Mar 31, 2025

10 beautiful freshwater aquarium fishes beginners should NOT keep

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Aquarium hobby

If you're new to fishkeeping, then check out this list of some freshwater aquarium fish that might be too challenging to take care of. They are sensitive and have specific care requirements, so they are not recommended for beginners.

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Discus

Discus need stable water parameters, high temperatures, soft acidic water, and a high-protein diet to thrive. They are considered difficult to care for and, hence, should only be kept by experts.

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Arowana

Arowanas grow up to 3 feet long, and so they need a huge tank to move around freely. They are aggressive and need live food, which makes it difficult to care for them.

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Flowerhorn Cichlid

Flowerhorn Cichlids are very territorial, and they tend to attack other fishes in the aquarium. They need a large tank and a high-protein diet and should be kept alone.

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Freshwater Stingray

Freshwater Stingrays need very large tanks, a soft sandy substrate, and a special diet-- all of which makes them difficult to handle.

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Oscar Fish

Oscars can grow up to 18 inches in size; they are quite aggressive and intelligent fishes. And so, they should only be kept by expert fishkeepers.

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African Cichlids

These fishes are highly territorial and require specific water parameters and a well-decorated tank to thrive.

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Silver Shark / Bala Shark

These fish can grow up to 14 inches long, so they need a huge tank with strong filtration. Also, they need to be kept in a group of 5 or more, which makes them difficult to keep.

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Dwarf Pufferfish

These fish are aggressive, and they need a live or frozen food diet. They should either be kept alone or with their own kind.

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Thanks For Reading!

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