What group of freshwater fish do you not want to keep?

I had a discussion with a friend about why we don't like several groups of fish as a whole. He wouldn't want to keep any cichlids or pufferfish ever.

So my question is: What about you? Is there any taxonomical group of fish you wouldn't WANT to keep?

Be it because of the parameters or habitat or because you just don't like their visual appearance/behaviour. Feel free to explain your choices, reasons or exceptions in the thread.

For me: Lifebearers, labyrinthers and barbs.
Lifebearers because I don't find them visually pleasing. Same with bettas and most gouramis.

 

I don't particularly like livebearers. The common ones in particular. There are some less common ones that are more interesting and look better, but overall they aren't my thing.

Most tetras are not my thing either. There are a few species that I would keep, but those that I have kept and/or seen are just boring and seem lifeless.

I also hope to never have any form of goldfish. Don't like them at all. Cichlids, puffers, gobies and labyrinth fish is where its at.

 

I'm not all that interested in most barbs and cichlids. I do like peaceful/smaller amazonian cichlids though.

 

Glass catfish, because they sit and stare at me from under and behind their hiding places, just waiting for me to go away! Actually, I know it's the light, but I swear they hide when they see me coming 'round the corner even when the light's off! I've been keeping the lights off much longer now. The things we do for love!!!

 

Personally livebearers because I just find most of them boring and rather simple. Cichlids have so much more personality and in my opinion are far more entertaining.

 

Not a huge of African cichlids from Lake Malawi. To me, they look tacky and boring.

 

Discus should be on this list, I would have voted for those. Also missed Loaches as a broad group (though personally I love those, curious to see if someone dislikes the entire group) and oddball fish (like puffers, african butterfly fish, badis, etc.). Not sure where Angelfish would fit (don't like those much either).

Voted for cichlids and barbs. Would have put tetras in the list too but I keep some (like cardinals and glowlights) as dithers. Wouldn't keep them on their own though. Cichlids I just am not into, with the exception of apistogramma. The larger ones, eh. They just look like bulls to me, not an attractive thought, and they mix poorly with just about anything I like to keep. If I wanted a busy, mixed colour tank I would much sooner go for rainbows.

I don't hate livebearers as a whole so I didn't vote for them, but I keep them very sparingly. Just kind of overly common and a bit 'been there, done that'. I had no trouble breeding them when I was 8 so I just don't find them any kind of challenge. Some of the more unusual ones I would definitely consider though.

Catfish is just .. so broad. Both in terms of shape and size and behaviour and water parameters. I can't see many people not liking *any* kind of catfish whatsoever.

 

I love this question! It's like asking what brand or design of underwear, or undies, you never want to buy or repeat buying... Thank you MacZ! It's been really incredibly informative to read the replies!! It gives me a much better perspective than reading basic info online!

 

Discus should be on this list, I would have voted for those. Also missed Loaches as a broad group (though personally I love those, curious to see if someone dislikes the entire group) and oddball fish (like puffers, african butterfly fish, badis, etc.). Not sure where Angelfish would fit (don't like those much either).

Voted for cichlids and barbs. Would have put tetras in the list too but I keep some (like cardinals and glowlights) as dithers. Wouldn't keep them on their own though. Cichlids I just am not into, with the exception of apistogramma. The larger ones, eh. They just look like bulls to me, not an attractive thought, and they mix poorly with just about anything I like to keep. If I wanted a busy, mixed colour tank I would much sooner go for rainbows.

I don't hate livebearers as a whole so I didn't vote for them, but I keep them very sparingly. Just kind of overly common and a bit 'been there, done that'. I had no trouble breeding them when I was 8 so I just don't find them any kind of challenge. Some of the more unusual ones I would definitely consider though.

Catfish is just .. so broad. Both in terms of shape and size and behaviour and water parameters. I can't see many people not liking *any* kind of catfish whatsoever.

Discus and angels are under cichlid. Who could dislike loaches? They are great. Maybe people that don't like eels, but not all are like that.

Catfish are some of the fish I love most. Seems every fish I go for these days is a catfish.

 

I pretty much don't see the sense in keeping any fish known to be aggressive ? That fits many groups ..I don't mean fish that are predators but generally mean fish ..
Kept to themselves I guess if that is ones favor ,but as far as with any other fish that is not suited ??
No neighborhood needs a bully .
There is no one group that completely disinterest me but there are fish in every group up there I would /will never keep by choice ..
For example I love my dwarf SA ,but am no big fan of angels ??
I kept Tangs but do not like Malawis at all?
No big fan of most livebearers but love my swordtails second only to maybe my rams ?
To pick a group and discount it is like saying " I don't like cookies of any kind " .
I can't even imagine that ..[ I like cookies ,but not all ] ..

