5 Or 6 Gal Hex Stocking?

[sman]

Just set up an old 5 or 6 gallon hex, Ill get some pictures up later, but, what should I stock this thing with? I have heard guppies, ADF's, or a beta.

Hex with whisper 10i in tank thing(haven't decided if I like it, I think I do). I used sand for substrate (trying it out here before converting my 29).

Any info would be great.

 

[3ndl3r]

maybe a trio of celebes rainbows?
or a shrimp tank?
bumblebee gobies? (brackish)- although you can get FW ones, but they are hard to find.
betta?

or maybe a pair of red clawed crabs? (brackish)

 

[sman]

Any other Ideas are welcome! Could you do 3 or 4 tetras?

 

[eschaton]

I wouldn't put any schooling fish in a tank of that size and shape. The best thing to use are "hover fish," which are relatively inactive. Some examples are

one betta
one dwarf puffer (or two if you feel like risking something
mated pair of scarlet Badis
three sparkling pygmy gourami

If you use any option other than a betta, three Otos might be a good idea too.

Snails could be tried with any but the dwarf puffer, and shrimp could be tried with any of them, with caution, as all may attack and eat shrimp.

 

[sman]

Could I put a puffer and some bumblebee gobbies in the same tank of this size? If not Id think Id just do the gobbies, how many could you put in a tank like this?

Also, can you keep a 5 gallon cycled? Is the cycle any different for brackish water? How often would water changes be necessary? Sorry for all the questions guys, never done a tank this small, it used to be my parents.

 

[fourthtimelucky]

I had five guppies in my planted 5-6g hex and although they were okay in there for a while they are a lot more active now they are in a bigger group in a bigger tank. Also when one died the other four got a lot more aggressive (my main reason for moving them).

I now use that tank for a betta, he is very happy in there and surprisingly active, always patrolling around and blowing bubble nests. I also have an apple snail in there with him. On balance, I would recommend a betta rather than guppies in such a small tank.

You should have no problems keeping it cycled and water changes are really easy as you are only changing out a third of a bucket or less.

I have no experience with the other fish you've been recommended but that's my tuppence worth, hope it helps.

 

[sman]

The BBG's only get 1 inch long? Do they really need that much space? If so, Id be content with a puffer. Or would he eventually out grow the tank?

 

[eschaton]

A dwarf puffer is only an inch or so long fully-grown, and is fine in a tank of that size. Sometimes you can safely fit two into a tank of that size, but it all depends on the fish's personality.

Most bumblebee gobies in the hobby actually come from fresh water, though most people report they do better in mild brackish. Personally, I have never kept mine in anything but fresh, and they have been very healthy. Generally, dwarf puffers ignore them as well.

The only issue I would think would be bumblebee gobies are fairly territorial. I have heard some experienced fishkeepers (nmonks I believe) suggest you can put up to 10 in a 5 gallon. But keep in mind these fish are bottom dwellers, and a hex is almost always tall and narrow.

Bottom line, I'd say two and a puffer. Remember, neither one will eat flake - frozen or live foods only!

 

[Esfa]

You could convert it to low-brackish, and have about 5 bbgs, a zebra nerite snail and 2-3 ammano shrimp. Put rocks at the bottom for caves, plant with java moss and java ferns and oyu will have a nice little thank.