What Fish Can Go In 1-2 Gal Tanks?

[Pl*co]

I was wondering what fish/other creatures can go in US 1 gal-2gal?

 

[eggy]

basicly you could make a very nice planted tank, it might sound boring but it's my favourite thing to do.

great ideas for planting tanks

also i found a very intresting article of someone who claims to keep paradise fish in 2 gallon tanks
{paste} In my opinion and experience, the Paradise fish is a better choice for the small tank and will thrive in your two gallon tank if properly set up and maintained. Here's an article I wrote on keeping them happy and healthy in a small planted tank. You can find Paradise fish in aquariums stores in the US, Europe, and even the Middle East.

The Low Budget Natural Fishbowl

It does not take much time, money, or skill to create an affordable and beautiful, ecological, low maintenance aquatic world you can enjoy for years. While some fish traditionally sold for fish bowls do not thrive in them, there is one kind that most definitely does, macropodus opercularis, or, the Paradise fish, one of the first fish ever kept in home aquariums. Bettas, often sold in tiny bowls or vases with plant bulbs, require warm temperatures and do better in heated tanks. Goldfish, also frequently sent home with bowls, require large amounts water to thrive. The ones in stores are tiny babies – these fish are meant to grow quite large and need a tank of 30 gallons, each, to do well. Paradise fish are a much better choice for a natural fish bowl or small tank. They are extremely hardy and long lived and they do not require any special care or conditions. Like Bettas, they can breathe air through a special labyrinth organ and so do not require an aerated tank. They prefer cooler water and so do not require a heater. They also do well living singly. Males, like male Bettas, will fight if kept together in close quarters. Mostly males, because they are more colorful that the females, with bright bands of turquoise and orange, are what you are likely to find in the pet store.

The fish keeper’s goal is not to have fish that merely survive, but rather that thrive. Here is how to provide a healthy home for an easy to keep, colorful, and intelligent little fish. These recommendations are based on my own set ups that have done well for years. You do not need to have ever owned a fish before to succeed with a Paradise fish if you start with a young, healthy fish (look for a small one, under two inches from tip to end of tail and ask to see it fed) and follow these recommendations.

Shopping List:
Large fishbowl or glass container (preferably 2 gallons or more in capacity)
Small amount of bagged potting soil
Small bag of aquarium gravel (natural, smaller sized, dark in color)
One or two live aquarium plants that do well in cool water -- a bunch of Elodea or a Java fern will work; get small plants as they will grow quickly in this set up
Spring water or tap water aged for three days and treated with water conditioners to remove chlorine and other chemicals that can kill fish. In the US, I found it easiest to just keep several gallons of spring water on hand. Also, in case of emergency, a gallon container of spring water with the top cut away makes a readymade holding tank for a fish.
1 Paradise fish
Small canister of tropical fish food flakes
Optional:
Small net to catch fish
Frozen food and/or freeze dried bloodworms to vary diet
Decoration – keep a natural look with a stone or two (to be safe, use those sold in pet stores), or a very small piece of driftwood from the aquarium store, pre-soaked for a week or two in a bucket of water to remove tannins and water log it so it won't float, will look fabulous, especially if you attach the java fern to it by tying it with a bit of dark thread. Soon the fern will attach itself to the wood and you can remove the thread.

Set up:
1. Clean bowl with salt and warm water, rinse well, and dry. Never use soap!
2. Line bottom with an inch of potting soil.
3. Remove plants from metal bands or pots and place on one side of bowl to create a backdrop effect and leave swimming room in front. Tall plants in back, smaller ones in front if you have more than one.
4. Add a one inch layer of gravel over soil and around base of plants.
5. Place a bowl or cup upside down on gravel and pour bottled water slowly onto it to fill bowl without disturbing the substrate. Fill about 4/5 of the way, stopping at the wide part of the bowl because more surface space means more oxygen for the fish. Pour very, very slowly so the gravel is not displaced, allowing the potting soil to mix with the open water. Even if you are very careful, the water will still be a little murky when you are finished, but this will settle in a day or two to crystal clear.
6. Add fish, following pet store instructions for acclimating a fish to a new tank (float bag, add small amounts of tank water to bag periodically, etc.)
7. Place bowl near sunny window for natural light to maximize plant growth

Maintenance:
Every day, remove one cup of water and replace with one cup of fresh water (bottled or treated) and top off evaporated water as well. This takes less than one minute and assures a healthy environment for both the fish and the plant. You do not have to do large water changes if you keep up with this every day. Do not just top off, however. Removing some of the old water will remove toxic nitrates and help keep the water clean. You don’t want to remove too much, however, because the it contains also contains beneficial nutrients and bacteria.