 

Discus should be on this list, I would have voted for those. Also missed Loaches as a broad group (though personally I love those, curious to see if someone dislikes the entire group) and oddball fish (like puffers, african butterfly fish, badis, etc.). Not sure where Angelfish would fit (don't like those much either).

Voted for cichlids and barbs. Would have put tetras in the list too but I keep some (like cardinals and glowlights) as dithers. Wouldn't keep them on their own though. Cichlids I just am not into, with the exception of apistogramma. The larger ones, eh. They just look like bulls to me, not an attractive thought, and they mix poorly with just about anything I like to keep. If I wanted a busy, mixed colour tank I would much sooner go for rainbows.

I don't hate livebearers as a whole so I didn't vote for them, but I keep them very sparingly. Just kind of overly common and a bit 'been there, done that'. I had no trouble breeding them when I was 8 so I just don't find them any kind of challenge. Some of the more unusual ones I would definitely consider though.

Catfish is just .. so broad. Both in terms of shape and size and behaviour and water parameters. I can't see many people not liking *any* kind of catfish whatsoever.

On the one hand discus are not a group, on the other catfish are very diverse. Both very true. But sadly I had to work with a set number of choices and far more groups of fish than that.

 

For me Livebearers, just not a fan of them. I have thought about doing a tank that's on the floor pond esq with a bunch of Guppies, I think that would be pretty nice but i'm certainly not going out my way to keep them.
I realized while typing I have a single Guppy, he's the exception

 

I am not a fan of livebearers either. I like soft water fish, just my thing personally. I also wouldn't keep killifish because of the extremely short lifespan- I get very attached to my fish.

I voted that I wouldn't keep Rainbowfish mainly because I got some "mystery fry" with plants that turned out to be Madagascan Rainbowfish. I don't have a tank that's big enough for them, but I got so attached to the little guys that I cried when I surrendered them (partly grown out) to the LFS where I bought the plants. Even if I had a bigger tank there are loads of other fish I'd rather have, however.

 

Goldfish, THEY EAT NONSTOP!

 

Hmm... interesting. 10 voters say lifebearers. Very interesting. Second place barbs with 5 votes, and only 3rd are cichlids. I'd expected cichlids in front.

 

Discus and angels are under cichlid. Who could dislike loaches? They are great. Maybe people that don't like eels, but not all are like that.

Catfish are some of the fish I love most. Seems every fish I go for these days is a catfish.

Oh whoops. Haha, you can see how little I know about them ;-) That explains why I don't like them, I just instinctively dislike cichlids. Somehow. (Honestly didn't know Discus were included in this group).

Yes, definitely some phobia-related hate out there for eels. I know some people that get shivers from kuhli, as much as others love to see them.

coralbandit Well.. considering I dislike all cichlids (which is a really large group) with only one genus excepted (apisto), I dare disagree I could imagine people not being into gobies, for instance, of any and all kinds. So it kind of depends on how broad we want to draw the categories.

Hmm... interesting. 10 voters say lifebearers. Very interesting. Second place barbs with 5 votes, and only 3rd are cichlids. I'd expected cichlids in front.

As for livebearers, not sure if that category is fair. I feel like most people are voting against guppies/mollies/platies, not realising there are many, many more livebearers out there that are quite different. They are after all the most commonly kept fish, maybe second only to goldfish or betta (in that U.S. that is, pretty sure they win out from betta over here).

 

I don’t necessarily not want to keep any kind of fish. For the most part I like all groups of fish. There is only one group of fish I don’t like and that’s the feeder goldfish. I don’t dial like them because they get huge, or because they can have illness, I dislike them because they shouldn’t be in the hobby or at the very least shouldn’t be so cheap and available. To many of them suffer and it isn’t fair to the species. I belive they are fine if you can properly care for them but I dislike how many are mistreated and abused. I do admit some fish are more plain than others (say a guppy to a flowerhorn, the flowerhorn will likely be more fun to keep but more work where as the guppy is easier to care for but doesn’t have as much personality), but overall I wouldn’t say no to really any fish just as long as I can care for them. I kinda apply the same logic with the goldfish to some plecos but I actually really like plecos and catfish are one of my favorite species of fish, if not my favorite. I love their fins and behavior. I also really like eels even though they like to cause trouble.

