Replacing Betta

[fishwatcher]

My mom has about 1 1/2 gal tank, unheated/filtered that she's had a betta in for almost 3 years. Well, he finally died last week (I think of old age... he never got sick, just kind of slower acting recently until he died). She's wanting to know what else she can put in there. It's got a couple of plastic plants and a small terra cota pot for a cave. She doesn't want to add a heater or filter. Just wants to change the water 1-2x a week (unless it's a non-water critter). I have no ideas for her (other than another betta, which she doesn't really want), but I'm hoping you will.
Thanks!

 

[dthoffsett]

She could get a few cherry shrimp as long as there is a tight cover. As far as I know, shrimp, snails, or bettas are all that can go in a tank that small.

 

[fishwatcher]

Really? I think she was hoping for something else. I thought there was some other kind of fish that stayed small and wouldn't need a heater. Hmmm....

 

[starrynightxxi]

lots of fish stay small, but they either need a heater or need to be kept in groups. a 1.5g tank isn't suitable for much more than a betta, some shrimp, a snail, or an african dwarf frog.

 

[Len90]

I had a 2 gal. unheated but it was filtered. All I was able to keep in the tank was a betta. That is your best bet. I tried keeping a platty in it after my betta died, but that didn't work out at all.

 

[fishwatcher]

Do the triops live a long time, or do they need to be replaced every so often? I'll let her know her choices are quite limited. (Oh, just a thought, what about a terrarium with a critter in it?) Maybe she could just do a snail and another betta or a few shrimp then. The shrimp may be hard to get around here though. The only ones I've ever seen are the ghost shrimp.
Thanks for the help so far, guys!

 

[fishwatcher]

Update... I was wrong about size of tank. It is a 2 1/2 gal, not 1 1/2 gal. Not sure if that really makes a difference, but I promised my mom I'd find out. With that I told her she could add a little corner filter to it, so that may help. Other than the betta, shrimp, snails or triops, any other cold water fish that could live there? Maybe a few white clouds, or is it too small for them?
Thanks!

edit: this is the last time, I promise! If no one comes up with anything else, I'll just tell her to get another betta or wait until she gets a bigger tank. Thanks again!

 

[Qays]

white clouds should be in a 5g minimum because they like to be in groups of 5-6.

 

[fishwatcher]

ok thanks! it's a betta/shrimp/snail tank then. Sorry if I was a pain! The things you do for your parents....