Whats so good about common fish?

"Common fish" are most often fairly easy to take care of and they are suitable for community tanks. They usually look pretty good too. It's mainly these good qualities that make them common fish.

There is nothing better about a hard to get fish than a common one. I don't see why other people having the same fish would make yours less enjoyable. I do understand the feeling of wanting to try something new and rare though.

Good "quality" fish? What exactly are you in the hobby for? You can't tell me the entire purpose of you being in the hobby is to get rare "items". If it is, why get fish? Collect stamps...they're much easier to keep alive.

Wouldnt you want someone see your tank and say how kewl is that?

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Have you ever seen the tank at the Baltimore aquarium? There are no vastly rare fish. There are rummynose tetras or something, there are some discus, there are some cories, and some other things. Are any of them very rare? I'd probably say not. Does the tank draw attention? You bet. You dont' have to have the rarest fish in the world to make a cool tank. Just make it look "pretty".

Moreover, people are all in the hobby for different reasons. I started off last year with 2 platies in a 10 gallon tank. Now I have a 125 gallon tank with an oscar, jack dempsey, 3 silver dollars, and a pleco. I also have a 58 with a midas. None of these fish are rare. That doesn't mean they don't give me pleasure. In all reality, rarity of a fish is a relative thing. A fish that is rare in one area of a country, region, or even state might not be rare in other areas.

Since when are any pets about having the "coolest" pet? I thought most people kept pets because they give them enjoyment. If you enjoy a tank full of guppies...that's great, enjoy them. If you have to spend big bucks on rare fish to enjoy yourself, then I guess that's your own problem.

I think another thing to keep in mind is that most people start off with something between a 10G and a 30G and that definitely limits your ability to keep that "kewl" arowana.

I personally like my all of my fish and they give me a lot of pleasure...and I can't think of any of them that are the least bit rare.

Well first of all I think it is a pretty stupid topic to start of with. The answers as to why a lot of beginners go for common fish are so obvious,
1. Availablility, many people don't have access to LFS that stock
exotic species. I'm lucky where I live there are is a lot of access
to rare species. I've seen posts where people have to drive
hours to find a LFS.
2. Price. How many young beginner aquarists can afford to go out
and buy a tank full of imported Paratilapia in Australia?
3. Knowledge. Many aquarists and LFS have greater knowledge
of common fish which they can pass on. However, with rare
species, one finds himself having to go and research to find
water parameters and breeding requirments. A lot of trouble
for the beginner. Sometimes literature is not even available.
4. Success. It is much easier to produce a successful community
of common fish because so many LFS and aquarist know like
the back of their hand which of the common species will live
happily together.

I have numerous tanks with some devoted to more exotic species. However whenever people come over, the fish they talk about and admire the most are the neon tetras in my community tank. And it is one of the most common fish of all.

Originally posted by JamisonBWolsh
Common fish, I think, lowers the quality of the tank.

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lowers the quality of the tank???????

Fish snobs at Aquaria Central? I would have to reinforce the idea that if something is easy to get its most likely because it sells. Not much call for the hard to find ones or they would be easy to find.

Well, if you're doing things for other people - what they think - be it what you wear or what fish you keep, then there lies your problem.

I do things that make ME happy.

I've been keeping fish since 1975. Yes, I started with guppies. Yes, once I got more experience I got a slightly bigger tank and tried more challenging fish. And now, here I am back at guppies and zebra danios, etc. and I have never been happier about my tanks.