I would add jumpers, like kilifish and arowanas. These fish seem determined to kill themselves. Plus, Petco/PetSmart keep small common plecos with other small fish, and will sell them to anyone. I visited a fish rescue; what did he have the most of? Common plecos that grew to 10" overnight.

I would add African Cichlids too. Huge tank required, overstocking which leads to more water changes, and most beginner fish keepers don't have a backup plan if something (like fighting) occurs 🙂

Great list, another fish for this list is the Clown Loach. They are cute, affordable and tiny, right? Hehehhe

I’m happy you addressed the flowerhorn. I adopted a full grown male because the previous owner didn’t want to buy the larger tank he needed to live comfortably. He was in a tank 12 inches wide and he’s a over 12 inch long fish. To make any turns he would swim upside down. The tank was. 40 tall, So he couldn’t give more than a single tail kick and would have to turn again. These fish are aggressive as you point out, get large, and are very active. Just don’t get one unless you’re committed to it’s needs.

Definitely gold fish because as you’ve said in other videos they are the most abused fish. They are much more work and you have to be very dedicated. Here in South Africa they are also quite expensive.

Many years ago (15+), someone tried to sell me Koi fish, but I was there to get my second or third Betta. So the employee in the store, tried to get someone who was brand new, the daughter (7-9) wanted an aquarium, to buy a bunch of Koi fish. And of course I had to step in, I mean 5-10 koi fish in a 10 liter fish bowl ... The look I got from the employee, Let's say, I was not quite welcome in that store anymore, while she was at work.

Im raising "made hardy" rams. Ive got about 100 fry growing in a tank that hasnt seen a water change in six months. Enjoy the heart attack you just had but i set it up for this with fast growing floater plants eating the nitrates. I scoop excess plant out regularly thus removing the nitrates.

I agree with everything said in this. I was just surprised Pacu weren't mentioned. However I feel like most stores are doing a much better job educating about them now than in the past and many just don't get them in.

I was guilty with the "Iridescent Shark". It wasn't my first fish (was common goldfish, courtesy of my grandma, a couple years later, I expanded to Bettas and Oscars). It's a paganasia cat. 😂😂😂 My grandma's sister had a thing for Convicts and Jack Dempseys.

Nice list, the best advice I'd give to a newcomer is to embrace your water, get it tested and go from there. My water comes out of the tap at 6.4 with barely any hardness. When I tried guppies as a relatively experienced fish keeper they just never did that well for me so now I tend to keep fish that are happy in lower pH water

I would add arowana, pacu and large puffers

Love your videos! I’ve had a 55 gallon for 2 years now and truly appreciate the education ❤️

I started fish keeping with the koi pond it's about 1000 gallons and it became over stocked quick just a FYI.

Tinfoil barbs are another one, they grow quickly and large. They're my favorite especially when they have a black trim around their red fins.

Good morning guys! Love ya both. Great vid. You guys have literally saved all of my fish by helping me with this hobby....I LOVE the shirt I bought and I plan on getting the hoodie. Cant wait.

Its always nice to see you guys! Thanks for all the tips!

I love the content on this channel sooooo much! Thanks guys you have helped me alot being new to this fantastic hobby 😀

Great video!! thanks for doing all you do to educate the newbies in the hobbie ....have a great day!!

Haha that bala shark bit. Exactly what I thought when I first saw them and wanted one for a while. For anyone who wants a shark in their aquarium, just get one or a few petricola catfish. I've had them a long time and they're still one of my top 3 favorite fish I've ever owned. They just look so awesome, like baby leopard sharks. Kept alongside a group of pea puffers, copper rasbora and ember tetra, in a heavily planted tank I just can't get enough of! Hard to explain in words what this hobby can give you.

Thanks for this video! I was thinking about a convict cichlid, but I think I’ll look at other options now

Thank you for bringing back some of the original music! You guys rock!

I appreciate your honesty and the thoroughness of your information. You make becoming a new fish keeper very exciting.

