I guess I'm regressing in the hobby...

[Aussie_hippie_2]

Bah. Was just at one of my favorite LFS' and bought platies. Going back to the beginner stage, now that I can handle so much more? I dunno. But they're cute little buggers. Also got a lovely yellow betta that I plan on getting back into the whole breeding thing with again. Will two platies and the betta be ok in a 5.5g?

Random. But I like it, and it's early.

[PufferMom]

There's nothing wrong with platies or other "beginner" fish. Guppies, platies and other "beginner" fish can be quite stunning and fun to watch.

[sarcare]

And honestly, a lot of so called "beginner" fish can be tricky, beginners just don't realize they aren't supposed to die after a week or two. For instance, mollies can be quite delecate,though they have a reputation as a beginner fish.

I think that is a bit crowded for a 5g, imho.

[ChilDawg]

Plus, ease of keeping isn't necessarily a bad thing. I managed to kill off Limia tridens in the same tank where albino cories have spawned. I've had Cracka' (a pink convict) for over four years and those deathbearers for maybe six months. I love my Swordtails, Cories and Cracka'...and right now, I wouldn't want anything with less ease of keeping.

[joephys]

I would be willing to bet that most of the people here that have been keeping fish for years have a lot of "beginner" fish, and routinely purchase them. Its not much of a challenge with platies, but if you like beginner fish but want something more than just a beginner aquarium, try breeding some of the beginner fish.

[mvigor]

I love my guppies, although they haven't had much respect for a while since I added angelfish to eat their kids. They are beautiful though.

[ChilDawg]

You're darn right, joephys...I'm thinking of the Neon in order to prove your point--how many of us have kept them at one time or another? (I personally haven't, but I'm guessing that a lot of you have...) Okay, and how many have had them breed? And how many have successfully raised young to adulthood? You can get similar results with a lot of the hardier blackwater tetras in the hobby...it's hard as all get-out to finish the breeding process with them!

[RTR]

Well, having been in this hobby much longer than most folks here have been alive, I have never had any issue with keeping "beginner" fish. For the last decade plus, I have been doing schools of fish - most of them things you might see in a novice community. Mine are not community tanks, but they are certainly not all rare or oddball fish either. Rasboras, Barbs, Tetras, Rainbows, and the diurnal schooling cats are my current schoolers. Many of those fish are great tank fish. That is exactly because they are relatively undemanding in feeding and care. The only ones I breed are the Dwarf Neon Rainbows and the Cherry Barbs, because they do so on their own without special handling from me. I cannot really claim to breed them, I just give them care and feeding and they take care of the rest.

[wesleydnunder]

I don't find it regressive at all, AH. In fact, many of our members in the HAS keep nothing but these "beginner" livebearers; most of them successful aquarists for decades. I think many of the fish mentioned in this thread are considered beginner fish because in many small lfs these fish are the predominant stock, and what a beginner will therefor likely buy. I say keep whatever kind of fish you like, they're all wonderful creatures. I lean toward agreement with sarcare as to the tank size. I think a ten would be better and a twenty optimum, since if you get a male and female or a gravid female you'll soon have fry in the tank and the subsequent added bioload. I think a five point five will be a little more work than is fun to keep the water pristene for your fish, plus the aforementioned babies will soon crowd it.

Mark

[Daveedka]

The fish you chose to keep don't reflect any sort of status or posistion in the hobby. Your position and experience in the hobby may give you the ability to house fish that the average Joe off the street might not. There is no requirement to keep difficult fish to prove you are an accomplished hobbyist. If you think platy's are cute then I highly reccomend owning platies. The 5g may not be big enough though. A lone beatta or maybe a beatta and a few shrimp or a pygmy cories is a full load in a 5g.

Dave

[Riverfishgirl]

I agree with everyone else. You don't have to move to harder to keep or rarer fish just because you have more experience.

One of my favorite fish are bettas, and they're not exactly uncommon.
I buy fish that I like whether they're considered beginner fish or not. Even some of my more uncommon fish are extremely hardy because I enjoy watching my fish rather than worrying about them getting sick or stressed, so I try not to buy too many sensitive or hard to keep ones. Yeah, I have the ability to keep sensitive fish healthy, but I have other hobbies that I want to devote time too also, so I try to stay away from too many fish like that.

Anyway, the fish are there for YOUR enjoyment, don't worry about what anyone else thinks. There's people that devote years to breeding guppies because that's what they like, even though they probably have the ability to keep more advanced fish such as discus and whatnot.

[Rallysman]

There are days that I want to move back to "easy" fish. I have a tank full of tetras, halfbeaks, mollies etc, in my bedroom because it's relaxing. My more challenging fish sometimes make it more stress than what it's worth. I'm always relaxed by the simple fish, but it gets nerve wracking when you have a fish worth $400 that's sick.

[Trixie]

And platies are PRETTY!