Need Fish Ideas For A 5 Gallon Tank

[Suriliel]

I need help! I'm getting a 5 gallon tank (w/ heater, filter, etc) to put on my desk at work and I'm not sure what to put in it. I could just go with a betta, they're always nice, but I'm just wondering if there's some super cool small tank fish I'm not thinking of. Any ideas are welcome! Thanks

 

[Matchu]

I'm going for a dwarf puffer, they're really intelligent and funny to watch

http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...rf_Puffers.html

 

[@ombomb]

You could put a couple of Endlers in there, a Dwarf Puffer or a few shrimp.

 

[4ftguppy]

how about a pair of smaller killifish

Aphyosemion australe or Aphyosemion striatum

 

[Suriliel]

I was thinking of a dwarf puffer.. I don't think my fish store has any at the moment though and I'm getting the tank tomorrow and don't want to wait I'm even going to take gravel, water AND filter material from my established tank so I don't have to wait for it to cycle Also, I don't know too much about brackish stuff.. is it hard to maintain salt levels or do you just add salt every time you do a water change?

Oh those killifish are kind of neat. I think my fish store has those. I just want something somewhat interesting I know I'm really limited because it's so small, but there are some neat smaller fish

 

[Matchu]

Dwarf puffers are 100% freshwater.

 

[Suriliel]

Oh.. that link above said they're brackish. That makes things easier Are they hardy fish or really picky? I want something that's not too complicated, I can do water changes and everything but don't want to have to do a lot of maintenance.

 

[Josiah]

Oh.. that link above said they're brackish. That makes things easier Are they hardy fish or really picky? I want something that's not too complicated, I can do water changes and everything but don't want to have to do a lot of maintenance.

Are you sure about? read this again

The Dwarf Puffer is, as hinted by its name, the smallest of the puffer family. It is an entirely freshwater fish, breeding, maturing and living out its days in a fresh tropical environment. They are among the funniest of fish that I know and can be trained to do tricks for food, and have marvelous personalities. However, the dwarf puffer is, as with any puffer fish, not an easily kept fish. Read on to learn more!

The First Thing

 

[Suriliel]

Oh yea heh, I completely misread that. I think I was reading it too fast, I just caught the "This is perhaps the most important thing to know, as many aquarists are under the impression that all puffers are either marine or brackish. While it is true that a dwarf puffer will survive in brackish water, its life span will be significantly reduced, and the fish will lead an unhealthy life." and understood that as they should really be in salt water but can survive in brackish conditions. Guess I missed the first bit of that I'm definitely going to look into getting these little guys

 

[jayjay]

i have to ask why did you reccommend australe? they are not the easiest really, dwarf puffers are simple keep the water clean and feed them bloodworms.

 

[Suriliel]

Do they need frozen bloodworms or do the freezedried ones work? Again I'm looking to simplify things as I'm going to be having them at work. I could bring in bloodworms from home every day, but if I could feed them something I could just keep at work it would be easier. Also, I keep saying "them" even though I know the recommended is only one for a 5 gallon.. do you think I could squeeze 2 in there? Would the lil guy get lonely if there was only one? Oh one more thing, I only work 5 days a week.. would they be alright without food for the weekends or should I get someone else to feed them while I'm gone? Thanx for the help by the way I love this forum.. heh.

 

[4ftguppy]

i have to ask why did you reccommend australe? they are not the easiest really, dwarf puffers are simple keep the water clean and feed them bloodworms.

I've always found Australe to be VERY easy. If you can open a pack of bloodworm, you can keep (and probably breed) australe. Are we looking for the easiset fish? Lets say a guppy then!

Yes people say australe are varaiable to breed (I think individual fish must be more fecund than others) but this is not a breeding project right?

other killis worth trying might be epiplatys annulatus

great pic of epiplatys annulatus here by the way

another fish I had for a while in a similar setup was a small shoal of tetras - the really tiny ones (1.5 cm) whose name escapes me - anyone??

They did great on my office desk for quite some time - yes, only feeding them 5 days a week

 

[Suriliel]

Heh yea I definitely don't want any breeding going on. I've got a couple people here excited about the puffers though, so I'm going to look into getting one of those. I've also got someone here willing to feed them while I'm gone so that's good too. Thanks for all your help guys Any more info on these dwarf puffers would be great too, any helpful hints. Maybe I'll make a thread asking about them, or search for one. Pea puffers are dwarf puffers right? I think my local fish store has some of those.

 

[excaliborg]

I'm going for a dwarf puffer, they're really intelligent and funny to watch

http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...rf_Puffers.html

wow, i want a puffer after reading this!

 

[Suriliel]

Heh I know, they sound really cool. I found more information about them at dwarfpuffers . com

I'm going to the fish store after work to see if they have any!

Why are links going all screwy when I try to put them in the post?? they're all blanked out..