Ideas For Small Peacefull Fish In A 48Ltr Cube?

[SparkyDave]

Hi all

I am looking for ideas for some small or very small fish to go into a 48ltr tropical fishbox eventually we would like a small community with something going on in all levels of the tank.

I would ideally like to have a small shoal of something like tetras or endlers (do they all shoal?) and a few other bright active fish or pairs, and maybe an alge eater later on, I was thinking maybe a buterfly loach or a couple of tiny shrimp.

Any ideas for small, hardy, easy to keep fish to start of with?

This tank will be sited in my 10year olds room and the fish will be her pets so I just want to steer her in the right direction when picking the first fishes.

I have been to 3 local shops to see the quality of stock and one has impressed me with very healthy looking fish and an large selection.

Thanks

SD.

 

[bassbonediva]

How about a school of celestial pearl danios (aka-galaxy rasbora)? They are small and school really well. http/www.totalfishkeeping.com/uploads/post-12-11795172650.jpg

You could do a school of 8-10 CPDs (celestial pearl danios), a honey gourami (http/animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/anabantoids/images/HoneyGouramiWFA_AcF160.jpg) and 3-4 panda cories (http/www.livefishdirect.com/images/fish/panda%20cory.jpg).

I wouldn't recommend a butterfly (aka-hillstream) loach for a small tank. They are dedicated coldwater fish (prefer temps of 20-23.8C, which is lower than tropical fish prefer) and require A LOT of current/water flow and aeration because of the nature of their natural home. Here's some great info on them: http/www.loaches.com/species-index/beaufortia-kweichowensis

 

[lilfishie]

THIS LINK should be helpful to you as its list some of the fish you can happily keep in a tank of your size

if it was mine i would go with sand substrare (play sand works wonders) plant it with a few easy grow plants then stock it with:

Top: Honey Gourami or i am tempted to say Female Betta

Middle: 6-8 Galaxy Rasbora

Bottom: 10 Pygmy Cory (or any of the smaller cory)

The betta imo would be great with it being for your daughter as they do get to know there owners and have great personalities once they settle.

Could even get a few shrimp in there too imo

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

THIS LINK should be helpful to you as its list some of the fish you can happily keep in a tank of your size

if it was mine i would go with sand substrare (play sand works wonders) plant it with a few easy grow plants then stock it with:

Top: Honey Gourami or i am tempted to say Female Betta

Middle: 6-8 Galaxy Rasbora

Bottom: 10 Pygmy Cory (or any of the smaller cory)

The betta imo would be great with it being for your daughter as they do get to know there owners and have great personalities once they settle.

Could even get a few shrimp in there too imo

I agree with the betta comment; I saw one in a shop; kept going back and seeing him, finally after weeks bought a tank and had my mind set on him and he is brilliant . He's full of personality; prefers the company of me to anyone else (primary feeder). I like him so much I bought a bunch of females who are equally as nice.

 

[Assaye]

Great suggestions so far! If you didn't fancy CPDs, ember tetras, male endlers, chilli rasboras or green neon tetras would be pretty alternatives.

Most important thing at this stage is to research the nitrogen cycle. No point getting some fish in the tank and find they get sick because of ammonia in the water! Have a look here at the information on cycling, specially fishless cycling!

 

[SparkyDave]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and advice, I will be researching more about the fish suggested over this weekend and maybe another trip to the LFS again
I have read alot over the past couple of weeks and alot about the nitrogen cycle, I think I was given bad advice from the Pets at home store as feeding with Ammonia was never mentioned
I've been adding Interpet Filter Start as per the instructions given by P@H so it looks like if I do introduce some fish next week as I planned to they will be in for the duration of the cycle.
I feel if I only allow my DD to get say 5 CPDs or Galaxy Rasporas and start with only those 5 until we can get through the spikes (with waterchanges every 24H) then look at adding more stock after that.
I will be contacting a couple of members from here who I hope may be able to donate some mature media, and I will ask at the shop if they could give or sell some this weekend.


Thanks again for all the replys its much appreciated.

SD.

 

[Assaye]

P@H won't tell you about fishless cycles and you'll be very lucky if they tell you about water testing, ammonia toxicity or daily water changes.

If you do choose to get some fish before your cycle is over, please remember that this is a LOT of work for you and dangerous for the fish. You'll have to test the water for ammonia and nitrite 2-3x a day and do very large water changes whenever there is any ammona or nitrite, even a tiny bit. A level as high as 0.1 will start stressing the fish.

It is much easier to do a fishless cycle and much less hassle. It doesn't take longer.

As for the filter aid - if you've not been adding ammonia to the water, adding filter aid does nothing. These products very often do not contain the 'live bacteria' they claim to as the bacteria (if there ever were any) die as a result of being kept in storage. The bacteria need to be fed constantly (which doesn't happen in storage) or they need to be kept chilled (which rarely happens). Even if there were live bacteria, once you add them to your tank you need to feed them. The instructions that say "add this daily for 1 week and then add fish" are totally off the mark and just show that they are trying to make money out of us. If you add live bacteria and then don't feed them, they'll die, so adding bacteria to an empty tank for a week does sweet FA.

