I've just bought an aquarium (a fairly small one) and don't know what type of fish to get. I've read a wealth of information on the net but would prefer some advice from people who actually keep fish.

The thing is, I don't want to heat it and I don't want goldfish because a) they're boring and b) when I keep goldfish they have a habit of living for around 15 years. I've read that Neon tetras can live in unheated tanks and want to know if this is true. The tank will be kept in an air conditioned office which is at a temperature of 21-23 degrees (I like it warm). It has an undergravel filter and air pump, I'm going to stock it with plants tomorrow so it can be left running for around a week to sort itself out. Thanks everybody :)

Well some tropical fish are extremely hardy, but neons being quite small usually don't live all that long. And you have to buy them in multiples. They don't like being on their own and you should keep them in a small shoal of 6-12 if you can . It is fascinating seeing them in formation. I haven't got a book with me which says what their preferred temprature is. You always get lots of diers and about 3 which live for about 8 years and get bigger.

Have you looked at the range of coldwater fish you can buy like koi and black moor, there are quite a lot of them, although they are restricted in colours.

What's the problem with a heater? For about 15 quid for an immersion heater you will be able to choose from 100 times more fish. With very different shapes and sizes. You don't need to do anything else. and you will have a proper tropical fish tank.

My favourite cheap tropical fish are danios. They are like puppies they zoom from one end to the other chasing each other all day long without a break.

My least favourite are Gouramis. Their feelers are quite interesting but they soon start throwing their weight about and bullying other fish and you will soon finish up with all your more timid fish dead!

Well some tropical fish are extremely hardy, but neons being quite small usually don't live allthat long.

Have you looked at the range of coldwater fish you can buy like koi and black moor, there are quite a lot of them, although they are restricted in colours.

What's the problem with a heater? For about 15 quid for an immersion heater you will be able to choose from 100 times more fish. With very different shapes and sizes. You don't need to do anything else. and you will have a proper tropical fish tank.

Nothing wrong with a heater just I thought it might add another whole host of things that could go wrong and I don't want to go too complex and kill anything because I'll feel terrible!

Good one for cold conditions is deep sea cod.... and if you can't get out for lunch one day... then? just make sure you have some microwaveable chips around.... :confused:

I found that almost all tropical fish live happily in an un-heated tank. A modern central heated house stays pretty warm all year round anyway :wink:

I would go with tropical fish personally. They look a lot better than cold water fish (IMO) and they tend to be hardier as well. I had a shoal of about 30 Neons. It was great watching them shimmer around the tank in a group :)

I found that almost all tropical fish live happily in an un-heated tank. A modern central heated house stays pretty warm all year round anyway :wink:

I would go with tropical fish personally. They look a lot better than cold water fish (IMO) and they tend to be hardier as well. I had a shoal of about 30 Neons. It was great watching them shimmer around the tank in a group :)

Cheers for that. I may try some of the tropicals but check out their preferred temperature ranges first to make sure they can survive at around 23 degrees. I have a display panel for my air conditioning so know the temperature of my office and can turn it up/down as necessary and will get a thermometer for the tank.

White Cloud Mountain Minnows will happily live at cold temperatures and breed,they come from China.Are they tropical fish though?That is what they are sold as.At the temperature you quote there should be no problems with most tropicals.

A quick look at my tropical tank thermometer shows 23degrees C pretty much in the middle of the safe zone. What you have to remember is these fish in their natural surroundings live in rivers and lakes with strong currents and varying tempratures anyhow.
If you go to a tropical fish dealers, they usually have a quick guide which shows the basic preferred conditions of the usual community fish.