Least Favorite fish?

[smee82]

Goldfish and koi should be in a pond so I can't stand seeing them in an aquarium.

But I really can't stand guppies theyre just ugly buggers and neon tetras annoy me.

 

[Crispii]

This is an unpopular opinion but I've never liked cichlids. Not a fan of African cichlids, not too keen on discus or angels either. Idk man something about cichlids I just never found too appealing.

I'm with you on that, well sorta. I am not a huge fan of African cichlids, but I really love SA cichlids, especially angels and festivums!

 

[alienpompeii]

I do not like those goldfish with the huge eyes or the ones with the brain looking thing on their heads (Sorry I don’t know the names). I just think they look like they’re about to pop and it disturbs me.

 

[JackieWitch]

If I were to choose one fish that I would never keep again, then I would choose the dwarf gourami.

1. They can be aggressive to other fish. I used to have one that would constantly harass my platies.
2. Males can't live together in harmony.
3. Females are hard to find nowadays.
4. They're prone to an incurable disease known as iridovirus.

Yeah. I love the way they swim. Mine have never been aggressive when kept as an only gourami. But I had 2 die from Iridovirus. So never again for me.

 

[Erupto35]

If I were to choose one fish that I would never keep again, then I would choose the dwarf gourami.

1. They can be aggressive to other fish. I used to have one that would constantly harass my platies.
2. Males can't live together in harmony.
3. Females are hard to find nowadays.
4. They're prone to an incurable disease known as iridovirus.

That'd be my second least favorite for mainly the same reasons! Tried once in high school, blamed my inexperience. Tried again recently, moved the guy to a 10 gallon quarantine tank assuming he was ill due to color and behavior... turned out he suffered from AFD (antisocial fish disease) and the quarantine tank evolved into a permanent home.

But my least favorite? Admittedly, neon tetras and anything else whose twitchy movements remind me of a cockroach

 

[AngryRainbow]

I always get uncomfortable seeing any "balloon" variety. They look so bloated and unable to move. The worst I've seen recently is "balloon pearl gourami". Absolutely love pearl gourami, but I had to walk away from the balloon version as it made me physically uncomfortable to see

 

[Crispii]

That'd be my second least favorite for mainly the same reasons! Tried once in high school, blamed my inexperience. Tried again recently, moved the guy to a 10 gallon quarantine tank assuming he was ill due to color and behavior... turned out he suffered from AFD (antisocial fish disease) and the quarantine tank evolved into a permanent home.

But my least favorite? Admittedly, neon tetras and anything else whose twitchy movements remind me of a cockroach

And don't forget they're susceptible to neon tetra disease.

 

[JackieWitch]

I have 3 mollies. Very hardy... but as a beginner I was sold a couple of females as male. Now needless to say I have a nursery tank and keep praying my other fish will eat the fry, but a couple always survive. Babies will all go to a LFS but they only take adults and they take aaaages to grow. In the months they take to reach adulthood I will probably have even more fry. Once the adults die, there will be no more mollies for me or livebearers for that matter.

 

[Elsollaluna]

My least favorite would have to be the Oscar. Big, ugly and mean. Someone released these guys into the lake behind my dad's house in FL and they've flourished. Now I'm afraid to swim in there.

Fresh water parrot fish are very ugly and are a mutation of a real fish.

Agreed. They always look like they are sick.

 

[McFly]

Feeder fish. A fish raised for the sole purpose of being fed 'alive' to another animal.

 

[Glen Carpenter]

Guppies! Toooooo many babies if you make the mistake of having both male and female in one tank! Its like pest snails, they never go away! Lol

Love guppies for just that reason- And so do my African dwarf frogs lol.

 

[RyanC14]

Here's a list of other aquarium fish I don't like (I'm bored lol)

• african cichlids
• balloon morphs (of any fish)
• parrot cichlids
• bubble eye goldfish
• flowerhorns
• short body morphs

Edit: I also hate dyed fish

 

[Guanchy]

Do not like glofish at all. Nothing against people that keep them but those fluorescent colors look so unnatural.

Hatchet Fish.... I personally find them umm lets say not good looking. Trying not to offend anybody

 

[Kwig]

Standard, common goldfish. It's a daily conversation with customers about why they can't put them in their aquariums, why they make horrible feeders, why they are causing devastation in our ponds and lakes, etc. It's not a dislike of the fish itself, I think for people with their own, isolated yard ponds, they're a great fish. I just think they have no business in the stores.

 

[PredatorAquaticKeeper]

Well, I guess I kind of went beyond the question, but any and all fish that look like this... dyed aaaaaaaaand I know it's not the fish's fault and all. But believe it or not, there ARE people out there that do not know about this kind of abuse, and will still very happily buy a fish like this by the dozen!

