Quick summary The Platy is an excellent choice for beginners, being hardy, peaceful, easy to feed, and simple to breed, though it does best in moderately hard, alkaline water rather than soft, acidic conditions. Keep a group of at least five or six, with two to three females per male, in a minimum 40 litre…
Quick summary Mollies are a hardy, sociable, and easy-to-breed livebearer that suits beginners, but they need hard, alkaline water and a decently sized tank of 75 litres or more to truly thrive. If your tap water is naturally soft, be prepared to buffer it, as poor water chemistry is the main cause of health problems…
Quick summary Swordtails are a hardy, easy-to-breed livebearer well suited to beginners, thriving in a peaceful community tank of 115 litres or more with hard, alkaline water. They need at least one male to two or three females to reduce aggression, and a secure lid, but otherwise ask little beyond stable water quality and a…
Quick summary The Redtail Splitfin is an easy, hardy livebearer that suits beginners with hard, alkaline water, ideally kept unheated or cool in groups of six or more with a ratio of two females per male. It’s a great choice if you want a lively, colourful fish and also want to support conservation, since it’s…
Quick summary The Guppy is an excellent choice for beginners thanks to its hardiness, tolerance of varied water conditions, and easy care and feeding requirements. Just be prepared for prolific, near-effortless breeding if you keep males and females together, so have a plan for managing fry numbers. In this guide: Introduction Quick Stats Appearance Varieties…