Mature media is the way forward but I'd still recommend a fishless cycle. With some mature media a fishless cycle can be as quick as a week!

 

[SparkyDave]

I understand its going to take alot of regular testing and PWCs to keep healthy fish, I got a shock when P@H said after a week you can stock some "tester fish" I got the feeling the staff knew these would probably get sick and/or die within weeks

I have tried to contact the 2 members listed im my area as potential mature filter media donors, however my e-mails have bounced back undelivered, and I don't seem to be able to pm here.

I will be asking all my LFS for some (one has already said no) but If anyone in the Ashrofd or Kent area could spare some, I'd be willing to pay for some replacement media and within reason drive to collect.
I have the interpet PF1 filter that uses foam type filters.

Not completely sure what I will do, my daughters Bday is coming up next week I would like to her have at least a fish or 2.

Thanks again

SD.

 

[Biddles95]

hmm i have exactly the same size tank !!
and it is a cube too !!!
is your tank a Rena ?
i have 2 guormis and an angel
but i want some corys and a bristlenose..how many corys could i have?
thanks billy

 

[kevin82]

I would look at all tetras, pick your favourite and get a small shoal (6)

probably go for 6 pygmy corys as well

I've got a 34L with 3 serpae and 3 black widows in with my Sulwesi Snails

 

[Biddles95]

are the pygmy corys hard ot find in the pet stores?
i would like a couple because rather than a couple of big ones i could get like 5 of them small ones

 

[Carlovel1]

Pygmy Cories are quite common. TBH they should be in groups of 6 or more

 

[SparkyDave]

hmm i have exactly the same size tank !!
and it is a cube too !!!
is your tank a Rena ?

The tank I have is made by Interpet and is called a "fishbox" comes complete with heater, filter, thermostat and twin light, I thought it was a good buy, but the instructions for setup & keeping fish are not brilliant.

SD.

 

[Biddles95]

hmm i have exactly the same size tank !!
and it is a cube too !!!
is your tank a Rena ?

The tank I have is made by Interpet and is called a "fishbox" comes complete with heater, filter, thermostat and twin light, I thought it was a good buy, but the instructions for setup & keeping fish are not brilliant.

SD.

ohh ... yeh my filter is fitted in the back of my tank with 3 sets of sponge and like 100 bioballs haha
i bought mine second hand for £8 !!!!
thanks
Billy

 

[Assaye]

I understand its going to take alot of regular testing and PWCs to keep healthy fish, I got a shock when P@H said after a week you can stock some "tester fish" I got the feeling the staff knew these would probably get sick and/or die within weeks

I have tried to contact the 2 members listed im my area as potential mature filter media donors, however my e-mails have bounced back undelivered, and I don't seem to be able to pm here.

I will be asking all my LFS for some (one has already said no) but If anyone in the Ashrofd or Kent area could spare some, I'd be willing to pay for some replacement media and within reason drive to collect.
I have the interpet PF1 filter that uses foam type filters.

Not completely sure what I will do, my daughters Bday is coming up next week I would like to her have at least a fish or 2.

Thanks again

SD.

Unfortunately a lot of members on the mature media donation thread are no longer active. I'm in York but could probably send you some media, although it will have to wait until my current tank emergency (cycling tank with leak, eeek!) is sorted. I'll investigate postage costs and get back to you.

Try to resist the urge to rush because of the birthday. Perhaps get her a really colourful book with loads of fishkeeping info and species of fish in it, to help her choose what she'd like in the tank and get her more interested in fish? I personally like The Perfect Aquarium by Jeremy Gay as it's got some nice photos and good info. My favourite is the Tropical Fishlopaedia by Peter Burgess and Mary Bailey, but that's not got very many pictures and would be boring for a child. Great book for you to have, though! Definitely recommend it. If she's old enough to appreciate it, you could get a subscription to a fishkeeping magazine for her? I know PFK has a kids section and it's a great way to get more interested in fish. There are a few 'directories' out there that are just full of fish photos and species lists. Also some stunning books all about aquatic photography. Or you could take her shopping to choose decorations?

hmm i have exactly the same size tank !!
and it is a cube too !!!
is your tank a Rena ?
i have 2 guormis and an angel
but i want some corys and a bristlenose..how many corys could i have?
thanks billy

Bristlenose will get too big (5 inches) and the angel will very rapidly outgrow the tank too (6 inches +). Sort the angel out before getting some new fish the gouramis may also outgrow the tank, depending on their species. Angels need a tank that has at least 18 inches of height and 36 inches of length to ensure they won't get stunted, stressed or damaged by the size of the tank.

As for corys - could happily get a shoal of 6 pygmy corys in there, or some pandas. I wouldn't recommend any larger species.