Need Help Getting a Pet Fish

[A Mom's Love]

I've been browsing the internet looking for info in selecting a/some freshwater fish to keep. I've never kept fish before, only birds, but wanted to go for something less noisy this time. I've been having trouble finding a good website where I can learn about selecting & keeping freshwater fish. Can anyone recommend one? Also, can I get book recommendations? I'm about to give up & get a bird...TIA!

[SophieAnn]

Here's a website that seems to have some good info for beginners.

http://www.aquariumfish.net/pages/information.htm

For a book, I would recommend you just go to your local pet store where you expect you will buy your fish and ask there. They should have some good books for you. The people who work there should also have lots of knowledge and advice to share.

A couple fish I enjoy are neon tetras (red and blue!) and angelfish. We also had some sort of a sucker fish (sucker mouth to the side of the tank) and that fish actually helped keep the tank clean!

[A Mom's Love]

Thanks for the help, Sophie Ann! I appreciate hearing the fish you have enjoyed. I'll have to visit a local pet store. Thanks again!

[LeahBoo]

For my first aquarium, when I was 10, we went to the local pet store and asked them what to put in a 10 gallon aquarium. I came home with three angelfish, 3 or 4 neon tetras, 2 platies, a kuhli loach, a pleco, and a cat fish. Eeep! Luckily, my dad's fish keeping friend took a look at the tank and loaned us his extra 50 gallon.

My favorite fish are south american cichlids. They're big and mean and have tons of personality. I had a jack dempsey for years, and will probably get another when I have more room. They need 45+ gallons.

[A Mom's Love]

Thanks for the response, LeahBoo. The cichlids are pretty!