 

[Karenk2]

LOL just to stir the pot, I also really don’t like cories. Anybody else think they look scary?

. I think they’re cute, especially when they are shimmying up the side of the tank!

 

[Renae516]

I don’t like virtually any type of catfish sold in stores. Not that they’re bad fish themselves, but people people like me ignorantly buy them as tiny babies without doing proper research because they’re cute. I made the mistake of buying 2 pictus cats as babies and within a few months they all but destroyed the ecosystem in my tank. I had to give them to a different store. Only sticking with the smaller fish now lol

 

[DoubleDutch]

And don't forget they're susceptible to neon tetra disease.

Just as suspectible as all other fishspecies. Some smart dude thought it was a good idea to name it after the fish it was firstly diagnosed in.

 

[PokeTileCraft101]

I would have to choose skunk loaches, the little tank bullies.

 

[Renae516]

I also just don’t like barbs at all, mean and not pretty imo. Only one I ever liked was the green tiger barb but I wasn’t gonna risk them tormenting my other fish. Rasboras all the way.

 

[Dch48]

Not a fish, but my least favorite aquarium critter is nerites snails. They are so pretty, but I hate the eggs. They are gross looking and won't go away unless I scrape them off with a razor. I am looking to get rid of mine.

I have never seen a single egg.

What the title says
This is probably harsh, but I don't like iridescent sharks because
1. They need a massive tank because of their large size and are a schooling/shoaling fish
2. They aren't very good looking in my opinion
3. I've heard they are apparently pretty timid and will bruise their heads from running into the sides of aquariums out of fear
4. Pet stores that sell them usually don't have the right equipment to care for them
So I don't necessarily dislike the fish, I just don't think they are fit (literally) for most aquariums

But, they are good eating. If you see SwaI filets at the store, that is farm grown Iridescent Shark.

As far as my least favorite, that would have to be bubble eyed or Oranda Goldfish. They are just so ugly. I like the Comets and Shubunkins though.

 

[Scottnbrittany85]

I guess snails, I don't dislike other people's snails I just don't want any in my tanks lol

 

[ystrout]

1. Fish that are too big for aquariums. It makes me sad seeing them just sit there their whole life. I think fish under 5 to 6 inches are the perfect size for my aquarium keeping.

2. I'm not a fan of White Cloud Mountain minnows.

LOL just to stir the pot, I also really don’t like cories. Anybody else think they look scary?

After reading this comment, I was expecting some serious hate!

I guess people on this website are just too friendly hahah.

I personally think they're super cute the way they cuddle and play leapfrog.

 

[AmStatic]

Gott

This is easy The Betta!!! Just a problem fish. Allways ill, temperamental,aggressive most need to be alone. Long man made fins that are allways tearing or fin rot. Over breed and every store has them in that pitiful little bowl. Nope not for me.

Gotta disagree with ya on this one..
I've always kept a community tank with a Betta.
My rosetail is living peacefully with 7 Harlequin Rasporas, 7 Rummynose Tetras, 4 sterbaI Corydora, 5 green tetras and 2 amano shrimp.
It's not the fish, it's the environment, tank size and community in my experience.

 

[Karenk2]

I actually can't re-find where I read they're from jellyfish right now, but the fluorescence was isolated from something else

Yes, according to Wikipedia (it did used to be on the Glofish site) the Green Florescent Protein from jellyfish was inserted into a zebra fish embryo. The reds are from a sea coral gene and the orange-yellow are a variant of the jelly fish protein. The florescence is now inherited and the fish are born with their color. Their life span and needs are no different then their non florescent counterparts.
I personally, have had terrible luck with Bettas, tumors, fin tears and fin rot . Although, they are the sweetest most friendly fish, the last one nearly broke my heart.

Gott

Gotta disagree with ya on this one..
I've always kept a community tank with a Betta.
My rosetail is living peacefully with 7 Harlequin Rasporas, 7 Rummynose Tetras, 4 sterbaI Corydora, 5 green tetras and 2 amano shrimp.
It's not the fish, it's the environment, tank size and community in my experience.

When I first started out with fish around 3 yrs ago, I started out with a Betta. Of course he died about a month later. I’ve tried several more Bettas for the past several years and they never seemed to thrive for long before they started to get sick. I didn’t know that they were so inbred till now! You try so hard to keep them alive and healthy and when your buddy gets sick it’s like a personal failure. I’m hoping that my current Betta, Stan, lives a long and happy life in his 20 gallon penthouse pad! It’s sad because they are such a personable fish, when they see you approach their tank, they do their little dance and wiggle- so cute!

 

[JamieLu]

I have never seen a single egg.

Me either, but I only have one nerite.

 

[H2O Concierge]

This is an unpopular opinion but I've never liked cichlids. Not a fan of African cichlids, not too keen on discus or angels either. Idk man something about cichlids I just never found too appealing.

