The 5 Gallon

[McCool]

At this point I don't think my betta boy is going to make it. He's only declined and still no cause to be seen. If any of you read my topic in the betta section, it's still not looking good. We have left for Florida and won't be back for over a week, and although I have someone over everyday checking on things, with no idea what's wrong there's not much to do. I expect he'll be gone by the time we get back. So with that grim expectation I'm back to looking for something for my tank. I really don't want another Betta. As much as I love them I think I've burned myself out on em for a while. Here are the tank stats for reference:
5 Gallon Fluval Spec V
Bare Bottom (Haven't decided if I'm keeping it this way ir not)
Over a year old
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0-10
Only inhabitants are a pair of bamboo shrimp and a snail or two
78F
7.5pH
Driftwood and lots of live plants
Weekly WCs as need. It's right by my sink so that makes it easy!

I'd really like something different this time. A small shoal of something would be ideal. Would Celestial Pearls work in this set up? Any other small schooling fish? As long as they have room, I don't mind a little extra bioload because of how frequently I do water changes and test my water. I'm a bit OCD about it honestly.
Is there anything else out these that's a bit different for a planted set up? I don't mind buying off aquabid or spending a little more, as this is my only tank now. I can't say I'm huge on Guppies or wild types of bettas either. I just want something active this time.
Ideas? Even if it's something a little odd, I don't mind waiting and searching for it if need be!

Here's the tank. Sorry about the bad quality photo. I'm still trying to decide if I stick with the bare bottom and just keep with the plants on the wood or go with sand. Also, please excuse the mess of plants. I just tore down my 55 gallon and the plants I wanted to keep got thrown in fairly haphazardly!

 

[guppyguy1234]

what about 5 endler guppys or 5 chilli rasbora 
 
 
http/ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608032906678766899&pid=15.1
 
http/www.faszination-krebse.de/Endler_Guppy/endler-guppy.jpg
 
males are the colourful two endlers

 

[McCool]

what about 5 endler guppys or 5 chilli rasbora 
 
 
http/ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608032906678766899&pid=15.1
 
http/www.faszination-krebse.de/Endler_Guppy/endler-guppy.jpg
 
males are the colourful two endlers

I've actually had endlers before, but those rasboras are stunning. I'll do some research on them, but definitely adding to the list. Thank you!

 

[guppyguy1234]

plus nice tank get a sand or aquarium soil substrate and ur perfect
your welcome would you like me to reaserch other possible fish for you
 
say hmmmm 3 rasbora and 3 of these 
 
 
http/ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=HN.608024269497240960&pid=15.1
 
pygmy coryadoras ino they need shoals of 6 plus but trust me they will be fine with three i have three and they are always trying to mate

 

[McCool]

plus nice tank get a sand or aquarium soil substrate and ur perfect

Thank you! I just recently took out the eco complete I had in there. I loved how it looked but it made the biggest mess, so I figured I'd take it out all together until I decided on what to do. I'm always a big fan of sand, so that's probably where I'm headed

If I do end up with a group of anything, I definitely want them small enough as to have a complete school, or atleast close to it. Love the pygmys, but honestly with my driftwood there isn't much tank floor for them.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Here's a few to consider, but personally, I think fish are best in 10 gallons:
 
Phoenix Rasbora
Boraras merah
 
Zebra Rasbora
Danio erythromicron
 
Boraras naevus
 
 
 
And maybe:
Sparkle-eye Whitecloud
Tanichthys micagemma
 
 
 
All can be purchased from franksaquarium.com here in the US, if you are looking for a seller...  I've never bought from him, but know people who have.

 

[McCool]

Here's a few to consider, but personally, I think fish are best in 10 gallons:
 
Phoenix Rasbora
Boraras merah
 
Zebra Rasbora
Danio erythromicron
 
Boraras naevus
 
 
 
And maybe:
Sparkle-eye Whitecloud
Tanichthys micagemma
 
 
 
All can be purchased from franksaquarium.com here in the US, if you are looking for a seller...  I've never bought from him, but know people who have.

That's funny, I actually just came across Franks and was going to ask on the Sparkle Eye Whiteclouds! Honestly, I'm still in a bit of debate on whether I should keep the 5 or sell and switch to a 10. My only sticking point is how much a love this little tank, otherwise I would definitely go a little bigger. But if I do find a fish I really love, I'm more then willing to switch over.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

If you go 10, then on the Sparkle Eye Whitecloud.  Not sure where else you might get them besides Franks.
 
 
They look like quite fun little fish.  I might have to consider them for the future myself.  I'm a sucker for small fish.. always have been. 

You could always keep the 5 as a QT/Hospital tank for the future.  It shouldn't take up too much space in storage.

 

[McCool]

If you go 10, then on the Sparkle Eye Whitecloud.  Not sure where else you might get them besides Franks.
 
 
They look like quite fun little fish.  I might have to consider them for the future myself.  I'm a sucker for small fish.. always have been. 

You could always keep the 5 as a QT/Hospital tank for the future.  It shouldn't take up too much space in storage.

I might just do that. I hate to get rid of it, but I really would love a 10 also!
I'll check around on the white clouds. Great price at Franks, the shipping is just a little more then I'm excited about paying. Any idea how many could go in a ten gallon? It would be driftwood and plants again of course. Hmmmmm. Wonder if there are any interesting small bottom feeders other then otos that could work with a 10.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Species only?

Incidentally: 
 
wetspottropicalfish.com
 
 

Vietnamese White Cloud

Tanichthys micagemmae

.75"

$3.00

10 for $25.00

 

[McCool]

Species only?

I would move my bamboo shrimp pair in the 10 also. Depending on how much space there was, I wouldn't mind a few small bottom feeders, but only if there was enough space of course.
Thank you! I'll go check them out!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The shrimp would be fine.  I'd say, species only 10-12 would be fine.   If you wanted a small bottom dweller...
 
 
Maybe drop the number to 8, and add a hara jerdoni - The Anchor Catfish/Mini Moth Catfish.

 

[McCool]

The shrimp would be fine.  I'd say, species only 10-12 would be fine.   If you wanted a small bottom dweller...
 
 
Maybe drop the number to 8, and add a hara jerdoni - The Anchor Catfish/Mini Moth Catfish.

Love that catfish! Very interesting. Thank you for the help! I think I'll go with the sparkle eye WCs or possibly chili rasboras. While I do love the coloration and fins of the White Clouds, I also love the red on the rasboras. Would the number of rasboras for a 10 gallon be about the same?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I believe it would be.

 

[Ninjouzata]

The shrimp would be fine.  I'd say, species only 10-12 would be fine.   If you wanted a small bottom dweller...
 
 
Maybe drop the number to 8, and add a hara jerdoni - The Anchor Catfish/Mini Moth Catfish.

Do you mean a group of the hara jerdoni or just one? I want some one day is why I'm asking, and I thought they preferred groups according to THIS.
 
If you upgrade to a 10g, what about spotted blue eyes?