Top 5 Worst Saltwater Beginner Fish to AVOID
- Feb 18, 2022
- Anshika Mishra
- 424 0 0
Welcome to our list of the top 10 worst beginner fish.
However, before we start this list, we have two disclaimers:
- First, there are exceptions to all of these rules. If you have your heart set for one of these fish, you can do that. But anyone of the fish in this list is on this list for a reason, and usually, by adding them to your tank, there are many other things you can't put in your tank.
- The second caveat is size. Many fish are on this list because they require a really big tank. Though a beginner can do a really big tank, most beginners don't have much money to invest in a 120-or 180-gallon tank.
5. Agressive Fish
This is an aggressive or predator fish. We are talking about fishes like Lionfish, Triggerfish, Eels, Sharks, Rays, Frogfish, or Anglerfish.
Lionfish are gorgeous, but their spines are toxic. There are some dwarf species out there that you might be able to put in your tanks. However, as a beginner, we will stay away from them because:
- they will eat your other fish
- you can get hurt by them
Triggerfish will eat other tank inhabitants. Furthermore, it also needs a really large space. They are super aggressive predator fish.
The same thing will Eels. Now, there are some dwarf species that you could add to a tank with a bunch of larger fish, but on the whole, Eels need a very large system, and you have to design the tank completely around them, including their habitat.
You also have to feed them large meaty food, and if you put a lot of other fish in there, they may disappear one by one.
Sharks and Rays should be obvious. They are awesome, but they require such a large tank that it is not beginner-friendly.
Lastly, frogfish or any Anglerfish. They are super awesome fish, but they will eat all of your tank's fish. Even the one larger than them.
4. Angelfish
There are exceptions like the smaller coral beauty Angelfish is hit or miss with the corals. But the main reason these fish are on this list is that they eat corals.
Most beginners at some time, unless they know they only want a Fowl tank or species-specific tank, will add corals to their tank, and Angelfish will look at the brand new $250 coral and think it is a snack.
So, stay away from Angelfish as a beginner. However, as you learn more, certain species you can add in with certain kinds of corals.
3. Cowfish
These are the yellow boxfish, and they are so awesome because their personality is fantastic. You can see videos all over the internet where these fishes will come up to their owners, and they'll splash them, and they will take food directly from your hand.
But, they can get huge, and you will need a system no less than 180-gallons, probably even larger, which puts it a little bit out of the price range for most beginners.
2. Pufferfish
We are talking about all the larger and smaller Pufferfish. Many toby fish, for example, will consume your corals. But, when they are also small, they can secrete toxins from their bodies. So, they require a larger tank.
The other Pufferifhs species get large, and you can see them. Some of them are pretty small, but if you are even gone snorkeling in Hawaii, you will fish that sometimes they can get gigantic.
So, you need a huge system, probably at least a 180-gallons. And for that reason, they are not great beginner fish.
1. Tangs
Some Tangs are fantastic. And Tangs in a larger system are amazing. There are only two main concerns with Tang.:
Tangs need a large tank. You can get some baby Tangs that might be able to go in a 60-gallon tank. But as they grow, you're probably going to need a minimum tank size of 120-gallon for even one single Tang.
The second consideration for Tangs is some species of Tangs can be aggressive and territorial. They are called surgeons fish because they have these surgical blades down by their fins that can whip and hurt, especially other Tangs.
So, yes, Tangs are great editions if you have a larger system adn if you add them at the correct time and the right species of the Tang, so they don't interact with each other in any negative way.
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