5 gallon stocking?

5723 Views 24 Replies 15 Participants Last post by HybridHerp, Jul 31, 2012

HybridHerp

Discussion Starter · Jul 17, 2012

Hey, so I am thinking about getting a 5 gallon tank for my college dorm. I would've gone with a 10 but a fully set-up 10 would be a pain to move around come winter and spring vacations.

I'm in need of some ideas for what I can stock in this thing. I'm planing on a sand substrate with some plants, I'd probably do nothing higher than medium lighting though.

Regardless, I am thinking about things like bettas, small groups of dwarf cories, endlers, and other super small fish. Not all together, I just mean in general lol. Anyone have any ideas or even setups that I could look at for ideas?

1 - 20 of 25 Posts

somewhatshocked

· #2 · Jul 17, 2012

You could do a school of tiny Cories and maybe some Rasboras of some sort. Or maybe even some larger Neos or Amanos if you wanted shrimp?

In tanks like that, I'm a fan of smaller Anubias and such. Could look really cool with the right piece of driftwood or manzanita.

kamikazi

· #3 · Jul 17, 2012

You could do shrimp with some Boraras brigittae or Danio margaritatus

Or you could do a few Danio margaritatus or a few Epiplatys annulatus

xenxes

· #4 · Jul 17, 2012

Shrimp.

ThatGuyWithTheFish

· #5 · Jul 17, 2012

Microrasbora (like chili), CPDs, endler's, shrimp, guppies, Aspirdoras, a betta, a dwarf puffer, some killis, pencilfish, otos, neons, that's about it.

HybridHerp

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jul 17, 2012

so, does this sound like an idea?
I have a breeding tank of red cherry shrimp so those would be my shrimp of choice simply because I already have them. Aside from that, I've always wanted to go back to keeping cory pygmaus or I believe the other dwarf cory was hasborus? I would also love to accompany that with a group of Danio margaritatus or some other small grouping fish. If I go this route, how many cories should I get for a group and how many danio or raspbora or whatever should I get for a group? I know that normally, a group should be aimed to be 6 fish but since this is going to be such a small tank I figure that I will need to lessen my numbers.

Alternatively, I am also thinking about just doing the cories, and either a nice betta or a dwarf puffer. In the case of cories and single fish, I would probably add some cherries just because but it'd be a big gamble to whether or not they actually survive.

As far as plants go, I do love my anubias and my crypts, but I might also throw clippings of other plans I already have into the mix, such as some h. polysperma since I have so much, or maybe even some ludwigia or rotala. Only though because I have them. I'd also probably throw a nice little moss ball in along with either some willow or java moss, cause I have these mosses already lol

These ideas sound good? I still should know though what numbers I should aim for in a tank this small however.

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Kworker

· #7 · Jul 17, 2012

Honestly if you were to do the 10 I would def say go with the dwarf cories but cories can really move and need some swim room. If I were you I would just pick up a nice show quality betta and heavily plant it. But what helps with one betta since your worried about ease of travel is its only one fish to keep alive while traveling.. put him in a cup in your cars cup holder and your set for trip home

maybe some amanos too since their pretty much to big for a Betts to snack on. Endlers would be cool too with cherry shrimp.

kamikazi

· #8 · Jul 17, 2012

Kworker makes a very good point about the easy of travel with just a betta.

WallaceGrover

· #9 · Jul 17, 2012

Any of the smaller rasboras are always nice since they are so small, so you can get several...