 

As for livebearers, not sure if that category is fair. I feel like most people are voting against guppies/mollies/platies, not realising there are many, many more livebearers out there that are quite different. They are after all the most commonly kept fish, maybe second only to goldfish or betta (in that U.S. that is, pretty sure they win out from betta over here).

True, some groups (like catfish, mentioned above) are very diverse and may have some dark horses in their midst. But I kinda wanted to polarize, so comments like this one pop up and maybe someone looks deeper into the matter and may find a fish they like from that group and find interesting enough to keep.

Edit: Also, I thought "most commonly kept" doesn't mean anything. I observed how many people in this very forum keep lifebearers as beginner fish and how many beginners also have bettas. I wanted to get that a bit straightened out, maybe even aiming for the more advanced or taste-wise settled fishkeepers here.

For me, I'm interested in taxonomy so I've kinda browsed through most groups over time and found, that every group has this one "odd one out"-fish, that I actually like. Still doesn't apply to lifebearers, though, but there are 2-3 gourami/betta species I'd try some day maybe.

Also, maybe I'll do this poll again with the question "Which enigmatic fish would you not want to keep?" and give only answers like "discus, guppy, plecos, bettas, mbuna, goldfish...".

I love this question! It's like asking what brand or design of underwear, or undies, you never want to buy or repeat buying... Thank you MacZ! It's been really incredibly informative to read the replies!! It gives me a much better perspective than reading basic info online!

That was my thought. Well, not exactly with brands, but to see how people choose when you give them only whole categories to pick is really quite interesting. Just as interesting as some people's exceptions. Or how some people turn out to be generalists, that wouldn't exclude anything at all.

 

I don’t really like livebearers or most “chain pet store” type of fish.
Definitely Goldfish of all varieties - that was my “other”

And axolotls - they weird me out

 

And axolotls - they weird me out

Same with african dwarf frogs.... But this is about fish.

 

Same with african dwarf frogs.... But this is about fish.

I actually have no idea what they are. My first fortnight on here I pretended to understand ADF and assumed it was a type of fish

that said I don’tlike toads or frogs so imagine the adf won’t be on my wish list

 

that said I don’tlike toads or frogs so imagine the adf won’t be on my wish list

No offence, but somehow your country has a history of problems with foreign amphibians, hasn't it?

 

No offence, but somehow your country has a history of problems with foreign amphibians, hasn't it?

Yeah it does (can’t see why I’d take offense)

it’s the tyranny of distance. Our ecosystems evolved separately and are susceptible to creatures from outside. Pretty much any foreign animal has ruined the environment it has been introduced to here:

fox
Carp
Toad
Camel
Rabbit
Etc

I wonder if that’s why old aussies are so opposed to foreign immigrants LOL

 

Tough question.

I picked "other" to count for the giant fish. Like common pleco, red tailed catfish, koi, etc. Things that need something larger than a swimming pool to live in. Its just an unrealistic thing for me, so id never keep them.


You know, id have chosen barbs, but I gave cherry barbs a chance and I ADORE them. Id probably love other barbs too, but man these little barbs are fun little fish with decent personalities. Their little whiskers and tiny mouths are too cute. I think barbs get a bad rep because of tiger barbs, which can be great fish if kept properly and carefully.

I'm fussy on tetras though. Cardinals and neons are just so common I'm bored of them. I have skirts and they lack personality, except one individual lol they all have this blank stare and just go nuts for food. Or try to kill one another if their group falls below 5. Other than that they aren't a curious fish or seem to stand out to me.
My black neons though, honestly they're so cute and sweet. Theyre curious, polite, and more animated so now I will probably always have them. I'm planning a south american biotope tank for them, cories, and farlowella in the future.

I can't keep guppies alive out of livebearers, so id probably not keep guppies again ever. Its too heartbreaking.

 

For me, my group would have to be barbs. Theu don't interest me as much as rasboras and tetras do, and while I know that the majority of barbs are peaceful, I don't like how nippy they can be.

Yeah it does (can’t see why I’d take offense)

it’s the tyranny of distance. Our ecosystems evolved separately and are susceptible to creatures from outside. Pretty much any foreign animal has ruined the environment it has been introduced to here:

fox
Carp
Toad
Camel
Rabbit
Etc

I wonder if that’s why old aussies are so opposed to foreign immigrants LOL

Dont worry, the US isn't better. They have introduced tree frogs as well as boas in the Southern Areas. They seem to have a pretty varied amount of feral animals.... (not saying Australia doesn't....)


