Setting up your first tropical aquarium is an exciting introduction to the fishkeeping hobby. Bright, active fish are fascinating to watch, but choosing the right fish at the start is the key to success. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to choose the best tropical fish for your setup, explain stocking for different zones, and suggest some hardy, beginner-friendly fish that thrive in home aquariums.

Choosing marine fish can be a minefield, with most of the desirable ones like puffers and butterflyfish being unsuitable for reef tanks.

Setting up a tropical aquarium is exciting, but the tank you choose has a big impact on your fish. With size, shape, and placement, there’s a lot to consider before purchasing. In this guide, we’ll explain the key considerations with handy tips that’ll make your decision much easier.

Want to breed cichlids? Read our useful guide on the five easiest cichlids for you to breed at home, and get started the right way!

Plecos are popular aquarium fish, known for their sucker mouths and their algae-eating capabilities. Some plecos get big however or have specialised care requirements.

If you’ve never kept fish before then the best fish you can start with are danios. Danios are small, active freshwater fish known for their hardiness.

Sharks are some of the most popular tropical fish available and their iconic looks and naming have ensured their popularity throughout the decades.

Feeding frequency depends on the type of fish you keep. As a general rule small fish should be fed little and often and larger ones can go longer between meals.

Damselfish are some of the most colourful, abundant, cheap and hardy fish available to the marine keeper, but they can have their drawbacks.