HybridHerp

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jul 18, 2012

apparently my roommate wants hermit crabs...

not going to ask about that here but pretty sure we can only have fish, plus, if we can have hermits i don't see why I can't do a 5 gallon tank somewhere lmao

I'm right now thinking more along the lines of either a group of some sort of small rasbora/danio/livebearer or doing either a dwarf puffer or betta
if I did a betta in a 5 gallon tank, what would I be able to keep with it though if I wanted there to be other life? I have a good amount of cherry shrimp so I can always toss a few in, though I know their ability to survive with a betta is questionable. I also have a good number of ramshorn snails as well. But are there any micro fish that could work or is it not worth the risk?

kamikazi

· #11 · Jul 18, 2012

HybridHerp said:
apparently my roommate wants hermit crabs...

not going to ask about that here but pretty sure we can only have fish, plus, if we can have hermits i don't see why I can't do a 5 gallon tank somewhere lmao

I'm right now thinking more along the lines of either a group of some sort of small rasbora/danio/livebearer or doing either a dwarf puffer or betta
if I did a betta in a 5 gallon tank, what would I be able to keep with it though if I wanted there to be other life? I have a good amount of cherry shrimp so I can always toss a few in, though I know their ability to survive with a betta is questionable. I also have a good number of ramshorn snails as well. But are there any micro fish that could work or is it not worth the risk?

I know people keep female bettas in community settings. Maybe you could do a female betta with a few micro fish? Nerite snails or ottos would probably work with a betta.

Siggav

· #12 · Jul 18, 2012

Bettas will eat tiny fish, I even had one that went after my neons (didnt eat them but harassed them and tried to hunt them), they'll also go after snails quite often too.

I've kept bettas with cories without a problem, a 5 gallon is pretty small though. I can't remember if someone has kept them successfully with dwarf frogs.

With bettas though you just never know and some are just aggressive little things that can't live with anything else really, depends on the personality of the individual fish. I don't have any bettas at this point but have kept lots over the years. They're awesome fish though and very interactive.

caoder

· #13 · Jul 20, 2012

Betta males are fine with community fish as long as they're not with other bettas. I keep them with Platy fry about 1/2" long and they don't harass them after the initial introduction.

Kehy

· #14 · Jul 20, 2012

I had a betta that made a point of fighting everything, filter, heater, snails, plants, and especially an amano shrimp. The one I had before that loved everything, including a male guppy that I rescued. It all depends on the individual.

wendyjo

· #15 · Jul 20, 2012

caoder said:
Betta males are fine with community fish as long as they're not with other bettas. I keep them with Platy fry about 1/2" long and they don't harass them after the initial introduction.

This is a generalization and not true of all bettas, especially in a tank as small as a 5g.

I have nerites in my with bettas to help with algae (they are in 5g minibow tanks). A single betta and a snail or two in a nicely planted tank is a lovely thing

cecile1

· #16 · Jul 20, 2012

I would go for either a nice show quality betta ( depends on the personality- getting along with others), and some small/pygmy corys on the bottom, ottos maybe for some movement. I too also like anubis and driftwood!

There are some good journals that are 5 gals, you will need to make one!

Avoid those hermit crabs, fish and shrimp are better!

I will add in my two cents that puffers need a species only tank, they can be aggressive and nasty little buggers to other species. Also, there is some debate, but they are brackish fish, so just some musings.

HybridHerp

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 20, 2012

I know some of the puffers are brackish, but the dwarfs are as well? Bh I forget the species I was thinking of in particular, but I am mainly fixating on endlers, pearl danios, a show Betta, and dwarf Cory's, just have to get down to the specifics first and then buy and set up the tank lol

Kehy

· #18 · Jul 20, 2012

Dwarf puffers are fresh water, I believe. I've seen some other types of baby puffers sold as dwarfs, but those would grow to become brackish.

Calmia22

· #19 · Jul 21, 2012

Dwarf puffers are true freshwater fish, do not give them salt, and never ask a petsmart employee about that, or they will say a dwarf puffer needs brackish water. I have two dwarf puffers, a bunch of cherry shrimp and 1 pygmy cory (he was the soul survivor from another tank) in my Fluval 7.9 gallon aquarium which is lightly planted and everyone gets along fine.

The puffers are male and female, and they treat the pygmy cory as if it's one of them. The shrimp they just tend to ignore.

And not all puffers are aggressive. I have had dwarf puffers in community tanks for years without issue.

DBlauj

· #20 · Jul 21, 2012

Scarlet Badis would be nice. I'm actually trying to find some for my 6g.

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