Most difficult fish to keep?

[eon aquatics]

Most difficult small fish to keep?
Most difficult large fish to keep?
Most difficult tetra to keep?

For some reason in my experience guppies are difficult to keep, they are so dainty and flimsy imo, although the benefit they have is that they are live bearers and seem to reproduce more readily.

 

[i Aqua]

In my experience nothing is difficult to keep if everything is setup right. Like the size of tank and filtration.

 

[eon aquatics]

Thats a good perspective, i think keeping certain fish as a beginner is a good thing although im perhaps a novice at keeping various fish

 

[tlindsey]

nothing is difficult to keep if everything is setup right. Like the size of tank and filtration

Just my opinion but for some species of fish I've kept over years more to it than tank size and filtration.

 

[i Aqua]

Just my opinion but for some species of fish I've kept over years more to it than tank size and filtration.

What is more important than water quality and size of the tank? More water healthier fish. That’s why we add sumps for better water quality. I am sure there are other difficulties. But. After 40 years I’ve been in this hobby, number one killer is over feeding. Most hobbies are in the hurry to grow the fish fast and that’s when things can go wrong. I feed my fish 2-3 times a week. I am not in rush to see them grow fast. Have you seen the ingredients in your fish food?? They have better ingredients then our food ? I am not saying I know more than others. But I’ve seen and killed more fish over the years when I new to keeping fish.

 

[Fishman Dave]

Don’t disagree that tank size and quality of water is important and feeding is a huge killer but THE biggest killer in our modern world hobby is ignorance and lack of learning ( unfortunately being caught fast by mis information).

Families, individuals, etc. setting up tanks with no knowledge, poor guidance from shops and no research ( and in the age of the internet, being told a load of crap).

Having large tanks of great quality water counts for nothing if you then put all the wrong and incompatible fish in it, or worse if you are told to or allowed to by those who should know better.
The water of course also has to be suitable to the fish, and there are those fish that are harder to keep just because of those niche conditions.
Again, comes down to research, knowledge and learning - or indeed ignorance.

 

[esoxlucius]

Keeping fish is pretty easy if you have the basics dialled in. And the most important basic by far is keeping your water right, that can be the tricky part for many.

The only time that fish become difficult to keep, even if your water is right, is when prior research hasn't been done and you jump in at the deep end and get a fish that has "particular" requirements.

 

[Chub_by]

There isn't a definitive answer to this question as far as hobbyists are concerned but pelagic sharks definitely take the cake when it comes to captive care in general. Not even the largest public aquariums can keep them alive longer than few years at most.

 

[GolemGolem]

Yeah, but still, some fish add a bit more than just unforgiving of water quality/amount. I kinda want a pipe fish set up, but I know I'll need to culture specific live food, they'll need to be mail-ordered and don't ship well, need lots of filtration - and very little water movement. . .

 

[tlindsey]

some fish add a bit more than just unforgiving of water quality/amount. I kinda want a pipe fish set up, but I know I'll need to culture specific live food,

Prime example of why I stated more to it than filtration and aquarium size so many other factors imo.