What is it specifically that you don't find appealing with the Africans. I find that Tanganyikans are quite interesting to watch, and keep. They are so different than most cichlids. I know my profile pic shows a Dempsey, that was decades ago.

 

[Aquadisiac]

I honestly believe anything over 5 inches shouldn’t be readily available (i.e. big box stores). This includes common plecos, goldfish, and the like. I think they are too susceptible to being purchased for the wrong reasons by beginners. Most are not prepared for the size these fish get to and either stunt them in small aquariums or may release them when they can’t handle their size.

I have nothing against glofish but I do think they are grossly marketed towards children and parents that do not know much about fish keeping and cycling. So I think most end up living brief lives.

I’ve had several Bettas since beginning the hobby when I was an inexperienced child. All of mine have lived 3 to 4 years. My most recent just passed away. I got him when I was a junior in college and he survived a couple moves and I’ve been out of school two years.

 

[goldface]

I honestly believe anything over 5 inches shouldn’t be readily available (i.e. big box stores). This includes common plecos, goldfish, and the like. I think they are too susceptible to being purchased for the wrong reasons by beginners. Most are not prepared for the size these fish get to and either stunt them in small aquariums or may release them when they can’t handle their size.

Good thing you have no actual say in it then.

 

[Addie42]

Good thing you have no actual say in it then.

meh I do sort of have to agree with the common pleco

it's a little bit too much of an ecology hazard I think

 

[H2O Concierge]

I don’t like virtually any type of catfish sold in stores. Not that they’re bad fish themselves, but people people like me ignorantly buy them as tiny babies without doing proper research because they’re cute. I made the mistake of buying 2 pictus cats as babies and within a few months they all but destroyed the ecosystem in my tank. I had to give them to a different store. Only sticking with the smaller fish now lol

There are many types and sizes of Catfish. Pictus Cats, Channel cats, Red tails, Iridescent, etc. should not be included in the same category as Catfish like Cories or Synodontis. I agree that I would never have another Pictus cat in my tanks.

 

[goldface]

meh I do sort of have to agree with the common pleco
it's a little bit too much of an ecology hazard I think

The problem with banning certain species is that it tends to be all inclusive. An example of this is the snakehead. The government didn't just ban the Northern Snakehead; it banned all species. As far as the common pleco, it's a done deal. They're here to stay. But so are many other invasive tropical species in Florida waters. I see no point in banning them now.

 

[Addie42]

The problem with banning certain species is that it tends to be all inclusive. An example of this is the snakehead. The government didn't just ban the Northern Snakehead; it banned all species. As far as the common pleco, it's a done deal. They're here to stay. But so are many other invasive tropical species in Florida waters. I see no point in banning them now.

idk how to word this right but it feels like common plecos are part of some sort of tank upgrade scheme. Could be so easily replaced with BN plecos in the store, but they're not. Seems like the common pleco is the #1 fish people get and regret not doing research. Along with larger catfishes as Renae2018 said above... and probably common goldfish too. I don't think it (common plecos NOT goldfish, I love goldfish lol) should be banned at all, I just think it should be a little less accessible. Nobody would really mind it being replaced with the BN or smaller plecos, I don't really like bottle feeders but even I think bristlenoses are cute

 

[fissh]

Feeder fish. A fish raised for the sole purpose of being fed 'alive' to another animal.

Feeder fish are beautiful, at least if your an Oscar

 

[12Cin12]

I actually can't re-find where I read they're from jellyfish right now, but the fluorescence was isolated from something else

Yes, according to Wikipedia (it did used to be on the Glofish site) the Green Florescent Protein from jellyfish was inserted into a zebra fish embryo. The reds are from a sea coral gene and the orange-yellow are a variant of the jelly fish protein. The florescence is now inherited and the fish are born with their color. Their life span and needs are no different then their non florescent counterparts.
I personally, have had terrible luck with Bettas, tumors, fin tears and fin rot . Although, they are the sweetest most friendly fish, the last one nearly broke my heart.

I'd heard this too, BTW. Interesting that the information is no longer available. Part of the impetus to create Glofish was that scientists were trying to develop a fish that fluoresces in the presence of pollution. All monies earned from the sale of pet trade GloFish go toward this research.
EDIT: My technologically-challenged- self can't link to it, but a search on fishlore will give more complete info on the GloFish. I don't like them because they are so expensive

 

[FrostedFlakes]

What is it specifically that you don't find appealing with the Africans. I find that Tanganyikans are quite interesting to watch, and keep. They are so different than most cichlids. I know my profile pic shows a Dempsey, that was decades ago.

Just the shape of the and their face I am not too fond of. I don't see them as a very elegant fish so to speak, and those are more of my type.