Some people feed their fish every day and others prefer to feed every other day. I feed mine as mauch as they can eat in 20 seconds, usually a couple of large flakes, a couple times a day. With the daily one cup water changes, this works well. Be forewarned: if food is sinking to the bottom, uneaten, you are overfeeding. The fish can easily miss a day or two without a problem -- underfed is actually healthier for the fish than overfed -- but if you will be away for longer that a few days, find someone to care for your fish in your absence. Better not to leave the entire canister of food with the caretaker, however. Just a pinch in a baggie is enough. This way, your fish is less likely to be overfed by accident. Overfeeding will pollute the water and undo all your effort to create a healthy natural environment for your fish.

The plants will be well fed first by the nutrients in the soil and then by the fish waste. You will not need to fertilize them.

Trim plants as necessary. They will sometimes grow very quickly in this sort of set up. My elodea was growing new shoots within days of being planted. Elodea can be broken off when it gets too long and the new section can be planted, thrown away, or given to a friend with a tank or bowl. To plant a new shoot, just remove the few bottom leaves and insert it into gravel and soil. Java Fern will grow new plants on runners. These can be left alone or plucked off and planted or given away.

If algae should accumulate, it can be wiped off with a paper towel. The plants and water changes will likely prevent algae from forming. I have never seen algae in my small tanks, even though they receive a great deal of direct sunlight.

Please note that with this set up, you would be wise *not* to vacuum the gravel or to dump out entire contents of bowl. The fish waste is necessary to the live plant and works with the potting soil to provide essential nutrients. The plant, in turn, helps keep the water healthy for the fish. The small daily water changes will more than suffice for keeping the water healthy.

That’s it! Enjoy! I have kept this sort of natural fishbowl in three different countries, on three different continents and have set up Paradise fish bowls for countless friends who have admired mine. Paradise fish are easy to find and easy to care for. They make delightful little pets and will charm you with their antics and desire to interact with you. They will soon recognize you and will feed from your hand even. The fish and plants absolutely thrive for many years. You can give your fish a larger home later if you like, but it is not required to maintain a healthy fish for years. My first Paradise fish, now age 8, is still going strong and the plants must be continually pruned so he has swimming room.

One note of caution: Paradise fish do like to jump. I have never had one of mine land outside of the bowl but I have heard of that happening and mine have surprised me by jumping impatiently to take the food from my hand before I could let go of it. It is wise to cover the bowl with a bit of netting or a lace doily (something that lets air in and keeps fish in) and a rubber band to prevent accidents.

sorry for the loooong post!

 

[LauraFrog]

Betta - siamese fighting fish - is ideal. One gallon is the absolute minimum. They thrive with filters and also need AT LEAST the 1 cup daily water changing recommended above.

If the tank has a lot of bottom area, shrimp.

Plants only often looks great.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Pl*co

An African Dwarf Frog is a good pet and 2 of them would fit in a 2 gallon tank. Just be sure that it has a good fitting cover.

 

[Truck]

basicly you could make a very nice planted tank, it might sound boring but it's my favourite thing to do.

great ideas for planting tanks

also i found a very intresting article of someone who claims to keep paradise fish in 2 gallon tanks
{paste} In my opinion and experience, the Paradise fish is a better choice for the small tank and will thrive in your two gallon tank if properly set up and maintained. Here's an article I wrote on keeping them happy and healthy in a small planted tank. You can find Paradise fish in aquariums stores in the US, Europe, and even the Middle East.