While there were many introductions that proved to be an issue, I do have to disagree that majority of animals introduced pose an issue to Australian environment. Dingo for starters, monarch butterfly, cactus moth, dung beetle, and the recent introduction of Tachardiaephagus somervilleI (a micro wasp) to control crazy ants on xmas island has veen rather successful last time I heard.

 

Yeah it does (can’t see why I’d take offense)

it’s the tyranny of distance. Our ecosystems evolved separately and are susceptible to creatures from outside. Pretty much any foreign animal has ruined the environment it has been introduced to here:

fox
Carp
Toad
Camel
Rabbit
Etc

I wonder if that’s why old aussies are so opposed to foreign immigrants LOL

Totally what went through my head. A good friend is working in Queensland right now and he told me some of his experiences lately. Also I thought this thing with the australian attitude to invasive species was blown up in media as a cliché and I don't want to offend anyone by pointing that out. But if you're o.k. with that, all is fine.

On invasive species: Worked in a nature reserve some 100km from here. We don't have that many, because the winters kill off the tropical species, but our summers get warmer, so some species are coming in from the mediterranian. Especially several species of mosquito. Last time we had malaria occurring naturally in my area was during the middle ages. Well guess what: It's coming back.

MissNoodle:
I can see that thing with cardinals... they are less exciting than I expected, though in some regards I was pleasantly surprised. (Cardinals are peaceful? HA! Ahahahahahahahahahaha! More like the flashiest piranha I've ever experienced.) Still, I committed to them when I took in that rescue trio. I'll keep them as long as possible or until the former owner takes the whole school back after his tank-redo. After examining more stores in the area, I've decided I can't give them to any of those. Only shop where I would take them will likely not accept them, because I didn't buy them there.

 

For me, my group would have to be barbs. Theu don't interest me as much as rasboras and tetras do, and while I know that the majority of barbs are peaceful, I don't like how nippy they can be.



Dont worry, the US isn't better. They have introduced tree frogs as well as boas in the Southern Areas. They seem to have a pretty varied amount of feral animals.... (not saying Australia doesn't....)


While there were many introductions that proved to be an issue, I do have to disagree that majority of animals introduced pose an issue to Australian environment. Dingo for starters, monarch butterfly, cactus moth, dung beetle, and the recent introduction of Tachardiaephagus somervilleI (a micro wasp) to control crazy ants on xmas island has veen rather successful last time I heard.

I’m sure you’re more learned than I am in this area but I daresay we can’t assess these things in the short term. The cane toad was introduced to take care of a successful beetle introduction prior to that. When it comes to environment impact studies need to occur over generations. The carp for example has near wiped out so many indigenous fish it’s quite sad. That said of course the worst culprit is the introduction of (european) man!

also the dingo has been here for well over 3,000 years. I don’t think we can call it an introduced species

 

I’m sure you’re more learned than I am in this area but I daresay we can’t assess these things in the short term. The cane toad was introduced to take care of a successful beetle introduction prior to that. When it comes to environment impact studies need to occur over generations. The carp for example has near wiped out so many indigenous fish it’s quite sad. That said of course the worst culprit is the introduction of (european) man!

also the dingo has been here for well over 3,000 years. I don’t think we can call it an introduced species

But give it 3,000 years for the rabbits, cane toads and carp.... they'll probably be in a similar state to the dingo, and rather acclimatised/part of the natural Australian ecosystem. The dingo just had a head start and wasn't introduced after European settlement (if so, it probably would have the same rep as feral dogs/toads).


What I was trying to say is not introductions over the recrnt years has been bad. In fact, a lot from what I'm aware of (purposeful introductions that's been researched, feral pets don't count) most recent introductions have shown to be rather positive. Today, greater emphasis on research is required when introducing a foreign species to ensure that previous mistakes remain previous. Its rather stringent and requires multiple studies and peer reviewed data before its given a green light.

 

I don't like livebearers at all. I don't like the look of them or the fact that they breed easily. Also african butterfly fish because they do nothing. They're basically a tank ornament you have to feed. My tetras were anticlimactic. I have cardinals and they are beautiful, but they're kind of a "filler" fish to me now. When mine pass on I'll be picking a different school. They're the last thing I look at in my tank. I love love my cichlid and kuhlI loaches. The tetras however, don't have any personality, or at least not enough to compete with my other fish.

