What fish(s) are best for a 5 gallon tank??

[Phish Sticks]

I have had a 5 gallon tank since Christmas of 2021. Since that time we have had numerous fish deaths. I would like some ideas on what fish(s) to get.

 

[connorlindeman]

IMO no fish should be in a 5g.
Shrimps or snails would maybe work.

Have you cycled the tank?
What are your water parameters like?

 

[Byron]

I tend to agree, though some keep a single male Betta in a 5g.

 

[connorlindeman]

I tend to agree, though some keep a single male Betta in a 5g.

True, but it would be happier in a 10g. 5's just seem so small...

 

[JuiceBox52]

A betta. Or shrimp and snails. If you were super diligent, and had a very ideal environment maybe a couple more advanced species but even then a 10 gallon would be better

 

[Rocky998]

Yah I wouldn't do fish in there personally but technically there are CERTAIN betta species that are small enough for a five gallon but keep in mind not all species can live in a tank that small. Most like 10 gallons and up

 

[Phish Sticks]

Yah I wouldn't do fish in there personally but technically there are CERTAIN betta species that are small enough for a five gallon but keep in mind not all species can live in a tank that small. Most like 10 gallons and up

My dad also posted in these links: Thread and Thread. So you will know what both of us have learned.

 

[Rocky998]

My dad also posted in these links: Thread and Thread. So you will know what both of us have learned.

Oh! He's your dad! Nice to know!
Welcome to the forum father son duo!

 

[Back in the fold]

Do not listen to these people who poo-poo a 5 gallon aquarium. Small fish are what you want or certain air breathers. Rice Fish , Guppies , Paradise Fish , White Clouds , certain small Killifish , and maybe Platy's . It can be done. It has been done but modern thought dismisses the 5 gallon aquarium. Put some fish in your 5 gallon and enjoy them. Can't wait for the Chicken Little's to rake me over the coals for saying this.

 

[Crispii]

There are some fish that can be housed in five gallon tanks. Dario dario, any species of Elassoma, certain species of Betta (mainly from the albimarginata and coccina complex), and most species of killifish (though I would not put a 5" Fundulopanchax sjostedti in a five gallon, although I have heard people breeding them in five gallon tanks) are some fish that can be housed in five gallon tanks.

Of course, not all five gallon tanks are made the same. The tank that I am referring to would be a standard five gallon tank with a dimension of 16 x 8 x 10. I have kept and bred fish such as Betta channoides and Aphyosemion in five gallon tanks with the dimension that I mentioned above without too many issues.

 

[Rocky998]

There are some fish that can be housed in five gallon tanks. Dario dario, any species of Elassoma, certain species of Betta (mainly from the albimarginata and coccina complex), and most species of killifish (though I would not put a 5" Fundulopanchax sjostedti in a five gallon, although I have heard people breeding them in five gallon tanks) are some fish that can be housed in five gallon tanks.

Of course, not all five gallon tanks are made the same. The tank that I am referring to would be a standard five gallon tank with a dimension of 16 x 8 x 10. I have kept and bred fish such as Betta channoides and Aphyosemion in five gallon tanks with the dimension that I mentioned above without too many issues.

Yes, I do agree that those fish could and would definitely work, of course more space is always better.

 

[Back in the fold]

A five gallon aquarium with a pair of Killifish. They are dwarfed by their surroundings. It's like looking at two guppies in a 20 gallon. I wonder if they know how cramped and crowded they are or that they are going to die tomorrow in an unstable small amount of water.

 

[Crispii]

Yes, I do agree that those fish could and would definitely work, of course more space is always better.

Not necessarily. For the most part, yes, but there's a problem when keeping such tiny fish in such a huge aquarium. And that problem would be feeding. Small fish that are kept in large aquarium often have a hard time finding food. Learned that when I kept juvenile angelfish in a 90 gallon aquarium (which was a 4' long tank with a height of 24") a while back. For one week of having them in the 90, they had a difficult time finding the food until I decided to put them in a 29 gallon tank. Once they were put in the 29 gallon, they were able to find the food much easier.

While I don't completely disagree with your statement, I am trying to elaborate on the potential effect of what happen when you keep such tiny fish in an aquarium that has more space. Yes, large aquarium are beneficial since they lessen the risk of an ammonia spike, have more room for the fish to swim, and have more options of what fish to keep.

 

[Rocky998]

Not necessarily. For the most part, yes, but there's a problem when keeping such tiny fish in such a huge aquarium. And that problem would be feeding. Small fish that are kept in large aquarium often have a hard time finding food. Learned that when I kept juvenile angelfish in a 90 gallon aquarium (which was a 4' long tank with a height of 24") a while back. For one week of having them in the 90, they had a difficult time finding the food until I decided to put them in a 29 gallon tank. Once they were put in the 29 gallon, they were able to find the food much easier.

While I don't completely disagree with your statement, I am trying to elaborate on the potential effect of what happen when you keep such tiny fish in an aquarium that has more space. Yes, large aquarium are beneficial since they lessen the risk of an ammonia spike, have more room for the fish to swim, and have more options of what fish to keep.

Yes obviously don't get a 100 gallon tank for 2 killifish. Obviously a certain point to stop. If I had two killifish the absolute max tank size I would do is 30g. That's even a bit big though I think for JUST two killifish.