I Need To Make A Decision?!?!?!

[MrsHennesy87]

ya i decided im gonna get a bigger tank

 

[pezmanw]

Whoever thinks guppies are fine in an (approximately) 18*18*18 cm tank (that's about 7*7*7 inches) stop hiding and own up, I want to know who I've just lost some respect for!

Well a male guppy grows to about 1.5” and you could have 1” of fish per gallon (US) so that works out to 2 males for that size of tank. Or would you like a calculator for the math??? That’s 2.65g so if you want to get down to it it’s 1 and ¾ of a guppy. I’ve been keeping fish for 20 years and I think of them as my kids. Things might be different in Europe but in Canada that is the rule of thumb.

Yes, I would very much like to see a calculator which fits 3" of fish into a 1.5 gallon tank. That is what the poll is about, not a 2.65 gallon.

Secondly, the 1" of fish per US gallon is extremely flawed: will a 10" oscar live well in a 10 gallon tank? No, it probably even wouldn't survive.
It is a different matter with guppy sized fish, but how do you expect them to be able to do anything more than go around in circles in a tank which is about 7*7*7 inches in size? And how does this guideline take into account that small tanks are difficult to maintain stable parameters in because of the water volumes involved? The rule of thumb is long since outdated because our understanding of fish has improved and we are able to use our heads to think, instead of trusting in an arbitrary number that someone made up many years ago. It is still useful as a guideline, but not an absolute one. For example, it would work if "for tanks over 10 gallons and for fish under 2" was appended to the end.

If you really think of your fish as your kids… would you keep your kids cooped up in a small apartment for their whole lives? Or would you let them run around and have as much space as they need to exercise and keep healthy? Given that you seem happy for the fish to have so little space to move, it doesn't really look like you think of them as your kids. Pampering is one thing, providing a good environment is another. But even if you kept your kids cooped up with good intentions, would that make it right or good for them?

I also don’t have anything under 20 gallons for a tank besides a 10 gallon breeder (US) so I’m going by “our” rule of thumb.

You know, I was thinking over lunch about how this could be relevant to the OP's situation and the only explanation I can come up with is that you have no experience with nano tanks. Is that what you are trying to say?

I also said she might want to change tanks and put 2 guppies in the bigger tank. I also know the rule is flawed, and there are other things to consider. You are correct in the fact that I do not or have ever had a nano tank. My fish have a lot of room and when the get bigger thy get moved to bigger tanks. I was saying it was doable not a good idea, should have made that clear. Sorry.

 

[MrsHennesy87]

well i got a bigger tank anyway

 

[creeker]

How big is the new tank?

 

[creeker]

Sorry, double post.

 

[KittyKat]

[…] You are correct in the fact that I do not or have ever had a nano tank. My fish have a lot of room and when the get bigger thy get moved to bigger tanks. I was saying it was doable not a good idea, should have made that clear. Sorry.

One of the biggest considerations when looking at someone asking for advice on stocking for small tanks is that 99% of the time, they won't upgrade the tank. So with regards to fish, we need to assume that they won't get a bigger home, so suggestions should be made only for those species which can do well in the small tank for their *whole* life. The other problem is that due to the volume of the water, and the parameters as a result being more difficult to maintain (for example, pH fluctuations between day and night, ammonia increasing after feeding time, oxygen levels), the total stocking per volume must be less than for decent sized tanks. So, while keeping fish in small tanks is doable (and I am a fan of small tanks), there are considerably more considerations than with larger tanks.

 

[OldMan47]

As a suggestion for a tiny tank, why not look at truly small fish like Heterandria formosa? My wife claims that their tank has no fish at all in it, in my home, but I have mine in a 10 gallon, 37 litres, tank. They grow to all of about 2 cm long as adults and I keep a nice breeding colony in a 10 gallon.

Male Heterandria

Female Heterandria ahead of a pygmy cory

Male Heterandria with a bit of size perspective. That is a filter sponge covering an inlet tube in the background.

 

[MrsHennesy87]

How big is the new tank?

U.S 10 GALLON