2.5 Gallon Tank

[Ray Ray]

Okay, so I am sort of new to this whole "taking care fo fish" business.
I am starting not to trust those people at the stores because they obviosly don't know what they are telling me to do.
I get so many different answers and I just need some of your advice now.

So, I bought a 2.5 gallon tank from Pets Supply Plus, because after I was given a goldfish in a bowl and read about those cruelties, I didn't want any other fish to suffer as my other one did. (That was a whte and orange goldfish who died after 11 months in the bowl)

Anyways here is a picture of my tank.

http/usera.imagecave.com/rkanime/0808071232.jpg

It has a filter, light, thermometer, ammonia tester, and not in there, a heater for the winter.

The occupants of this tank are: 3 Neons, a small Cory Cat, a Female Betta, and there was a small Black Moor Goldfish about the size of the Betta. They all got along fine, no fighting, with the temperature 74-76. They have been like this for a week now.

Recently from my Black Moor's eye getting torn off, I wasn't sure what caused it, so I wasn't sure if I overcrowded the tank. People from the store said I didn't, someone here said I did. I don't know, please I'm young. If you say I overcrowded it, look at this picture:

They say that's how many fish you can have in one, which I didn't believe.

Anways, with all the fish above, minues the Black Moor who died last night from the injury, how many fish should this tank honestly hold?

 

[Matty P]

Your tank is overstocked, the people in your LFS are talking rubbish. The only fish that should really be in a tank of that size should be a beetta.

 

[Ray Ray]

Thank you very much. Do you think they will do okay in there though? It may be another week before I can buy a bigger tank.

And yes I know. They have told me so many different things about my tank that I feel bad for the fish in their stores and for my fish.

 

[Matty P]

Another week should be ok, but you will need to cycle the water in your new tank before adding any fish. So i would try find another home for them until you have it fully cycled.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I agree with Matty P, also you should not base your stocking on the pictures of aquariums being advertised either, as almost all aquarium advert photo's show very overstocked tanks- they do this because all the pretty fish look nice and so make the tanks sell better. Overstocked tanks aren't good for the fish though, and will have a negative impact on the health/quality of life/behaviour of the fish involved etc.

Even if your fish are getting along fine, (apart from the betta) they will not live out their natural life expectancies in such a small tank or have a very good quality of life in comparison to those of their kind given larger and more suitable habitats and stuff. Really neons should be in a shoal of at least 6-8 neons or more (as they are shoaling fish) and be preferably in a tank at least 10-12gallons long, the cory should be in a tank of at least 5-10gallons long with a sand substrate.

I know you are young, but i am just giving you the facts straight and honest to you- you've done a good thing coming here to learn more about your fish so you can look after them better and stuff . If i were you, i'd upgrade the tank to a least 10gallon one to start with- you can often pick up pretty cheap second hand tanks on places like ebay if you cannot afford brand new, like this 15gal tank with only a £5 start price;

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/Juwel-Fish-Tank-Aqua...1QQcmdZViewItem



Put a sand substrate in the tank (make sure to get fish-safe sand though and to thoroughly wash it out beforehand), get the cory some more buddies of its own kind (as they are sociable catfish that do best in groups of 3-4 or more) and get 3 more neons. Keep the female betta in the 2.5gal tank, she will be happy there by herself- if you do this, your fish will be a great deal better off and you will also have some extra space to play around with for new fish if you do this too depending on how larger new tank you go for .

 

[Ray Ray]

I think I am going to try for a 10 gallon tank soon, my parents are moving me to a different room in the house so I will have a lot more room for them.

And I also asked my mom about the 10 gallon, she said we could purchase one soon for my Black Moor when he got bigger (when the guy at the store said it was needed) but I'm sure I can tell her now I will buy my own quickly so my fish won't suffer, I won't make the same mistake.

And so I need sand or is gravel okay? Also, do you think, maybe, the Betta could go in the 10 gallon if I even have a sick fish and need to take it out of the 10 gallon for treatment and put it in the 2.5? Because the only other thing I have is a fishbowl which I only use for transportation when we took my sister a Betta to her college.

 

[@ombomb]

Anways, with all the fish above, minues the Black Moor who died last night from the injury, how many fish should this tank honestly hold?

none

 

[Ray Ray]

Anways, with all the fish above, minues the Black Moor who died last night from the injury, how many fish should this tank honestly hold?

none

So I shouldn't even have my Betta in there by herself? That's not a very helpfull post. >.>

 

[@ombomb]

So I shouldn't even have my Betta in there by herself?

Not in my opinion.

 

[Ray Ray]

But the tank has filtration and heater. What do you want me to do with her? All I have right now is the cup she came in and a bowl. ._.
And I cannot get a 10 gallon for another week.

 

[@ombomb]

But the tank has filtration and heater. What do you want me to do with her? All I have right now is the cup she came in and a bowl. ._.
And I cannot get a 10 gallon for another week.

In a week, move it to the 10G, get a couple of cories to in there with it and keep cut flowers in the 2.5.

 

[-germ-]

For the time being the 2.5 will have to suffice, whilst not ideal there are many fish keepers who keep Bettas in these size tanks (that is a statement of fact not support). The cory and the tetras are not suitable for this size tank though.
But as i have mentioned you need to do alot of water changes with the tank being uncycled.
If you can't get the new tank within a week or so i'd try and find someone who could temporarily home them for you.

 

[Matty P]

If the 2.5g tank has filteration the betta should be fine in it.

 

[roseK]

i hav a one gallon, it will be holding several feeder fish. but it doesnt matter.. they wont live long enough anyway for the stress of the small tank to kill them


MWUAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

 

[Matty P]

What are you feeding with the feeder fish?