If you go into any aquarium shop you will see many different tropical fish that you can put into your tropical freshwater aquarium. As a beginner there is a bewildering choice but which ones should you choose? You will want fish that are easy to keep and perhaps easy to breed. Mollies and guppies fulfill both these criteria and are an excellent choice for your first tropical aquarium.
The Molly
Mollies are hardy fish and easy to keep. They are adaptable to a wide range of water conditions and are livebearers and easy to breed. They prefer a warm tank with temperatures between about 72F and 80F and at least fifteen gallons. Although there are two types of Mollies generally kept in tropical aquariums, sail finned Mollies and short finned Mollies, I would recommend the short finned Mollies for a beginner. These include the very popular Black Molly. Sail fin Mollies are more attractive but are not so easy to keep.
As with all tropical fish it’s a good idea to include some live food in their diet although Mollies can be fed on tropical fish flake food. They also like to eat algae and you can add spirulina flakes occasionally.
Mollies are peaceful fish and can be kept in a community aquarium with other tropical freshwater fish such as swordtails, catfish and tetras.
The Guppy
Guppies are easy to keep a very popular tropical, freshwater fish for beginners. Male guppies are attractive with fancy tails and come in a variety of colours. Females are duller but you will want to have some females if you wish to breed them. Guppies should be kept in groups of five or more as they look beautiful swimming in shoals. like the Mollies they need a warm tank with about the same temperature. They will eat flake food but appreciate a supplement of live food whenever possible.
Guppies are good community fish and co-exist well with other peaceful fish.
Black Mollies by Bartekbas

