First qualify yourself as to space and budget ... allow $8 per gallon for the tank & filter & light and another $5 per gallon for the fish. If your fish budget is $50 to $100 (10 to 20 gallons) You may purchase 2 of each of the following SMALL fish per gallon or 20 to 40 fish.

If you are not willing to go to the library and read some books on aquarium keeping - then just forget it - if you think this article or someone at the per store is going to insure success - then think again.

The less fish the better and the larger the tank the better.

Guppies, barbs, tetra's, rasbora's, danio's, small catfish(cory's).... no pleco's

or other larger species of fish .... There are enough varieties of these 8 SMALLER species of fish to supply every color and shape you could imagine. keep them all the same size ... DO NOT ADDcichlids in particular ...... Depending on the amount of plants and rocks and other hiding places you may get some bullying even among the smaller fish and could suffer some minor losses as a result ..... make adjustments as you see fit ...... adding friendlier fish and subtracting bullies.... remember that

some YOUNG  small fish grow very large!!!! ASK .... or better still READ!

a hungry fish is a healthy fish!!!!!

so feed them sparingly. Small amounts more frequently is a good approach and allows you to enjoy your fish more often ... but keep them hungry. Every other day is a good approach to feeding ..... they should be ravenous each time you put food in the tank. IF NOT you have problems!

If you like cichlids ... add JUST cichlids ....

6 one inch in size for the 10 gallon tank 12 for a 20 gallon tank ... remember they will more than triple in size over time ..... if east african rift lake type's (Malawi, Victoria or Tanganyika) then give them lots of rocks to get away from each other ... and be prepared to upgrade to a larger tank if you are successful


Summary ..... I recommend purchasing the largest tank you have space for and can afford ..... larger aquariums offer more stability for the inhabitants ... temperature, PH and water chemistry will not fluctuate as quickly. Keep in mind that fish live in millions and in the case of saltwater trillions of gallons of water in nature.  Your challenge is to keep them alive in just 10 to 20 gallons of water. This takes a lot of ability, perseverance and attention to details. READ, READ READ!

and remember that "buying bargain fish is often like buying bald tires" - the difference being that a bald tire can't make another tire bald :-)