Centerpiece Fish

[chibi]

What centerpiece fish would do well alone in a 6-gallon? Please don't say betta, I tried this and it's too small for my liking. I want a cool, bigger fish. My 29-gallon has puny fish ranging from 1-3 inches. I want a bigger fish. Not huge, but as big as they come to be able to live in a 6 gallon.

I'm sure I'm gonna get smart replies like "only bettas can live perfectly in a 6-gallon." I'm gonna say this, and it'll sound terrible, but I want a fish that will be able to live in there, not thrive immensely. In other words, I think a betta can live in a 1-gallon perfectly fine. It doesn't THRIVE in it, but it's certainly livable. Same way here. I want a fish that's a bit different than guppies and mollies and can live in a 6-gallon. Sorry if I sound rude.

Note: I mean "centerpiece" as in "main focal point of my tank." My tank is fully filtered, heated, has a bubble wall, and live plants.

 

[cuticom]

Definitely no to a goldie, it might work as a baby but its either going to end up stunted or be a very very big fish in a tiny tank.

Have you looked at gouramis? honey, dwarf or sparkling gouramis would work. They've never done much for me but each to his own. A paradise gourami would look gorgeous and they get to 4-5 inches.

Ummm can't really think of anything else, but I'm afraid a goldie isn't really an option.

 

[rdd1952]

There aren't any goldfish suitable for a 6 gallon tank. A single goldie needs a minimum of 20 gallons on his own. A goldfish if fed properly should grow to 4 or 5 inches in less than a year. In a 6 gallon tank his growth will be stunted and his life span severely shortened. The reason for this is that their bodies stop growing but their organs don't.

You say you want something that can "live" in the tank but not necessarily thrive. That is terribly cruel. How would you like it if someone locked you in a 4' x 4' closet and fed you each day? You would certainly live a long life but you would be miserable the whole time.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

i would say no on the goldfish. hrmm, maybe like a shell dwelling cichlid? if you get rid of the corys, you can get a dwarf pike i guess. if you dont want to get rid of them, try a dwarf gourami or something

 

[chibi]

There aren't any goldfish suitable for a 6 gallon tank. A single goldie needs a minimum of 20 gallons on his own. A goldfish if fed properly should grow to 4 or 5 inches in less than a year. In a 6 gallon tank his growth will be stunted and his life span severely shortened. The reason for this is that their bodies stop growing but their organs don't.

You say you want something that can "live" in the tank but not necessarily thrive. That is terribly cruel. How would you like it if someone locked you in a 4' x 4' closet and fed you each day? You would certainly live a long life but you would be miserable the whole time.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to sound that way, the whole "thrive" thing. I just don't think a betta needs 10 gallons to live. People here give advice as to what would be amazingly, sparkly perfect. It usually leads me nowhere. That's what I meant. I don't want anyone to tell me "no fish could live in a 6-gallon." I know it's not true, and I'm sure someone would say it. I just had someone tell me somewhere else that 5 pygmy cories is too much for a 6-gallon, and that's total crap. I'm sick of people giving me crappy advice. I want a straightfoward answer.

Wow, that sounded really harsh. I'm sorry. Just huge fish activists that give tiny fish HUGE spaces they don't need bugs me. I'm not into that. I really don't know how to explain what I'm trying to say, sorry...

 

[poopsydrew]

How about draining the water and puting some flowers in there instead, that way no poor fish will be stunted and mistreated.

Drew

 

[cuticom]

I'd definitely look into paradise fish, they have a huge amount of character and can look great.

 

[afishdude]

how does a beta look small in a 6 gallon? they are suppose to have 1 gallon min. i would think 6 gal would be overkill by alot.

anywase has anyone thought of the oxygen lvls in this tank? if it is a centerpiece then he probably wont put a cord comming across the table so it wont have a filter or air pump. so beta is really the only thing that can live for long times in a no oxygen producing enviroment. other wise you would have to change water every other day.
if you go live plants then go for dwarf or sparkling gouramis like prevously said. if you really dont want live plants or a filter or air pump then all you can really put in there for like lets say a week or more is a beta. (or small fish like guppys or tetras)

hope it helps

 

[chibi]

Guys, I'm so sorry if I sounded all wrong. I really am. I posted the same question on Livejournal and they tore me to pieces.

http/community.livejournal.com/thequesti...b/22659561.html

They also posted my question here in the Stupid Community:

http/community.livejournal.com/stupid_free/555681.html

They made me cry. They really did. I have tears in my eyes as I type this. I don't think I sounded that bad, do you...? I'm... I'm sorry...

how does a beta look small in a 6 gallon? they are suppose to have 1 gallon min. i would think 6 gal would be overkill by alot.

anywase has anyone thought of the oxygen lvls in this tank? if it is a centerpiece then he probably wont put a cord comming across the table so it wont have a filter or air pump. so beta is really the only thing that can live for long times in a no oxygen producing enviroment. other wise you would have to change water every other day.
if you go live plants then go for dwarf or sparkling gouramis like prevously said. if you really dont want live plants or a filter or air pump then all you can really put in there for like lets say a week or more is a beta. (or small fish like guppys or tetras)

hope it helps

I meant centerpiece fish as in "main object of the tank." This tank is fully filtered, heated, has a bubble wall, and live plants.

 

[afishdude]

then your fine with going for a big fish and good idea big fish really make the tank look nice.. go for a nice gourami they look nice and alwase perk ya up... sounds like u need it.
srry if i did that 2 ya i got the wrong idea about center piece fish.

and omg those ppl are evil on other forums.... man but we wernt much better.

these are supposed to be friendly forums and helpfull not curel or mis guiding

 

[chibi]

Here's a picture of the tank:

 

[afishdude]

all i can say is RED GOURAMI !!! it would look perfect

 

[chibi]

Yeah, I think a gourami would look pretty awesome too! Thanks!!

 

[afishdude]

go for a dwarf if you can. i like them the most.

 

[Xebadir]

If you could get a red honey morph youd be better off than a dwarf: bit smaller but just as pretty and would be even happier in that tank. Alternatively you could try a croaking gourami. Goodluck, i know how it is to be told your tanks are too small and ripped to shreds.