Great video. One of my first fish was a sailfin pleco, he's about 8 uears old now and I love him but they get a lot bigger then most people can probably keep. Common plecos too

Thank you so much for mentioning a black ghost knife. They are my absolute favorite fish and mine is like my best friend. I've had him for four years and yes he's a big boy

Super Great Video John and Lisa! Totally agree with all of these fish on the list! (I’m a beginner!)

My texas cichlid smashes his algae wafers on wood and decor to break them into smaller pieces. Cool

John + Lisa, THANK YOU for this very informative video on worst 10 fish to start off with. Well- that kinda burst my bubble because years ago when we had a 125 gal tank, I had several of those fish, and now, many years ago, I am planning on getting into fish keeping again. OK, I love CATFISH--I had a "shovelnose catfish, Blue EYED whiskered pleco, Cory's, an Electric catfish, a Black Ghost Knife, an Arauana, 2 Clown Knives, Clown Loaches, etc, etc, etc. I won't bore you any longer. Back then, my husband was alive and he was quite knowledgeable about fish keeping. I love those species of fish, but I DO NOT want to look into my tank and see them DEAD! OK, so can you suggest some " cool, but different" fish that I could start out with??? Oh, by the way, I think those "flower heads " should go see Dr. PIMPLEPOPPER. LOL thank you both for the best videos!! 👍

You should make a video called... "fish that are bigger than you think" and include plecos on there.

You guys are up early on a Sunday. Okay, grab popcorn, soda, Sunday morning fishkeeping.

About stingrays - just get hillstream loaches and pretend they're mini stingrays.

I'd recommend newcomers stay away from most of what we consider "beginner fish" aka goldfish & live-bearers unless they're male only. I've seen so many Mom's bringing in bags/buckets of guppy/molly/platy babies it's nuts. I don't even work at a pet store, I just frequent them lol. Goldfish, people always get them for there kids in a bowl up to a 10 gallon then they either flush them, surrender them, or get a larger tank. I love my Bolivian Rams BTW. 💕

I had a 10 gallon and 2 small goldfish. 4 months ago I wanted a bottom feeder type fish to go along. The store associate suggested Dojo Loaches. So cute, so tiny! Long story short, they're all moving to a 75 gallon this week 😁 I'm lucky to be able to do that for them, but most people with a 10 gallon aren't.

Thank you so much kgtropicals thanks to you I got my 1st aquarium up and running and my fish a happy thank you. I am 11years old 😊 😃

I am currently keeping them as my first fish, but goldfish fall on the list. They need huge tanks, and it’s better to understock to not do multiple water changes a week. I currently have 6 in a 75, and I do 40% twice a week. However, because I love them, I’m willing to put in the work, and I’m sure not everyone is like that.

As a convict cichlid owner, i disagree. Having a single convict cichlid in a 29 gallon tank is the BEST beginner fish. They CANNOT die. My convict cichlid has survived the apocalypse, because i was a beginner. He never showed any signs of being hurt. I swear you could put a convict in a toilet and he will survive months somehow.

I saw a paradise gourami, the male is very beautiful, so I purchased a male and put it in my community tank. Within two days my female betta and male guppy had huge chunks of its fins missing, while the angel fish hid behind a toy all day one neon tetra was totally missing. I had to remove the paradise gourami and keep it in a bowl for the sake of other fish. Other fishes are swimming freely and happily but I have a lone paradise gourami in a bowl because of my mistake

Thank you so much for this informative video. I sort out at least two, maybe more, fish that I maybe planned to buy in the near future. I recently had a big disaster with my new shrimp tanks so I don't think I can stand more setbacks right now. 😮‍💨 Thanks again! Gunilla/Sweden

Good to see you’ve changed the lighting on the yellow lad tank as you can now see those amazing yellow colours

I got back Into the hobby after almost 11 years. Due to my living space I wasn't able to have anything larger than 40 gallons. So I went ahead and got German blue rams. Everyone always talks about how delicate they are but I had gotten bolivian rams first and they were the very delicate ones and died quickly. The German blue rams have done amazing. One has reached full size the other not quite there yet. They get a little aggressive with each other at times but overall have done amazing. I've even added some gold rams recently!