 

But give it 3,000 years for the rabbits, cane toads and carp.... they'll probably be in a similar state to the dingo, and rather acclimatised/part of the natural Australian ecosystem. The dingo just had a head start and wasn't introduced after European settlement (if so, it probably would have the same rep as feral dogs/toads).


What I was trying to say is not introductions over the recrnt years has been bad. In fact, a lot from what I'm aware of (purposeful introductions that's been researched, feral pets don't count) most recent introductions have shown to be rather positive. Today, greater emphasis on research is required when introducing a foreign species to ensure that previous mistakes remain previous. Its rather stringent and requires multiple studies and peer reviewed data before its given a green light.

I don’t actually disagree with you. I think the issue here is introduced species in a controlled environment versus species introduced through ignorance/stupidity (a la rabbits to hunt) or without foresight and proper scientific regulations (I.e toads)

I still think the dingo argument is a weak one mate Hahaga “head start” and ~4,000 years of establishment are too different things. Kingdoms and empires And religions have risen and fallen in that time - that’s more than a head start there were still mammoths roaming the earth when dingo came b to australia

 

I still think the dingo argument is a weak one mate Hahaga “head start” and ~4,000 years of establishment are too different things. Kingdoms and empires And religions have risen and fallen in that time - that’s more than a head start there were still mammoths roaming the earth when dingo came b to australia

I mean the head start is simply due to it arriving some 3-4000 years ago. That's quite a headstart if you compare it to rabbits (200~ years), toad (50~ years) and carp (50~ years).

Say rabbits were introduced 2,000 years ago (less than the dingo) they would probably have deviated to a point where they are a distinct subspecies/locale of the rabbit or likely to be well on the way being a complete different species.


In the next thousand years, who knows how the environment responds to rabbits, foxes, toads and the like. Already crows have learnt that flipping them over and eating their organs (minus the toxin glands) is a safe way to consume toads, and some species of snakes have shown to be mildly resistant to the toad toxin (able to safely consume small toads without much issue!).

 

I mean the head start is simply due to it arriving some 3-4000 years ago. That's quite a headstart if you compare it to rabbits (200~ years), toad (50~ years) and carp (50~ years).

Say rabbits were introduced 2,000 years ago (less than the dingo) they would probably have deviated to a point where they are a distinct subspecies/locale of the rabbit or likely to be well on the way being a complete different species.


In the next thousand years, who knows how the environment responds to rabbits, foxes, toads and the like. Already crows have learnt that flipping them over and eating their organs (minus the toxin glands) is a safe way to consume toads, and some species of snakes have shown to be mildly resistant to the toad toxin (able to safely consume small toads without much issue!).

I still don't disagree with anything you say.
I merely point out that these things are contextual. We read of history as recent as 500 years ago to 100,000,000 years ago and it is ancient to us.

Something within our lifetime or generation - where we see the impact; contextually its viewed differently. A foreign species introduced now has environmental impacts I can see and feel and as such have a relevance to me that an impact 4000 years ago doesn't. The latter is merely academic. I can’t empathise.Possibly impact was worse but in many ways “I don’t care” As it wasn’t a lived experience for me.


Not sure I’m articulating what I mean - but am sure we’ve hijacked the thread enough anyway

my bad

 

Dudes, what did I start here?

But yeah, the dingo is a good example for longterm development and establishment of a species. Fascinating to research.

 

I love kribs! But my mollys are also so fun bc they are just ALWAYS out and they’re pretty with the bright yellow and black ! I love my own Corys but don’t find them very exciting. They’re cute but ehhh. And goldfish! Mainly bc you can’t keep much with them (at least the common Goldfish I had bc of temps). That’s the only reason. I haven’t had any tiny schooling bc I want to SEE the fish but guppies are very pretty.
What I Really want? BADLY? A vanilla crayfish. But I know they hide a lot and I can’t put them with much of anything and since I’m so so new to this I haven’t taken the plunge.

 

Anything albino. They just look unnatural and diseased - and often are less healthy than naturally colored fish. That said, I kept an albino african clawed frog years ago that I absolutely adored.

 

Pacu, red tailed cat, or anything else that gets huge. They are very neat, but shouldn’t be in home aquariums. Unless of course you are Ohio fish rescue

 

I don't want livebearers. Guess WHY?


BECAUSE I HAVE LIVEBEARERS.




AHHHHH

 

I'll start a livebearer tank about a year after I start another Oscar tank...

 

I am unlikely to want to keep any labyrinth fish, barbs or goldfish. I also don't have any interest in most livebearers though I might keep halfbeaks at some point.