From garden ponds filled with Koi Carp to the humble goldfish bowl (although goldfish really need far more space to thrive) – the UK is a nation of fish lovers.
According to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association there are an incredible five million indoor fish tanks in Britain - that’s around 10 per cent of British households who own fish, making them the third most popular pet after dogs and cats.
There’s plenty of choice when it comes to adding fish to (well prepared and correctly set up) home aquariums, with pet shops offering a bewildering range of colourful and interesting finned friends.
Setting up an aquarium for the first time it can be a daunting task, ensuring that everything is just right before welcoming your new finned friends into their new environment.
But some species of fish can take some of the stress out of the first few weeks, being remarkably easy to look after - and not being too fussy about things like food and water pH.
So, here are 13 of the best species of schooling fish for first-time aquarists (the posh name for people who maintain aquariums).
5. Cardinal Tetra
Similar to the Neon Tetra, but with a distinctive red lower half of the body and an even more vibrant blue stripe, the Cardinal Tetra is slightly less popular - and more expensive - because it is more difficult to breed in captivity. It's still just as easy to look after though. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Zebra Danio
Also known as the Zebra Fish. like most of the fish on this list the Zebra Danio is a relatively small fish, hence doesn't need an enormous tank. Get at least five and they will naturally form a school. These fish will eat pretty much anything so that's one less thing to worry about. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Dwarf Gouramis
Highly prized for their stunning colours, the Dwarf Gouramis only grows up to 2.5 inches in length and will be happy in either hard or soft water. The South Asian fish breathes directly from the atmosphere so needs easy access to the surface. They will live for up to four years with very little fuss - just make sure to keep their water clean otherwise they may contract diseases. | Canva/Getty Images
8. Corydoras Catfish
It's always good to have a helping hand with cleaning your tank and that's exactly what the Corydoras Catfish offers. It's a bottom feeding species that will happy clean up any food that has dropped to the bottom of the tank. Native to South America and Central America, they get on very well with other species of fish and are rarely aggressive. | Canva/Getty Images