I agree with you, but I am not a beginner and love Flowerhorns. They are like having a pet dog, but so much easier. Water Changes, great quality food, 80+ gallon tank IMHO. They are awesome!

I’m new to this channel and absolutely love love love your content can’t thank y’all enough for all of your information

Thank you alot guys this list was so helpful

I’d say maybe tiger barbs. They’re so cute and colorful, but can be really aggressive if not kept in larger numbers.

Thank y'all for this! The first time I saw a flower horn all I thought was oh lawd, is that normal? I can't look at them without shuddering. Also, y'all are my go to when I need advice as a new fish keeper. Ever consider a hotline for the newbies? I'd have that on speed dial.

Clown loaches, Tinfoil barbs, Pacu, Giant gourami, Arowana ... Probably many more, but those come to mind immediately due to size and/or schooling nature. When I started out I almost bought a peacock bass and a sturgeon. 15 gallon hex tank. That would not have ended well.

LOL, thanks for the warnings. I'm still learning on the "easy beginner" fishies. 😂

Excellent points. I love qualico goldfish. I may keep one or two in my large tank someday.

Can you make a follow up video for the alternatives for hard to keep fish in this video? Also, for the beginners who doesn't want to cry, here are the alternatives: Discus - Dwarf Rainbowfish or Betta Bala Shark - Neon Tetras or Boraras Brigittae Black ghost - Black Skirt tetra Large Catfish - plecos and Cory Rams - Bolivian ram, Kribensis, CPD, Badis Flowerhorn - ? Stingray - Triops, Hillstream Loach Convict Cichlid - CPD, the danio with a stripe that i forgot the name Koi - White Cloud Silver Dollar - Black Skirt Tetra

I have 4 silver dollars. Got them about 3 months into the hobby ( 3 years, 10 months ago). I got 1 by accident when buying white skirt tetras - they were exact same size& mixed in a tank at a store. Imagine my surprise a few weeks later as that 1 fish got HUGE!!! I was kind of bonded to him, as he was an underdog all solo. the other fish ignored him. I bought a 36 bow front and found 3 other silver dollars locally by me. I knew the 36 was temporary, but COVID hit so they stayed in the 36 gallon for 2 years. Last August, I moved them into a 55 gallon. Anyone getting these fish - Silver dollars have HUGE eyes. they are slanted. any animal with such eyes likes it dark. I do not use a light on the tank unless I have to. I avoid it to keep them comfortable. I had 1 SDF almost jump during a water change. I could see they were upset, so I stopped , got down to where they could see me easily and spoke with them very low voice and they seriously calmed down. They are easily stressed. A soft, whisper voice like talking to an infant works really well. These are NOT starter fish. I just used some knowledge (how their eyes are shaped) and dog training techniques I already had learned. All social animals love attention and safety. As their feeder and care giver, there is that level of comfort. But as soon as I see agitation, I stop immediately and de-stress them. They are huge (6 inches around) and their skin glimmers, it's a silver, yet golden glow. It never shows up correctly on camera. It's beautiful. Oh and they will watch tv, totally. So keep their tank near a tv, they will watch it with you. it's really funny.

My first ever fish were goldfish they grew HUGE so fascinating cuz I was so shocked they got so big lol. I really miss having goldfish such great personalities and I absolutely loved growing them from babies to huge adults

I’d love to see a worst nano fish for begginers! Keep it up guys

If a part 2 is being considered I’d %100 add Chinese algae eaters. The story is plain and simple and all to common, I got this fish when i was told it ate algae, it’s was fine for the first couple of years but then it ended up being a bully to my other fish that died due to (insert infection). Now I don’t know what to do with it because it’s so hard to keep with other fish. I personally have one that has and still is causing problems (am going to ask around if anyone can take it) and really wasn’t told it was going to be a absolute menace to me, rather I was told that it gets along well with just about everything. So to say the ‘Chinese’ ‘algae eater’ is very deceiving (I mean look it up its not even Chinese or much of a algae eater) not friendly to someone like me who is just starting to do research on fish.