The Low Budget Natural Fishbowl

It does not take much time, money, or skill to create an affordable and beautiful, ecological, low maintenance aquatic world you can enjoy for years. While some fish traditionally sold for fish bowls do not thrive in them, there is one kind that most definitely does, macropodus opercularis, or, the Paradise fish, one of the first fish ever kept in home aquariums. Bettas, often sold in tiny bowls or vases with plant bulbs, require warm temperatures and do better in heated tanks. Goldfish, also frequently sent home with bowls, require large amounts water to thrive. The ones in stores are tiny babies – these fish are meant to grow quite large and need a tank of 30 gallons, each, to do well. Paradise fish are a much better choice for a natural fish bowl or small tank. They are extremely hardy and long lived and they do not require any special care or conditions. Like Bettas, they can breathe air through a special labyrinth organ and so do not require an aerated tank. They prefer cooler water and so do not require a heater. They also do well living singly. Males, like male Bettas, will fight if kept together in close quarters. Mostly males, because they are more colorful that the females, with bright bands of turquoise and orange, are what you are likely to find in the pet store.

The fish keeper’s goal is not to have fish that merely survive, but rather that thrive. Here is how to provide a healthy home for an easy to keep, colorful, and intelligent little fish. These recommendations are based on my own set ups that have done well for years. You do not need to have ever owned a fish before to succeed with a Paradise fish if you start with a young, healthy fish (look for a small one, under two inches from tip to end of tail and ask to see it fed) and follow these recommendations.

Shopping List:
Large fishbowl or glass container (preferably 2 gallons or more in capacity)
Small amount of bagged potting soil
Small bag of aquarium gravel (natural, smaller sized, dark in color)
One or two live aquarium plants that do well in cool water -- a bunch of Elodea or a Java fern will work; get small plants as they will grow quickly in this set up
Spring water or tap water aged for three days and treated with water conditioners to remove chlorine and other chemicals that can kill fish. In the US, I found it easiest to just keep several gallons of spring water on hand. Also, in case of emergency, a gallon container of spring water with the top cut away makes a readymade holding tank for a fish.
1 Paradise fish
Small canister of tropical fish food flakes
Optional:
Small net to catch fish
Frozen food and/or freeze dried bloodworms to vary diet
Decoration – keep a natural look with a stone or two (to be safe, use those sold in pet stores), or a very small piece of driftwood from the aquarium store, pre-soaked for a week or two in a bucket of water to remove tannins and water log it so it won't float, will look fabulous, especially if you attach the java fern to it by tying it with a bit of dark thread. Soon the fern will attach itself to the wood and you can remove the thread.

Set up:
1. Clean bowl with salt and warm water, rinse well, and dry. Never use soap!
2. Line bottom with an inch of potting soil.
3. Remove plants from metal bands or pots and place on one side of bowl to create a backdrop effect and leave swimming room in front. Tall plants in back, smaller ones in front if you have more than one.
4. Add a one inch layer of gravel over soil and around base of plants.
5. Place a bowl or cup upside down on gravel and pour bottled water slowly onto it to fill bowl without disturbing the substrate. Fill about 4/5 of the way, stopping at the wide part of the bowl because more surface space means more oxygen for the fish. Pour very, very slowly so the gravel is not displaced, allowing the potting soil to mix with the open water. Even if you are very careful, the water will still be a little murky when you are finished, but this will settle in a day or two to crystal clear.
6. Add fish, following pet store instructions for acclimating a fish to a new tank (float bag, add small amounts of tank water to bag periodically, etc.)
7. Place bowl near sunny window for natural light to maximize plant growth

Maintenance:
Every day, remove one cup of water and replace with one cup of fresh water (bottled or treated) and top off evaporated water as well. This takes less than one minute and assures a healthy environment for both the fish and the plant. You do not have to do large water changes if you keep up with this every day. Do not just top off, however. Removing some of the old water will remove toxic nitrates and help keep the water clean. You don’t want to remove too much, however, because the it contains also contains beneficial nutrients and bacteria.

Some people feed their fish every day and others prefer to feed every other day. I feed mine as mauch as they can eat in 20 seconds, usually a couple of large flakes, a couple times a day. With the daily one cup water changes, this works well. Be forewarned: if food is sinking to the bottom, uneaten, you are overfeeding. The fish can easily miss a day or two without a problem -- underfed is actually healthier for the fish than overfed -- but if you will be away for longer that a few days, find someone to care for your fish in your absence. Better not to leave the entire canister of food with the caretaker, however. Just a pinch in a baggie is enough. This way, your fish is less likely to be overfed by accident. Overfeeding will pollute the water and undo all your effort to create a healthy natural environment for your fish.

