Daughter's New 35 Litre Tank

[maria29tart]

Hi there
just a quick one for you all, i have just upgraded my 35litre tank to a 64 litre one, my 6 year old daughter has enjoyed my other tank immensly and would like to use the small one for some fish of her own. can anyone make any suggestions, she does not want platies or guppies as we have loads of those in the other tanks along with neon tetras and pearl gouramis, can anyone suggest any thing pretty she does like things that move about and she says she doesnt want just one fish, so come on guys give me some ideas please you will make a mum an daughter very happy. Thanks in advance.

 

[arobinson1984]

Its quite a small tank so you dont have too many options, especially if you dont want what would be the common choice (few guppies etc)

I'd recommend a betta and few pygmy corys

Andy

 

[Curiosity101]

Agreed with andy.

Also with a betta, as theres such a wide range of tail types and colours you really can't go wrong.
And for a child it's perfect as opposed to being 'some fish', it's a single fish so more of a 'pet' as in you can name it etc.

 

[mystus]

What about zebra danios, or a different type of tetra like a glo-light or black neon tetra?

 

[arobinson1984]

At 6 US gallon, the tank is way too small for zebra danios im afraid, they are one of the most active fish you will find and need ample swimming space. I personally wouldnt put danios in a tank less than 100L

Same with many of the tetras, they need plenty of swimming space, even if you put some tetras in you would only be looking at about 4 in that size tank which wouldnt really be enough to keep them happy.

A betta with pygmy's would be the recommended option.

I was going to suggest a single dwarf puffer but I think the tank would be slightly too small, you would need a 10 gal min really as it would be hard to keep the pristine conditions in that size tank which the puffers need

Andy

 

[llamalord305]

Take a look at www.aquabid.com
Tons of nice bettas, and have her pick out the one she likes. There really are some gorgeous fish on there.

 

[Bebobb]

At 6 US gallon, the tank is way too small for zebra danios im afraid, they are one of the most active fish you will find and need ample swimming space. I personally wouldnt put danios in a tank less than 100L

Same with many of the tetras, they need plenty of swimming space, even if you put some tetras in you would only be looking at about 4 in that size tank which wouldnt really be enough to keep them happy.

A betta with pygmy's would be the recommended option.

I was going to suggest a single dwarf puffer but I think the tank would be slightly too small, you would need a 10 gal min really as it would be hard to keep the pristine conditions in that size tank which the puffers need

Andy

I disagree. A dwarf puffer can be kept in a 3 gallon, but nothing smaller. The reccomended for a dwarf puffer is a 5 gallon, and with this being a 6 gallon tank, it is perfectly adequate.

 

[arobinson1984]

I know 5 gal is recommended for a dwarf puffer, but I have read many posts both on here and other forums where people have had probs keeping a puffer in 5 gal due to fast changing water conditions. Its a matter of opinion. I personally would recommend 10 gal for the first puffer, then 5 gal per puffer after that.

Andy

 

[saltynay]

All macro Shrimp
ADF
Betta
Dwarf puffer
Endler males
Microrasboras
Pygmy cories

Perhaps

A dwarf cichlid
Small gouramis
Hatchetfish

 

[AdAndrews]

At 6 US gallon, the tank is way too small for zebra danios im afraid, they are one of the most active fish you will find and need ample swimming space. I personally wouldnt put danios in a tank less than 100L

Same with many of the tetras, they need plenty of swimming space, even if you put some tetras in you would only be looking at about 4 in that size tank which wouldnt really be enough to keep them happy.

A betta with pygmy's would be the recommended option.

I was going to suggest a single dwarf puffer but I think the tank would be slightly too small, you would need a 10 gal min really as it would be hard to keep the pristine conditions in that size tank which the puffers need

Andy

hang on! who said anything about 6US gallons, 35litres, is 9 US Gallons, 7.7UK gals.. thus take the 9 and you can have up to 9 inches of fish for the first 6 months and 18 inches after that if filtration is good... i would recommend some endler guppies, they are something different to the normal guppies, and you can get them in loads of colours too.. also they will breed readily in good conditions so i feel they could help educate your daughter, as she will find out the stages of what happens before a fish is a fish..
get 5 female endlers
2 male endlers
and 4 cherry shrimp for algae crew(plus they are lovely red when mature!)

good luck

 

[Bobtastic]

I quite like the look of Microrasboras Harlequin, they look really nice in the nano tanks i've seen.

 

[bagu]

i would say a betta and a few pygmy cory's/shrimp

 

[arobinson1984]

hang on! who said anything about 6US gallons, 35litres, is 9 US Gallons, 7.7UK gals.. thus take the 9 and you can have up to 9 inches of fish for the first 6 months and 18 inches after that if filtration is good... i would recommend some endler guppies, they are something different to the normal guppies, and you can get them in loads of colours too.. also they will breed readily in good conditions so i feel they could help educate your daughter, as she will find out the stages of what happens before a fish is a fish..
get 5 female endlers
2 male endlers
and 4 cherry shrimp for algae crew(plus they are lovely red when mature!)

good luck

I apologise, the tank is 9 US gallons, I had just finished reading the other thread in 'new to the hobby' section where somebody had a 24L tank and I got mixed up with this one lol.

Anyway, since the tank is 9 US gal, you could put in a dwarf puffer, possibly 2.

The tank still isnt big enough for danios and my recommended suggestion hasnt changed, a betta and pygmys would be the best bet

Andy

 

[Bebobb]

I would say a single apistogramma with a shoalof micro rasaboras.