Most kids these days would rather look at an Xbox than a 10-gallon fish tank, but all is not lost. Introducing youngsters to fish-keeping can end well if you set things up for success. Since the first step is choosing species that are survivors, here are five candidates for the newbie's fish tank.
1 Siamese fighting fish. Also called bettas, these often iridescent beauties are the poster fish for low maintenance, says Gene Sanchez, owner of Tropical Showcase in Hicksville, N.Y. "They don't need a filter, and they can live in a jelly jar."
Although bettas get along with many fish, they are less gregarious with their own kind.
2 Goldfish. Don't dismiss these as too "everyday," says Dominick Caserma, owner of A Lot of Fish in Babylon, N.Y. Goldfish come in dozens of colors and varieties.
3 Gourami. Anthony Mansueto, proprietor of South Shore Tropicals in Lindenhurst, N.Y., votes for these hardy Asian natives. Male gouramis can be fin nippers, and so are not a good choice with bettas or guppies, although many of the other fish on this list – including tetras and danios – are compatible with them.
4 Danios. This torpedo-shaped member of the minnow family is hardy and, like the betta, needs no water filtration, just a water change once or twice a week.
5 Tetras. "Most aquarists don't check the pH of their water," and without intervention a tank will become acidic – an environment the tetra thrives in. Silver dollars also are part of this family.
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