Does It Exist?

[FishEnthusiast]

Hi,

I have a 5G tank that is used in my frog tank for the frogs to swim in etc...

I would like to put a fish in there that can handle:

1. No filtration
2. No heat
3. Doesn't need to come to the surface for air as the top of the tank is covered in water lettuce and water hyacinth

The 5G sits at about 70-72* without heat added.

Does a fish like this exist? I was originally going to go for a betta, but there is no way that the betta would be able to come up for air. I know that the tank is way too small for a goldfish, and I also do not have filtration.

This is a picture of the frog tank with the 5G

Sorry for the darkness of the photo, I don't like to use a flash

This is the 5G

And this is the tank lengthwise.

I am more than willing to have no fish in there if they aren't suitable. Any suggestions?

 

[grumpymole]

Bettas?

 

[Fella]

Hi there.

You say that a Betta would be unable to come up for air, I'm not 100% sure on these but I'm sure you would need some surface area free for any fishes. How would you feed them for instance?

With no heat you're looking at coldwater only. Goldish are an impossibility in a 5 gallon. Weather loaches require more swimming space, and hillstream loaches require current. So that's a few more to tick off the list.

WCMM are a possibility, but you would need a shoal, and I think they would require more swimming room. So maybe not a possibility after all.

I'm not sure what fish you could have in there really

 

[dwarfgourami]

As far as I know there is no such fish- but give me a shout when they invent one! Lots of people could do with one like that.

That is a great-looking tank you've got there though. What frogs are they?

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I kinda figured that I wouldn't be able to put anything in there. The top of the tank has a lot of floating plants. The betta could come up for air, but it might be a struggle.

I considered WCMM as I already have some in my 30G, but nixed it because of how much room they seem to enjoy.

I guess I will enjoy it with the snail that currently occupies the 5G.

The frogs are Columbian Spotted Frogs. The main tank is 55"X24"X24" and has a capacity of 132G. There are a total of 8 frogs and they love the space.

 

[guppymonkey]

No fish could live in that for long and the frogs won't be too happy either. With no filtration the water conditions must be terrible. Even though they don't breathe underwater frogs still absorb through their skin so ammonia and other problem chemicals will effect the health of the frogs.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I'm sure they do, it looks gorgeous!

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I change the water at least weekly, and these frogs are mostly terrestrial. The most I have ever seen them do is sit on the leaves of the floating plants.

I keep numerous bettas in unfiltered tanks. They get 100% water changes weekly and are very happy and healthy.

 

[timmystood]

No way could a betta survive in the tanks - for a start they need heat and filtration.
Probably too small for a goldfish so I would say no there probably isn't a fish that would go in there. However, I may be wrong!

 

[FishEnthusiast]

No way could a betta survive in the tanks - for a start they need heat and filtration.
Probably too small for a goldfish so I would say no there probably isn't a fish that would go in there. However, I may be wrong!

Could you please show me where it says that bettas need to be in filtered and heated water? I have 10 bettas in unfiltered and unheated tanks. They do great. The temp stays at a steady 72 degrees and they get water changes weekly. They all have live plants that grow like mad in their tanks. The water is always crystal clear and the bettas are always swimming and active.

In fact they don't act much different than the 5 bettas that are in divided, heated and filtered tanks.

I only ruled out bettas because I feel that there is too much crowding the surface of the water for them to easily get air.

BTW, the pic of the 5G tank was taken 2 days after I filled it with water. It is crystal clear now.

 

[guppymonkey]

Could you please show me where it says that bettas need to be in filtered and heated water? I have 10 bettas in unfiltered and unheated tanks. They do great. The temp stays at a steady 72 degrees and they get water changes weekly. They all have live plants that grow like mad in their tanks. The water is always crystal clear and the bettas are always swimming and active.

In fact they don't act much different than the 5 bettas that are in divided, heated and filtered tanks.

I only ruled out bettas because I feel that there is too much crowding the surface of the water for them to easily get air.

BTW, the pic of the 5G tank was taken 2 days after I filled it with water. It is crystal clear now.
[/quote]


Bettas are a semitropical fish. If you keep them in bowls you do need to keep temperature in mind, if it gets too cold they will die. I live in upstate new york, real upstate about 4 hours north of New York City and it gets really cold up near Canada here. If the temperature drops much below 60 F then most bettas will die. So in a way heat does matter.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

I am in Western Canada. It barely even snows here. It rains a lot though. I keep my house at 72-76 all the time. The water temp in all my tanks do not drop below 70.

My betta tanks have never dropped below 68. The day I noticed they were at 68 was the day my heater was turned up. I haven't lowered it since. I have not tested how warm the water in the frog tank is. I will put a thermometor in there and see. I assume it would be a little warmer than the betta tanks only because three sides are buried in bark mulch and topsoil. Only the front of the tank is exposed.

What about a crayfish? A friend of ours has lots and he is willing to give one to us. I don't know much about them, but I do know our friend keeps his in a unheated tank. Would they try to eat the frogs? That would be my biggest concern. I don't have to have anything in the tank. It would just be like a bonus if you know what I mean.

 

[guppymonkey]

In my experience with crayfish (which is limited to TRYING to keep them with fish) they generally don't play well with others. I would guess that this would extend to frogs as well. I have heard of crayfish climbing out of tanks to go after food too!

Oh, and I wasn't questioning your betta keeping, just pointing out that they need a high enough temperature.

 

[FishEnthusiast]

That is kinda what I was thinking with the crayfish.

We will get some, but they can go in the 20G that the frogs vacated.

I am sure you weren't questioning my ability, however, I did want to point out that with a high enough ambient room temperature that stays steady bettas do not need to be in heated water.

I know some people can't keep their houses as warm as I do year round. I have my hydro included in my rent and the landlords haven't said anything yet. Until they do I will continue to crank the heat inside as I don't have enough outlets for 10 more heaters.

I have decided the ramshorn snail will stay in the 5G alone. I didn't think I would find a fish that would fare well in the tank. Ah well. Such is life.