Hello To All From London, England

[Emeraldjones]

Hi,
I've been absorbed in these TFF for the last few days since I googled 'keeping fish' and wound up here! I've learnt so much already! I'm new to fish keeping, well I haven't started yet, but bought a 40L tank today and I'm going to set it up tonight to start cycling. I'm planning on getting a few guppies or platys to go in it, and later some shrimp and maybe a betta.

A few questions if anyone can advise... Is it better for the health of the tank and fish to have live plants? What are the drawbacks? Will this combination of fish and shrimp live happily together?

 

[Zante]

Er... ok, first of all hi, londoner here too.
 
Then... 40 litres is not exactly the best size to start with as it restricts your options quite a lot. To be honest I'd only keep a betta in there and possibly a few shrimps, but that is all.
 
It's not a good idea to keep guppies with a betta because there is quite a risk for the guppy males to be attacked by the betta. As they have long flowing tails they might be seen as rivals. I don't know what the chances are, but in 40 litres I don't think you really have the room to find out.
 
The shrimps should be fine with the betta, especially if you pick amano shrimps which are larger and more aggressive. Don't expect any breeding though. Even if you get shrimps that will breed easily the fish will snack on the shrimplets.
If you provide a lot of hiding places such as ferny plants, moss and so on, some might survive long enough to grow to adulthood.
 
Live plants: yes, they are very good natural filters and improve the water quality a lot. In my opinion they also look better.
 
So, in conclusion
- Live plants
- One betta
- A few shrimps
 
A more experienced fishkeeper would probably be able to stock more, but the lower bioload will allow you to learn with a larger margin since the small volume of your tank doesn't allow a lot of buffer for the mistakes that all of us have made and inevitably you will too.

 

[meandmykribs]

Shrimp will live happily with most fish provided you avoid macros as they are fish eaters
 
Ensure you cycle your tank until ammonia and nitrite is nil before you add your fish
 
I have no idea on live plants im sorry I use fake plants as I find that live plants are harder to look after than the fish hahaha
There are plenty on here who will disagree with me though hahaha I'm just not good with plants full stop
 
and finally

  to the greatest forum going

 

[Ninjouzata]

Hi! As has been said, make sure you cycle your tank, reading the 'Cycling a Tank' article (at the top of the page) should be quite helpful if you havn't read it already
I have no idea on platys or guppies for that tank, but agreed you should not mix the guppies with a betta, as Zante said.
Live plants are great, just make sure you get ones that are easy to take care of, they're good for the fish and look really nice too.

 

[Emeraldjones]

Thanks for all you replies

I know 40l is very small compared to what most people on here keep but I can't give over much more space than that in my home. A betta is last on the list really so I'd rather keep a couple of the guppies/ platys instead... There's a pinned thread on nano tanks that said it should be fine?

 

[Ninjouzata]

I don't see platys on the list, just the guppies. 
You can do guppies, just don't put the betta with them.
May I ask why betta is last on the list for you?

 

[Zante]

In that case make sure you only get males, or in a few months you will have a fish soup.

 

[starangel]

I agree, live plants, if you like guppies get fancy tailed, you can find some beautiful ones and they are easy to take care of. Make sure you cycle the tank as they said the water quality has to be right or the fish will die. i live in USA I use Prime and or Quick Start and Stress Coat with some aqua salt to start a tank and do water changes. Keep the filter for at least 6 months and only rinse it out in the water you take out of the tank. You need the good bacteria to stay in the tank water. 
I don't know how big a 40l is Is that smaller than a 10 gal? If  you like male Bettas you can get a desk top set up, they are very nice for 1 fish add gravel and a plant, very nice home for your  buddy but you must do water change every week. I keep mine in a 3 gal cube and use a filter and air and still do 20% water change each week. Keeps him happy. 
You need to keep reading and learn all you can. I have been doing this for a year now and still learning, like you don't buy a male and female Mollie and put them in a small tank. I just had 20 fry 

 Good luck with your new hobby

 

[Emeraldjones]

I'll go with guppies then, I was thinking only males I don't want babies everywhere. Ninjouzata i would like more than one fish in the tank and if I'm honest I think I would get too attached to a betta! I'm trying to spare mine and my sons feelings while as said, inevitable mistakes are made. I will definitely have one one day, they seem lovely fish.

Thanks for being so welcoming. I'm going to set my tank up now and have read all info on cycling, eager to start it all!

I agree, live plants, if you like guppies get fancy tailed, you can find some beautiful ones and they are easy to take care of. Make sure you cycle the tank as they said the water quality has to be right or the fish will die. i live in USA I use Prime and or Quick Start and Stress Coat with some aqua salt to start a tank and do water changes. Keep the filter for at least 6 months and only rinse it out in the water you take out of the tank. You need the good bacteria to stay in the tank water. 
I don't know how big a 40l is Is that smaller than a 10 gal? If  you like male Bettas you can get a desk top set up, they are very nice for 1 fish add gravel and a plant, very nice home for your  buddy but you must do water change every week. I keep mine in a 3 gal cube and use a filter and air and still do 20% water change each week. Keeps him happy. 
You need to keep reading and learn all you can. I have been doing this for a year now and still learning, like you don't buy a male and female Mollie and put them in a small tank. I just had 20 fry   Good luck with your new hobby

Thanks You It's just under 9 uk gallons, I think about 10 US.

 

[Ninjouzata]

You can keep other fish with a betta (depending on it's personality ofcourse), but understand on the getting attached thing. Although I think you'll get attached to the guppies too. I'm attached to all of my fish Remember to take pics!

 

[joe17]

I don't know exactly what size is 40l but I have a 10g with a couple platys and guppies that coexist beautifully! No problem so far, and this is also my first attempt at fish keeping.

Also, welcome! You will find some incredible advice here!

 

[bigcheed]

does it have to be guppies. there are some great species of smaller fish like ember tetras and cardinal tetras. or maybe chili rasboras.

 

[ky*weremiej]

 

[ncguppy830]

does it have to be guppies. there are some great species of smaller fish like ember tetras and cardinal tetras. or maybe chili rasboras.

well  dont think cardinals should be considered there to big and need space

 

[ky*weremiej]

Get a betta fish and a few neon tetra