For the same reason you listed Flowerhorns • Oscars • Jaguars • Midas/Red Devils • Wolf Cichlid • Starry Night Cichlid For the same reason you listed silver dollars and Bala sharks • Tinfoil Barbs For the same reason Lisa listed ghost knifes. • Pacu

I have a bumlbee catfish that hitched a ride with some aqua plants I bought. He’s in a tank with a king beta, some platis, cherry barbs, Cory catfish, ottos and snails. He never causes problems, mostly hides, and I feed the tank enough, never a problem

Lisa should've said "you should stay clear, for the first year" lol

My friend bought 2 silver dollar and 6 discuss ,then he put 'em in the same tank . Yes,he really did it. I told him about how big the silver dollar can be and how delicate the discuss is . Silver dollar was a crazy eater, it eating like a mad glutton. There is no way the discuss can compete with it. After a month , all the discuss were dead. I wonder if he regret this. I think he is. Discuss is expensive.

If you want a catfish that looks like and acts like a catfish, go with a hoplo. I've got two albino hoplo catfish in a community aquarium mostly stocked with nano fish and they're fantastic. They top out at around 5 inches.

I got a monster tank with 4 bala sharks and I love them there easily my favorite fish in the hobby at the moment. Mine are just starting to get stocky and are about 4 to 5 inches right now.

Okay...what is that cute thing sticking it's head out of the cave at 2:25? omg it's so cute I can't stand it!!!

CONVicts! I love them but I’m careful. I have ONE in with four Oscar’s and the convict is tank boss !

What lights do you have on your 240? I currently use shop lights but want to upgrade to something nicer!

As for flowerhorns in a "community" im looking at my tank (6x2x2) with a flowerhorn and severums all getting along. (How long it lasts i dont know) they are all rescaping my tank together :( I will add i have back up plans ready for if/when problems occur

Research all aspects of a species to make sure you can provide for the mature size and needs that it grows into. Do this for all pets BEFORE you buy it. My currently 5" Magma Flowerhorn is the only fish I've ever owned in 40+ years that has a personality and acts like a puppy. At current size he is in a 55 but will be upgraded to a 75 once he gets close to doubling in size. He lives solo but in a scaped planted tank that is directly under my TV so I always see him. A school of mature Silver Dollars needs a six foot tank. My seven do get aggressive with each other at times but none are singled out and get beat down. They become half black when they act up. Build your stock list and/or plan tank size upgrades based on mature size of what you want to keep.

BGK usually grow to a max size of 16in in the aquarium. They can potentially reach 20in but that's quite rare like a 30in Asian aro.

Yes, I have one that should be added to this list PLEASE!. A LOT of people are currently buying Axolotls for their children ( or for them personally ) because the game minecraft has made them more popular than ever ( and let's face it... they are a really amazing and adorable fish with such bold personalities ). They can be quite expensive ( the cheapest one that I have personally seen is 60.00 ) and frequent water changes are a MUST as well as proper water conditions and diet. Thank you both so much for all that you do for the fish keeping community! without even knowing it y'all have brought my family closer together ( I have 2 teenagers lol which we both know it's hard to take that glue off the phones attached to their hands lol ) because the content you create is so fun, interesting, informative, and inspirational that we all gather around our television in the Living Room together and watch your videos as a family which sparks conversations about the video we watched for at least an hour after we've watched it. So again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so so much

Hi, just want to ask if its okay to keep honey gourami with shrimps in a community tank?

I once had a customer tell me they were going to put an alligator gar in a 20 gallon tank. I thought I was on an episode of Punk'd.

Could you do a video about piranha or gar? Just got a marble gar just want to make sure I'm doing everything right.

I have a question so I’m my LFS has a 125 gallon Aqueon reef ready tank. For 650$ is that a decent deal . Or should I wait for a sale. For a new tank?

#1 should be Arapaima or Piranhas

Catfish are one of my favourite fish . I keep Asian bumblebee catfish Pygmy corydoras Bristlenose plecos Synodontis Hastatus corydoras But those big types are monstrous. My lfs has a big one by himself called Eric who is a few decades old and so cool

Okay I agree to this I had a Flowerhorn when I was little it was fun but it was a bit hard to keep it died 4 years 😮

Just started watching your channel. What size is that tank behind you?

