Stocking A 5 Gallon Tank

[gottobe]

has a filter air pump and heater. any suggestions for what i should stock this 5 gallon tank with.

 

[Tommy Gun]

Hey gottobe!

I am sure some might disagree with me on this, but a 5 gallon tank does not leave you with many options...in fact, I would only suggest a Betta fish for these small tanks - however, even then, a good argument can be made for keeping Bettas in a 10 gallon tank as a minimum. In any case, you would need to have a rather small, and mostly stationary type of fish/invert to keep in this tank for a long duration. IMHO, these tanks are much better off being a q-tank or hospital tank - or perhaps a 'plant only' type tank - versus a display tank (which I am sure will cause controversy)

 

[Esfa]

A betta, or a small group of adfs are you only choises, really.

 

[paul_219]

Betta is the best choice.

 

[Hero]

Betta is the best choice.

He couldn't put a guppie in theere?

 

[freshwaterfishlover]

Betta, Ghost Shrimp, Snails, Dwarf Frogs and Mountain Minows. Thats about it and I mean it.

 

[n3ont3tra]

I would do a few apple snails and some African DWARF frogs. (not clawed frogs)

 

[Musho3210]

Betta, Ghost Shrimp, Snails, Dwarf Frogs and Mountain Minows. Thats about it and I mean it.

why do so many people recommend these, these are active things, 5 gallon doesnt cut it.

everything else you said there works though

 

[spazzinout53]

i have a 5 gallon and i bought all my fish still sort of in the fry stage, there a lot cheeper and it gives you something else to be wowed about

i got 2 fancy guppies and a ballon belly moly and an oto, i know you guys will all probly say thats way to much, but the guppies had fry and even they matured happily, sure i gave them away, but i think you can deffinatly keep more then just a betta

 

[n3ont3tra]

i have a 5 gallon and i bought all my fish still sort of in the fry stage, there a lot cheeper and it gives you something else to be wowed about

i got 2 fancy guppies and a ballon belly moly and an oto, i know you guys will all probly say thats way to much, but the guppies had fry and even they matured happily, sure i gave them away, but i think you can deffinatly keep more then just a betta

That's not a good stocking for more reasons than that.
Guppies, as you may have noticed, will breed a lot, and sometimes you won't be able to find a home for them.
Mollies are actually brackish water fish.
And ottos generally don't do very well in captivity, in my experience.

 

[dwarfgourami]

We've had lots of these threads in the past, there are some truly tiny fish with a minimal bioload that would be suitable, e.g. heterandria formosa, microrasboras. Much more suitable than guppies and mountain minnows, which both grow comparatively large and are very active. And then there are cherry shrimps etc.

 

[cuticom]

Mollies aren't brackish fish, they prefer salt in their water, but can also do fine in fresh, like Bumble bee Gobies

Betta's are always a good choice, but you could have 3 male guppies, male mind you.

If it was me I'd have a Betta and an apple/mystery snail.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Mollies do better with brackish water...
Also, there's different kinds of bumblebee gobies, some prefer fresh, some don't. I'm not sure of the actual species.
male guppies may fight unless you have at least 6 to spread the aggression, especially in a small tank.

 

[spazzinout53]

i dont really get what your saying, my tanks been great, i havnt had any losses in this tank, i think you keep the tank well, do water changes, and change the filter, you can house way more then one male betta.

 

[eschaton]

A few options not listed.

1 Scarlet Badis (or a pair if you can find a female)
A half-dozen Boraras Maculatus (or similar Boraras species)
1 Dwarf Puffer
3 Bumblebee Gobies
Small breeding group of Endlers

Several Killifish species would be fine in a 5 as a mated pair as well.

A small tank can fit a lot if you plant it and design it well. My LFS had a planted 2.5 which had a few Boraras in it, an Otocinclus, two Amano shrimp and a host of cherry shrimp. It had stable parameters, and the shrimp reproduced freely.