wanna recommend THE fish: the rainbow

[yehoshua]

I've decades experience and can do no better than to recommend to the beginner Rainbowfishes of the genus Melontonae. But only if you have a tank 90 cm. or longer!! The fish are hardy, lively, peaceful, long, long lived with great personality. The colors and irredecences are very special. The male has aflashing yellow lantern- like forehead when courting and I'm not fooling. I'm just telling you all because you will never notice them in dealer tanks as young rainbows are inconspicuous and the are VERY bland looking but buy 5-6 anyway! The colors will come. Another thing that will not appeal to the beginner: their not cheap. A big plus: the various spiecies are usually hardwater fish! You'll love these fish which are very suitable for beginners who have eneough room in their tanks, as mentioned.

 

[Swimfins]

Must agree!, I've got one Irian red rainbow male and a female, and one turqiuoise male, they are good in many tanks and compatible with so many other species, peaceful with the smallest species, and fast enough to reside with more aggressive fish like S.A. cichlids. There is even a dwarf neon variety for smaller tanks. One of my favorite fish, very active. I love watching my Irian red male court the female, his dancing in circles keeps me smiling.

And don't forget the others, like threadfin rainbows and madagascar et. al.