Have a 5 gal. aquarium

[jumccaff]

I'm seriously worried that Jeffrey needs a playmate. I have a 5 gal. plastic tank, light hood, real plants, filter, bubbler, and soon to be adding a heater. Can I add somethnig other than a snail to the tank? Zebra dannio? Neon tetra? I know they like to be in a school. Would there be room in a 5 gal for 3 tetras and my betta?

 

[juliethegr8t]

Bettas can eat neon tetras, or the tetras may nip the fins of the betta. The danios won't have enough room in that tank, and they will nip fins also. Some better choices might be a few cories or ottos.

 

[cutecotton]

a sanil would be a great addition to your tank the bettas love to explore

i woudlnt' suggest tetras though becuase they COULD be fin nippers sometimes, and too fast for hte betta to get "revenge" or run away. I would suggest either snails, an ADF frog (african dwarf frog), or perhaps a few ghost shrimps.

If you're looking at FISH mates, in a 5G tank, i heard platties work quite well with bettas. (get a trio) or all the same sex. stay away from guppies though becuase the bettas sometimes see their fancy tails as competition

also, bottom feeders go nicely with bettas too. Such as otos or cory cats (both of these type of fish should be kept in a goup of at least 3).

HTH

 

[jumccaff]

WOW, you guys are great with your advice! So, cories or ottos, snails, ghost shrimps or platties. Being that I'm somewhat new with a tank, are some easier than others? And my number one concern is Jeffrey's happiness, so are some better choices than others?

 

[jumccaff]

I'm also very concerned about overcrowding, and know that some of these require 3+, will I be overcrowding in 5 gal tank?

 

[Wisperian]

I could get a 3 kuhli loaches as you knwo im obessesd with them

 

[jumccaff]

Oh. My. God. I just did a google search of what kuhli loaches' look like. SCARY! No offense, but they look like snakes, don't you think? GULP.

 

[cutecotton]

well, the general rule is one inch of fish per gallon excluding fins.

Assuming your betta is about 2 inches, that leaves you with 3 more inches of fish.

Since you are just starting, i would stick by that rule, of course you can add more as you see fit, but don't overcrowd it.

ADFs, snails and ghost shrimps are the safest choices you have. Cories and Otos and platties are all pretty easy fish to keep, except i heard that otos are more fragile (however i have 3 otos and they must be the hardiest fish on the planet!)

it's really up to you, i believe all of these fish would be quite comptaible with your betta

 

[Wisperian]

They're cute!!!!! I love mine! but you dont have to..... but betas are sometiems messy and a kuhli loaches can help clean the bottom of the tank up

 

[cutecotton]

however note that khuli loaches will grow bigger htan 1 inch (actually teh ones you see in petstores are usually 1.5 inch to 2 inch).

 

[Wisperian]

I think thsoe are juvies mine's like 3 inches

 

[jumccaff]

Beta lova, I didn't mean to be rude. To each his/her own, and I should not have been so judgemental. They look, well, interesting. I'm sure the kuhli loaches are very nice creatures, but no offense, I just don't think they're for me. However, thank you for your recommendation, it was very much appreciated!

 

[Wisperian]

Beta lova, I didn't mean to be rude. To each his/her own, and I should not have been so judgemental. They look, well, interesting. I'm sure the kuhli loaches are very nice creatures, but no offense, I just don't think they're for me. However, thank you for your recommendation, it was very much appreciated!

Nah its okay! my parents say the same thing! they went ew!!!!! did you put some earthworms in there! n i was likie THOSE ARE KUHLI LOACHES DUMBIES! lols but yea...... they'er cute in a scary way try some ottos! they're cute too

 

[jumccaff]

Are Otos cute as in KUHLI LOACHES? Or like Betas?

 

[tekknocolor]

I would have to disagree with Betta_lova. Kuhli loaches do get large in size, they can reach up to 4 inches in length. Not only that, but also, they prefer larger numbers to feel secure. So, we're saying a minimum of 3 ... A tank that size would not be sufficient for that many fish...