Team kg tropicals loved the video keep up the great work any updates on the new place? not yet o well I guess I'll have to keep watching LoL big fan 🇨🇦🐠🐠🐠🐠

Any live breeder if you haven’t done your research & aren’t prepared to handle a ton of fry frequently.

What are hood fish for beginners that aren’t tiny? Hopefully active and maybe even some breeding? I’m getting back into the hobby with a 75gal tank

4:55 : my angelfish eat constantly too but I still love them lol

2:25 Is that a Manatee under that rock?

I hate to say this but the Brichardi is another one. Not because they are aggressive but because you can quickly get overwhelmed with babies. And I add African cichlids in the Mbuna and Hap class. As pointed out by another one is they have to be overstocked and that requires a non-beginner water manager.

Very surprised you never said “Oscars” lol or Arrowana or Common Pleco I was waiting for them and they never came haha good vid tho.

All predatory fish. Most easy to keep but once they get bigger, the water changes and food cost. Most people give up and release them in the wild.

Lisa... do you have Blue-Black hair? Lucky...! My late friend had it in her youth, and being a hair designer, she was quite proud of it. =X)

Deformed little alien mutants. Hahahaa you got me there. Great video

Flowerhorns are just hate wrapped in sparkle.

My second set of fish were koi and they are doing just terrific

Great Advise!!!

Please, can I keep a bare bottom? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Thanks

Also wanted to ask! When you water change,(about 30%) should heat the water? If you do, how? Because I have been putting lukewarm water into my 20 gallon for the last water changes.

Good choices to stay away from if your new. I’m very surprised that you didn’t include red tail sharks and angels and personally I was sold a butterfly fish on the same day I bought my first 10gallon tank . All I can say is regardless of tank size don’t get a butterfly fish until your very knowledgeable on water condition and aggressive fish

Live bearers are the best fish for beginners. Guppies, sword tails, mollies and platies are among the best and popular ones.

This is for anyone to comment back to, but I have a planted 10gal with a heater and filter, I seem to be struggling with Cycling my tank, I have put fish food into the tank and the ammonia has gone to 1 PPM, and also seems to raise the nitrites to .5 PPM, but I can’t seem to raise the Nitrates. Does anyone know how I could help the tank cycle?

This may be a little off topic, but.....whatever fish you get , start with at least a 40 gallon tank. What?! You say. They are reasonably priced and large enough to compensate for small mistakes. Amonia , nitrates and other water parameters such as pH are more stable. Not to mention overcrowding and the fighting that will happen can be mitigated easier in a 40 as opposed to a 5 or 10 gallon. Rule $1. Bigger is better. I have 125s and a 200. But I like big fish, can't get enough. Ps I see you mentioned tank size at the end.✅

I miss your videos, I might have to binge them again haha

I think an honorable mention is (I know it's not a fish but ey...) crayfish, they arent particularly hardy, they aren't the cheapest(however not really expensive by any means) and keeping them with anything else, even other crayfish is just a bad idea, not to mention they will rip up everything and constantly rescape the tank

The flowerhorns featured in the video.. wow!!!!!!! 😍

Definitely should have had Pacu on there before silver Dollars. Pacu should not be sold in stores

I have been involved with aquariums since 1979. I have never had any interest in high maintenance fish, aggressive fish or expensive fish. I have had a few fish in this list and always found proper new homes for the ones that got bigger than I could properly care for. I like large community tanks with a very limited fish population (55 gallon and up). A 125 gallon with 25-30 fish (1½ inch or less) and nice aqua scaping is what I like.

I cant keep a goldfish alive but i bought a parrot fish from walmart and lived 5 years and it got so big I adopted it out to Petco

Been here since my first Betta. Thank you!

I laughed over the convict cichlid. I tried keeping different Cichlids so they wouldn't breed. Guess what. They hybidized!!!!! Convict and a Texas cichlid. Over a hundred babies survived. Wish the rest of my fish did. 😒