Fry Hatched From New Plants - Total Beginner!

[Laverne]

I am a totally new aquarium keeper with a lot of questions about this hobby! I received a very small 3 gallon tank for Christmas and was planning to put some live plants in it and a couple neon tetras once my tank has cycled.
 
I really wanted to start my tank right and spare unnecessary casualties so I put in substrate, water (used Prime for chlorine), and added ammonia to 4 ppm to try to fishless cycle before I added anything live. 2 weeks went by and ammonia wasn't dropping. I did a 25% water change to 2 ppm and decided to try adding plants (even though I know they consume ammonia and will compete with bacteria, I know it'll increase cycling time but wanted something to look at since I've been waiting so patiently with no change in water conditions).
 
Apparently the plants I picked up must have had eggs on them because 3 days later and I'm seeing about 5 baby fry in my tank! No idea what kind of fish they are and I'm really worried about them because I've been testing my ammonia and it's still running around 2 ppm! No nitrites yet, either. I picked up fry food and have been feeding them but I'm worried that I'm going to drive up the ammonia even more by feeding. Should I do a partial water change or will that stress them out even more??

 

[PrairieSunflower]

If you want to keep the fry, I would do water changes so the ammonia is down to safe levels.  If you don't want to keep them you could try rehoming them with someone who has a cycled tank.

A 3 gallon tank is also too small for neon tetra... neon tetras do badly in newly cycled tank and also require larger and longer tanks to swim in... their small size is a bit deceptive for their needs.

 

[Ninjouzata]

The most you'll want in that tank would be some shrimp or a betta. Sorry, it's just a very small tank
I agree with Sunflower.

 

[mrstwalker]

I agree with the posts above, 3 gallons is just too small for a fast moving fish such as the neon tetra. I would go with  a betta for a tank such as this. 
 
I dont really know what to tell you to do with the fry. If you want to raise them, you could research what type of fish lays eggs naturally on that kind of plant and start from there. 

 

[Laverne]

I really don't like betta fish but maybe I could get some shrimp. Are there any small fish that do okay without companions? It seems like most fish need others in the tank too and that's probably not feasible. As a little kid I literally had a 1 gallon fishbowl with a guppy, danio, and snail. I had no filter or heater and the fish would NOT die. Lived to be like 5 years old and they even had fry that grew up and eventually had to be given away (I'm still perplexed by how this happened, but I digress). Can I try a guppy or danio? Or both?
 
As far as the fry go, they still haven't died. I did a 20% water change and the ammonia is closer to 1 ppm now, but still probably too high. Should I just keep doing 20% changes every day until the levels are under 1 ppm?
 
I've been feeding them some fry food from the store I got the plants from. The guy there told me he thought they were probably rainbows. I'm guessing almost any kind of fish will end up being way too big for my tank - if these manage to live do pet stores usually take fish back?

 

[sawickib]

Yea most fish are two small for a 3 gallon, and just because they survived in a bowl, doesn't mean they lived, it was probably a very bad life for the fish. But you didnt know, but I wouldn't put any other fish through that.

 

[mrstwalker]

You could try a VERY small single Oranda or Fantail goldfish. Be sure that it is YOUNG and plan on obtaining a larger tank in the future if you go that route. they are very beautiful and personable fish. Orandas & fantails come in white,black,gold,gray and duo tones. No heater required and they are very hardy fish so you dont need to worry too much about testing the water. Also you could consider a small air stone for a 3 gal. tank or have the filter at a water fall effect in the water. Also, if you dont want to keep the fry, they could be a tasty snack for them, they will eat about anything. Peas, boiled egg whites, spinach ect. 
 

  The Oranda
 

  The Fantail

 

[Ninjouzata]

Please DO NOT stick a goldie in that tiny tank.

 
Pet stores usually take fish back, yeah.
 
As said, just because they lived, doesn't mean they lived well. Surviving is not thriving!
 
Danios are schooling fish, so should be kept in groups of 6+. Depending on the type they need a larger tank anyways as some are very active. (3-4ft for zebras)
 
-Maybe- a single guppy, but they are social so I'd think it'd be best not to.
 
Why don't you like bettas? Take a look at betta imbellis and see if you'd rather that btw.
 
Shrimp are cute and think they'd keep you fairly entertained

Come in a wide variety of colors too!
 
*Edit* If you're very set on some schooling fish..perhaps keep this tank as a shrimp tank, and pick up a 10g at Wal-Mart for 29$. You'd need substrate, decor, and a heater.

 

[Laverne]

The oranda goldfish totally creep me out - it's like their brains are hanging out of their heads. Urgh. No goldfish for me.
 
I think after much contemplation I've pinpointed what I hate about bettas - they're super mopey! Always hiding behind plants, swimming all slow and dejected. How depressing!
 
I really like the idea of shrimp but I know basically nothing about them, except that they taste delicious. Anyone know of a good dual-purpose breed? 

 
I think I'll just see what happens with these fry. If they live (I'm guessing this is pretty unlikely) then I'll just bring them to a pet store to give them back when they're a bit bigger. Otherwise I'll probably just empty this thing out. I've spent over a month trying to carefully decide what to put in this silly tank and I ended up getting some suicidal mystery fish invading it. What a waste - accidentally hatching out fish I won't even be able to keep!

 

[mrstwalker]

Please DO NOT stick a goldie in that tiny tank.

 
Pet stores usually take fish back, yeah.
 
As said, just because they lived, doesn't mean they lived well. Surviving is not thriving!
 
Danios are schooling fish, so should be kept in groups of 6+. Depending on the type they need a larger tank anyways as some are very active. (3-4ft for zebras)
 
-Maybe- a single guppy, but they are social so I'd think it'd be best not to.
 
Why don't you like bettas? Take a look at betta imbellis and see if you'd rather that btw.
 
Shrimp are cute and think they'd keep you fairly entertained

Come in a wide variety of colors too!
 
*Edit* If you're very set on some schooling fish..perhaps keep this tank as a shrimp tank, and pick up a 10g at Wal-Mart for 29$. You'd need substrate, decor, and a heater.

 
I said be sure to plan on obtaining a larger tank in the future. I agree with not sticking a large one in a tank this size, however a goldfish would be fine in a tank such as this for a short time. 
 
 
And Laverne, it depends on the betta i guess. I have a beautiful crowntail who is always "dancing" and will come right up to me. If you choose a betta in the future, just look for one who is very active when you walk by

 

[Ninjouzata]

I wouldn't stick a goldie in there for any amount of time, sorry.
 
Bettas aren't mopey IMO..as walker said, they can dance for you Understandable though, if you don't like it then you don't like it. I'm sorry you're having issues figuring out what to get for this tank.
I believe cherry shrimp are the good beginner shrimp?

 

[sawickib]

could always get some african dwarf frog, i think crayfish need a 10 gallon min, not experienced with them though.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Not all bettas are mopey... but they do have a natural "pout".  My first one (which ended up being in bad condition and died after a week... never buying one from that chain store again) was sooooooooo responsive to me and so happy for interaction.  My second is so so, he does nap quite a bit but I can see him get excited when I walk by and look at him or when he is swimming around the tank and notices me waving from across the room.
 
If you are able to get a larger tank (at least a 10 gallon) your options for fish increases by a lot.