Neon Tetras
  • Discus Fish
  • Tiger Barb
  • Dwarf Gourami

Now that you know what to avoid as a beginner, here are the best saltwater fish for beginners and the best freshwater fish for beginners. Choose your new aquatic best friends from these suggestions for effortless fish-keeping.

FAQ’s

What is the hardest fish to own as a beginner?

Oscars are at the top of the list. This fish is extremely hard to manage as a beginner. It has a large size and a demanding lifestyle.

How many fish should a beginner have?

The number of fish you should keep as a beginner depends on the type of fish and the tank size. A small tank can have 1 to 2 fish, a medium tank can house 5 to 10 fish, and a large tank can have 10 to 15 fish. This number can vary from fish to fish.

Which fish is best for beginners?

Betta fish is considered one of the best fish for beginners as it requires a small tank with minimal care.

What is the hardiest fish for beginners?

Zebra danios is one of the hardiest fish for beginners. This fish has exceptional tolerance to fluctuations in water parameters.

What is the easiest fish to start with?

Betta fish is one of the easiest and prettiest fish to start as a new aquarist. You don’t need much to maintain this fish. A clean small tank with a proper diet will do the job.

Conclusion

In conclusion, today we talked about the top 5+ fish that you should avoid as a new aquarist. These are considered the worst fish for beginners as they require too much effort. In simple words, as a beginner, you should aim for a fish that is easy to care for. Also, the ideal fish for a beginner must have some tolerance to fluctuations and mistakes.

In essence, we discussed the fishes that are hard to maintain as a novice aquarist. Generally, these fish have demanding necessities like large tank requirements with ideal parameters. Moreover, these fish are very aggressive, making them hard to manage in captivity.

As a beginner, you should go for a fish that doesn’t require much effort to care for. It should have a peaceful nature along with some tolerance to fluctuations. After all, beginners are expected to make mistakes, but it won’t be a big issue if the fish can tolerate a few errors.

Let us know: which fish is worst for beginners? the flowerhorn or the African cichlid. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Leave a Comment