Help Choosing Two Fish For A 3-gallon Tank

[annemazz]

My boyfriend gave me a 3-gallon tank two years ago and stocked it with two tinfoil barbs. He obviously didn't do his research. One fish killed the other and the remaining fish lived (probably unhappily) until about a month ago.

So... it's time for me to choose new fish and I've tried to research online but haven't come up with much. I would like to put two fish in the tank (ideally, a boy and a girl, because I'm romantic like that) but there don't seem to be many species of fish that are small and non-schooling. I don't want bettas or goldfish.

I've considered dwarf gouramis and black widow tetras. Will either of these work in a pair? Any other suggestions?

I don't want to buy two fish who hate each other, like my tinfoil barbs did. Life is too short to be stuck in a 3-gallon tank with someone you hate.

Thank you!

 

[The-Wolf]

The only fish that I can think of that might be suitable in a male female pair will be one of the annual killifish species.
bigC is the killie expert, perhaps he will advise you which one is ok for such a small tank, if indeed any are.

other than that you are really limited to 1 male betta or 1 female betta.

have you considered something other than fish
maybe an african dwarf frog or a few shrimp.

 

[wendywc]

A few shrimp would be nice. Like amano or cherry fire shrimps. Look here.

 

[dwarfgourami]

The problem is the very small size of the tank. There are indeed fish that can be kept in pairs- kribs, bristlenose plecs, rams spring to mind- but they can't survive in such a small volume of water; they would die from ammonia poisoning and stress in no time. This sounds definitely like a shrimp, betta or frog tank.

 

[annemazz]

I liked the idea of the killifish until I looked them up online and read that they jump. Jumping fish are a big no-no in my world (I have recurring nightmares -- no joke -- with fish jumping out of tanks and dying because I can't save them).
And shrimp... are kind of scary looking. I'm not real big on the frog idea either.
If it makes any difference -- the tank is pretty fancy with a bio-wheel and I change the water a lot.
Thanks so much for the suggestions, keep them coming! I really appreciate the wealth of knowledge on this board.

 

[wendywc]

I think shrimps are cool, but to each their own. If you never had a betta, they have great personalities, e.g., gorgeous colors, will feed from your hand, build bubblenests... check out the betta area.

If you don't like to have a betta (*shakes head thinking who doesn't like bettas*), you can get 1 dwarf puffer.

 

[catxx]

dwarf puffers really need a larger tank than 3 gallon, 5 gallon is the recommended minimum

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=90950

i'd go with a betta personally, nothing much else can cope with that small an area of water, like what everyone else has said.

 

[dwarfgourami]

It's not just a question of water changes; it's also things like oxygen, the need to be active and swim around, the need to hide if you have a problem with your companions- generally speaking, having a bit of space. Remember your fish can't be taken out for walks like if you keep a dog in a small flat. Many small fish are either schooling fish, like tetras, so would be very unhappy and quite likely get aggressive, or at least very active, so need swimming space. Keeping say a guppy in a 3 gallon tank would be like keeping a St Bernard in a bedsit and never taking it out. Most fish would jump if conditions became unbearable.

Also, schooling fish are likely to have serious aggression problems if kept in pairs, and gouramis are highly territorial.

The betta is really the only fish who fits the bill: able to breathe air, and not an active swimmer. But only one- two would kill each other.

 

[annemazz]

Okay... I'm reconsidering the betta. But aren't they jumpers too? My niece has a betta in a bowl and it always looks so depressed -- just kind of lays on the gravel. I guess I assumed all bettas were depressed. They always look that way at the pet shop.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Okay... I'm reconsidering the betta. But aren't they jumpers too? My niece has a betta in a bowl and it always looks so depressed -- just kind of lays on the gravel. I guess I assumed all bettas were depressed. They always look that way at the pet shop.

I would go to the betta forum for reassurance on this one. They seem to love their bettas there with a passion that is more than the rest of us feel for all our other fish together. I haven't had a betta for 30 years now (gave up keeping fish altogether, stupidly enough), but I don't remember him as lying on the gravel; if you give him space to move in he will move, as long as he is in good health.

I don't think they are particularly known for jumping, any fish can jump given the wrong circumstances.

 

[catxx]

bettas can jump, veil tail bettas (the usual pet shop betta) will put a good effort in if the need arises (if they see food above the water, or theres a water quality problem) but it's more the plakat (short tailed) bettas and female bettas that jump, they're not weighed down by a big tail, my plakat will clear the water completely if he sees food!

as long as you can provide a lid they'll be fine

and a betta laying on the gravel is a sign of ill health

 

[annemazz]

Alright... I visited the bettas at the pet shop last night and they truly do look SO depressed. I thought half of them might be dead.

The pet shop guy said I could keep a single goldfish in the tank. What do you guys think? Goldfish are a lot cuter than bettas, in my opinion.

 

[wendywc]

No , a goldfish needs a 20 gallon tank minimum. Some goldfish grow to 10-18". Sounds like one of those depressed bettas you saw need a nice tank --- then they'll be happy.

 

[Nevergone815]

Alright... I visited the bettas at the pet shop last night and they truly do look SO depressed. I thought half of them might be dead.

The pet shop guy said I could keep a single goldfish in the tank. What do you guys think? Goldfish are a lot cuter than bettas, in my opinion.

if i'm not mistaken goldfish need a MINIMUM of 10 gal for the 1st fish and 5 gal for each additional one after that. i am not 100% sure, but goldfish can grow to 12" and a 3 gal is nowhere near big enough. this is just another case of an employee at a lfs giving horrible advice.

you could make it a snailarium. just put a couple snails in there and let them live. they will be happy and have babies and such. you just need to keep the babies at a controllable level. see the invert section (i beleive that is it) for more info on snails.

like said before EVERY fish will jump, if it sees food above the tank or the water conditions are bad (to the fish's liking)

your options are:

1 male betta
1 female betta
african dwarf frogs (they say you could put 2 per gal, but I wouldn't put more than 3 in the 3 gal)
1 dwarf puffer (5 gal is the IDEAL minimum, but they do well in 3 gal)
a bunch of shrimp (ghost, amano, cherry)
snails (make sure to keep a control on the babies/eggs)

or

1 male betta + 1 snail or ADF
1 female betta + 1 snail or ADF

or

1 DP + snails (they will use these for food- it's really good for them)

or

shrimp + snails

or

ADF + shrimp + snails

keep shrimp away from bettas and DPs as they just peck at their eyes and such and torture them to death.


edit: usually if a betta is "depressed" it isn't living in good conditions and the petstore probably isn't giving it good care. you could buy one and you will see how much it perks up in a matter of minutes after it goes in the bigger tank.

 

[Elrohirthehasty]

Okay... I'm reconsidering the betta. But aren't they jumpers too? My niece has a betta in a bowl and it always looks so depressed -- just kind of lays on the gravel. I guess I assumed all bettas were depressed. They always look that way at the pet shop.

thats because they are all in spaces too small

if you gave a betta 3 gals to itself and gave it a variable diet it would love you !