The plants will be well fed first by the nutrients in the soil and then by the fish waste. You will not need to fertilize them.

Trim plants as necessary. They will sometimes grow very quickly in this sort of set up. My elodea was growing new shoots within days of being planted. Elodea can be broken off when it gets too long and the new section can be planted, thrown away, or given to a friend with a tank or bowl. To plant a new shoot, just remove the few bottom leaves and insert it into gravel and soil. Java Fern will grow new plants on runners. These can be left alone or plucked off and planted or given away.

If algae should accumulate, it can be wiped off with a paper towel. The plants and water changes will likely prevent algae from forming. I have never seen algae in my small tanks, even though they receive a great deal of direct sunlight.

Please note that with this set up, you would be wise *not* to vacuum the gravel or to dump out entire contents of bowl. The fish waste is necessary to the live plant and works with the potting soil to provide essential nutrients. The plant, in turn, helps keep the water healthy for the fish. The small daily water changes will more than suffice for keeping the water healthy.

That’s it! Enjoy! I have kept this sort of natural fishbowl in three different countries, on three different continents and have set up Paradise fish bowls for countless friends who have admired mine. Paradise fish are easy to find and easy to care for. They make delightful little pets and will charm you with their antics and desire to interact with you. They will soon recognize you and will feed from your hand even. The fish and plants absolutely thrive for many years. You can give your fish a larger home later if you like, but it is not required to maintain a healthy fish for years. My first Paradise fish, now age 8, is still going strong and the plants must be continually pruned so he has swimming room.

One note of caution: Paradise fish do like to jump. I have never had one of mine land outside of the bowl but I have heard of that happening and mine have surprised me by jumping impatiently to take the food from my hand before I could let go of it. It is wise to cover the bowl with a bit of netting or a lace doily (something that lets air in and keeps fish in) and a rubber band to prevent accidents.

sorry for the loooong post!

you have copied that from wikipedia, its the diana walstad method


IMHO there is no fish you could keep in a 1 or 2 gallon even a betta would find it pokey.


a planted invert tank would work a treat

 

[Pl*co]

I guess I'll either use them as planted/decorated tanks, emergency/hospital tanks, or a place to put fish when cleaning tanks.

the 2 gal wouldn't be bad for a betta though, I guess. thoughh I like 2.5 gal as a minium for bettas but I could use it temporarily maybe.

There isn't much bottom area so they can't be used for shrimp.. whats the minium amount of gallons for an apple snail, mystery snail, or one of similar size?

I plan on using my 5 gal for African Dwarf Frogs

 

[Ckutz_fistTimer]

I wouldn't suggest this..and i have no idea how it's working..but several years ago my sister won a goldfish at a fair. I don't live at home right now but it is smaller than my 5 gallon, must be a 2.5 at the largest. This goldfish has survived for like 5 or 6 years (his name is lucky guppy, my little brother named him that when he was like 5 or something).

I hope no one gets mad at me for mentioning this, causei know it's not an ideal set up now that i'm into fishkeeping myself. but this tank has no lid, no light, no filter, barely any gravel, one fake plant, a few marbles..and this goldfish has grown from about an inch or two, two at least 4 or 5, having fins longer than it's body...I don't really like goldfish, but it actually looks beautiful with these long fins. my dad just feeds it a little bit every morning i think, and changes the water once a week with water that he's let set out in a bucket for a day or two. haha with as complicated as fish keeping is, I can't believe this thing is still alive.

 

[LauraFrog]

Neither can I. No flaming intended but that tank is ridiculously small for a goldfish. Firstly, they are social creatures, and that poor fish has spent years of its life lonely and miserable with no other goldfish to interact with. Secondly, it will be stunted due to the size of the tank - a six year old goldfish should be approaching eight or ten inches and it is simply cruel to keep them in a tank without adequate space for them to reach their full size.