Tropical Fish

Where to buy your fish:
Big Chain Stores (like Petco and Petsmart) often source fish from the same mass breeders, but their in-store conditions can be inconsistent. Some users report poor tank maintenance, overcrowding, and stressed fish. While you may find healthy fish, there’s a risk of supporting unethical practices. If you must buy from these stores, avoid the live fish section if you're uncomfortable with the conditions.

Online Retailers offer access to rare or specialty fish not available locally, and some have strong reputations for quality and customer service. However, shipping stress, temperature fluctuations, and unknown water parameters can increase risk. Always check DOA (Dead on Arrival) policies and contact sellers to confirm water compatibility.

Aquarium Clubs or Fish Swaps are excellent for connecting with local hobbyists and breeders. Fish are typically well-cared for, acclimated to local water, and often healthier. They also offer community support and advice.

Regardless of where you buy, quarantine all new fish for 2–3 weeks to prevent disease outbreaks in your main tank.

Best mail order:
Toledo GOldfish at Amazon
3-4" 10 count $84 3 days shipping
Toledo Goldfish is located in Richland, Missouri, USA,

Jimmy GOldfish Omaha NE

Fish store in Sac
Splash aquarium 4.5 - 6171 Stockton Blvd - (916) 476-6039

Type of FIsh
single-tailed, bullet-shaped goldfish are the best.
Common Goldfish and Comet Goldfish: Highly recommended for their resilience, fast swimming ability, and adaptability to outdoor conditions. They thrive in ponds with good filtration and are ideal for smaller or medium-sized ponds.

Shubunkin Goldfish:
Known for their striking calico coloration and nacreous (pearly) scales, Shubunkins are hardy, active swimmers, and excellent for outdoor ponds. They are particularly well-suited for California’s climate and are often cited as one of the top choices for pond enthusiasts.
Sarasa Comets: A robust variety that is low-maintenance, social, and can grow up to 14 inches. They are ideal for koi ponds or mixed-species setups and can live up to 25 years with proper care.

Best fish for a 7 gallon Tank | Quora

Fish   Votes
Guppies 5
Platies
Zebra Danios 4
Celestial Pearl Danios
1 Betta 2
A single school of tetras (6 - 10) 3
ember tetras
red cherry shrimp (not a fish but exciting to keep)
white clouds
otocinclus algae eater

Top Betta Fish Tank Mates
Snails or Shrimp (keep your tank clean), Corydoras Catfish, Neon and Ember Tetras (they like to be in groups of 5 or more), Guppies (feeder guppies not long-finned, they breed fast so get 1 gender)

Tips:
Without plants, every fish tank needs regular (weekly) water changes. With live plants, you drastically reduce the frequency of water changes to only two or three times a year!
A planted tank needs stronger light than those that typically come in aquarium kits, so you will need to buy lights specifically rated for live plants.
read up on the Nitrogen Cycle. It is absolutely critical to the success and health of your aquarium. If you don’t, your fish *will* die! To aquarium.html Look for easy to grow plants such as cryptocoryne, hygrophila (most species), vallisneria, and pearl weed. Tap water usually has chlorine or chloramine in it, which is bad for fish, so get make sure to get a bottle of dechlorinator. Cycling your tank will take 2 weeks, if you got some seeder media from your friend, or up to 2 months if you didn’t. Your bacteria need to be fed as well, so put in a small pinch of fish food.