Stocking A 5 Gallon

[Spork]

Hi I have a 5 gallon tank that has been set up since october. It has a heater, filter, it is well planted with lots of hiding places, and a gravel bottom. It currently houses 1 male red honey gourami, he's 1.5 inches and I would like suggestions for other tank mates. I know a 5 gallon is small so I was thinking of simply adding a bottom feeder because I don't want to overstock. I also do weekly water changes and my honey gourami is shy, but brightly colored and seems happy. I am open to any suggestions and any help would be great.

I was also wondering if the gravel was alright for the bottom, it's smooth rounded blue stones just regular gravel from the pet store, or if I should switch to a different substrate.

 

[mr oscar]

try a bronze catfish, they are active and do not grow too big, a peppered catfish is also a good choice

 

[paul_219]

I guess some ottos should be fine.

 

[murphyk32]

you can definitely fit more then 2 fish in a 5 gallon, but it is wise not to over stock. my 5 has 2 zebra danios, 3 black neon tetras, a snail, 4 khuli loaches, 2 adf's, and a betta. sounds overdone but it is perfect and works great.

Murph

 

[Snooks1!]

you can definitely fit more then 2 fish in a 5 gallon, but it is wise not to over stock. my 5 has 2 zebra danios, 3 black neon tetras, a snail, 4 khuli loaches, 2 adf's, and a betta. sounds overdone but it is perfect and works great.

Murph

Not quite...not at all really...



First, what is the footprint of the tank? Next, in most 5gal tanks, you would only have room for a small number of very small fish. Your best bet is get a 10 gal tank; this way, your gourami has more room, and you'll be able to stock more fish. In a 10 gal, you'd be able to keep 4-6 dwarf or panda corys, 3-4 otos ( granted the tank is mature enough ), or maybe even a few khuli loaches. However, for the khulis and corys you would need a sand substrate, as they both can get injured from gravel. The corys ripping their barbels on the gravel - leading to infection, and the khulis trying to dig into the gravel causing cuts, sequentially leading to infection as well.

 

[n3ont3tra]

you can definitely fit more then 2 fish in a 5 gallon, but it is wise not to over stock. my 5 has 2 zebra danios, 3 black neon tetras, a snail, 4 khuli loaches, 2 adf's, and a betta. sounds overdone but it is perfect and works great.

Murph

Not quite...not at all really...



First, what is the footprint of the tank? Next, in most 5gal tanks, you would only have room for a small number of very small fish. Your best bet is get a 10 gal tank; this way, your gourami has more room, and you'll be able to stock more fish. In a 10 gal, you'd be able to keep 4-6 dwarf or panda corys, 3-4 otos ( granted the tank is mature enough ), or maybe even a few khuli loaches. However, for the khulis and corys you would need a sand substrate, as they both can get injured from gravel. The corys ripping their barbels on the gravel - leading to infection, and the khulis trying to dig into the gravel causing cuts, sequentially leading to infection as well.

I agree, 5gallons really are limited to a betta or shrimp or adfs.

 

[murphyk32]

i have a sand gravel, and its a glass 5 gallon tank, a bit nicer then a plastic hex type from walmart if u kno what i mean, and it all works fine, trust me. I have some experience enough with these fish and it has worked long enough that it obviously works great. I havent had a single problem.

IDK just lettin you know my experience so you can compare to what people tell u, do what U believe tho. We give advice, u make the decision.

Murph

 

[eskcarr]

Hi I have a 5 gallon tank that has been set up since october. It has a heater, filter, it is well planted with lots of hiding places, and a gravel bottom. It currently houses 1 male red honey gourami, he's 1.5 inches and I would like suggestions for other tank mates. I know a 5 gallon is small so I was thinking of simply adding a bottom feeder because I don't want to overstock. I also do weekly water changes and my honey gourami is shy, but brightly colored and seems happy. I am open to any suggestions and any help would be great.

I was also wondering if the gravel was alright for the bottom, it's smooth rounded blue stones just regular gravel from the pet store, or if I should switch to a different substrate.

kwq

 

[dizzied]

you can definitely fit more then 2 fish in a 5 gallon, but it is wise not to over stock. my 5 has 2 zebra danios, 3 black neon tetras, a snail, 4 khuli loaches, 2 adf's, and a betta. sounds overdone but it is perfect and works great.

Murph

Not quite...not at all really...

Let me be the honest one then. That stocking sounds horrible.

 

[murphyk32]

I was just saying, plainly, that maybe some of the fish i do have are possibilities for him,, but MORE my point was, and if u read it ud kno, that you can fit more the TWO fish in the tank. i appologize if that point was lost through this.

is my stocking the question here? no, actually it isnt atall.. this is a continuous problem on here, so ill ignore it. im here trying to help, unlike some apparently, and if he wants any further imput from me he can message me. im done with this topic now to avoid an unnessesary and unhelpful argument.

A very dissapointed
Murph