 

[JackieWitch]

I have never seen a single egg.

My old aquarium was full of them! Horrible. When the snail started laying on the glass I was like, that’s it! She is in the nursery tank until she passes. Looks horrible on the driftwood.

 

[Vixjuliet]

HI all, being new to fish keeping I haven't seen that many different species yet, but I'm not keen on bettas. Also I saw a youtube video on the flowerhorn? (or something like that) , that was one ugly looking fish (apologies to anyone who owns one) maybe they have interesting personalities? anyway I really don't like them.

 

[Bettaish]

Salt and Pepper catfish were a nightmare.

I'm also not a gourami person, besides bettas. Too much stress and work!

 

[Jhonnyappleseed]

Hatchet fish will be my number 1, you can't have them without a cover. They kill themselves anyways by jumping into the cover

 

[H2O Concierge]

Feeder fish are beautiful, at least if your an Oscar

Yes. I remember the clouds of golden glitter which my Dempseys used to make during feedings

idk how to word this right but it feels like common plecos are part of some sort of tank upgrade scheme. Could be so easily replaced with BN plecos in the store, but they're not. Seems like the common pleco is the #1 fish people get and regret not doing research. Along with larger catfishes as Renae2018 said above... and probably common goldfish too. I don't think it (common plecos NOT goldfish, I love goldfish lol) should be banned at all, I just think it should be a little less accessible. Nobody would really mind it being replaced with the BN or smaller plecos, I don't really like bottle feeders but even I think bristlenoses are cute

You wrote "I don't really like bottle feeders..." What do you have against them? It is a lot more convenient. Babies have to eat too.

 

[Addie42]

You wrote "I don't really like bottle feeders..." What do you have against them? It is a lot more convenient. Babies have to eat too.

nothing against them, just not my thing I guess. I really like snails, I imagine I would like shrimp if I had them. above I wrote that I don't like corys too, they just look like some weird aliens or something to me. *shrugs*
Maybe one day I'll own a cool bristle nose albino or something... IDK ! none of the tanks I have right now are suitable for bottom feeders either (2 nano tanks and a goldfish tank)

 

[Jellibeen]

I have never seen a single egg.

Lucky! Mine lay so many. I must have gotten all females.

 

[nitsuj]

I hate mollies. HUGE aggressive, pigs, and waste machines. I've had 2 mollies in my life and I never want anymore

I just "got into" aquariums and am using mollies / phantom tetras.

Right now just have a pair of each. All the little male mollie does is mate with the female, constantly. All the female mollie does is eat..constantly on the prowl for food, and chasing away any fish near food.

The tetras just stay in the same spot. even when feeding them they just stay in the same spot and wait for food to drift their way.

 

[WinterSoldier.]

I just "got into" aquariums and am using mollies / phantom tetras.

Right now just have a pair of each. All the little male mollie does is mate with the female, constantly. All the female mollie does is eat..constantly on the prowl for food, and chasing away any fish near food.

The tetras just stay in the same spot. even when feeding them they just stay in the same spot and wait for food to drift their way.

That behavior is exactly why I hate mollies

 

[sloughdog]

Since the title of the thread says “least favorite aquarium fish” I have to go with fish that are considered “monstrous”. To numerous to list but too many of these fish are not suitable for any aquarium. Many of these fish are not understood very well, are migratory, pelagic, long lived (20yrs+), schooling/shoaling, etc.

There are conservationist reasons to keep these kinds of fish but as a hobby, it just doesn’t seem humane imho.

 

[H2O Concierge]

nothing against them, just not my thing I guess. I really like snails, I imagine I would like shrimp if I had them. above I wrote that I don't like corys too, they just look like some weird aliens or something to me. *shrugs*
Maybe one day I'll own a cool bristle nose albino or something... IDK ! none of the tanks I have right now are suitable for bottom feeders either (2 nano tanks and a goldfish tank)

I get the same feeling when I look at the Bristle nose when they have grown out, to me they just look weird. I too like most snails. Even the one's that I don't like, I realize that they are there for a reason. I was just making a joke about the fact that you wrote "bottle feeders" when you meant "bottom feeders", and I was referencing them to babies. Sorry if inappropriate.

 

[Addie42]

I get the same feeling when I look at the Bristle nose when they have grown out, to me they just look weird. I too like most snails. Even the one's that I don't like, I realize that they are there for a reason. I was just making a joke about the fact that you wrote "bottle feeders" when you meant "bottom feeders", and I was referencing them to babies. Sorry if inappropriate.

LOL that went over my head

 

[Dch48]

I don't care for the adult Bristlenoses either. If they were that size without the appendages, they would be perfect. I don't really like any type of Pleco though.

 

[Fanatic]

I think platies are on my list, they are such poop machines and produce mass amounts of offspring when they do.