![]() ![]() This fish requires a tank of 50 gallons or more, with 80 to 100 gallons a good size, not a typical beginner tank sized setup. They are always available as juveniles in normal (black and orange) and albino colorations. The oscar is another species that the largest discount retailer stocks in its sparse aquariums and can be purchased at virtually every local pet store and big box pet store. And not to mention, they are gross polluters, meaning, they poop a lot. I’ve seen huge specimens (former pets that were released) schooling in Manoa creek on O’ahu, dining on algae). The plecostomus can grow to 12 inches and larger. Adding a plecostomus to such a tank is like housing a killer whale in a swimming pool. Most beginners start off with a 20 to 30 gallon fish tank. But they are often always small specimens no more than three or four inches in length. The plecostomus is such a popular fish that even the largest discount retailer in the world stocks them for sale in their aquariums. That is often the solution to many folks’ algae issues, rather than determining what is causing the algae in the first place. If you do choose to keep this fish, ensure that your tank isn’t populated with timid individuals as they may suffer from this shark. The red-tailed shark won’t tolerate other red-tailed sharks in the tank or similar species such as the rainbow shark, and I’ve kept certain individuals over the years that have harassed smaller fish in my community tanks, which is often how beginner fishkeepers set up their first tanks. ![]() ![]() It made it to the list not because it is difficult to care for, which it is not for the most part, but due to its highly territorial nature. The red-tailed shark is a hugely popular fish in the hobby because of its striking coloration and a body that resembles a shark. Red-tailed Shark ( Epalzeorhynchos bicolor) Unless you have a nice-sized outdoor pond, avoid this fish, and avoid any local fish store that will sell you one without telling you how big this fish gets. However, these fish will outgrow a 55 gallon tank in their first year and will continue growing, often exceeding 10 pounds in weight. Most pacu that you see in your local fish store are just 2 to 3 inches in length with nice coloration. And this is where an unsuspecting beginning fishkeeper gets fooled. The pacu however has one different characteristic, and that is the size of the fish when it reaches maturity. Both belong to the same family of fish, Characidae. The pacu is often sold as the vegetarian cousin of the piranha. So, in no particular order, here they are. They generally require stringent and specialized water quality requirements, or better filtration, or must be reconsidered due to their aggressive behavior or tank busting physical traits. These fish are generally not the best beginner fish, and demand and require a bit more of what a community tank can offer. You can set up species specific or specialized tanks when you get your proverbial feet wet in the hobby. If you are a beginner, you should generally avoid these fish, at least until you get the hang of keeping fish and maintaining your tank properly. Here is a rundown of 11 fish that are so popular even the largest retail store in the world sells some of them in its pet section. So what fish should beginner fishkeepers generally avoid altogether? Did you know that those cute orange and white (and black) oscars will get very large and unload lots of poop in the tank? Most beginners don’t. They look at fish at the store and are often unaware that the little sucker mouth catfish with a body of armor can grow to more than a foot in length and live for 20 years. Beginner aquarists are sometimes in the dark when it comes to choosing fish.
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