[tidalrabbit]

I'm looking into setting up a nano Walstad-style tank (~5g). I will definitely be adding cherry shrimp and a nerite, but I'm undecided on the fish. My water is on the harder side, and I'm obviously limited on space, so it would probably be best to have something really tiny or that doesn't need to be in a big group to feel comfortable. This will be a heavily planted tank (so lots of hiding spots) but I'd also rather have something that won't try to eat ALL of the shrimp babies. My top 3 picks at the moment are:

1. Pygmy sunfish (E. gilberti or E. okefenokee)
2. Least killifish or
3. Chili/strawberry rasbora

I think some of these prefer soft water, though... Do you guys have any suggestions that would work better? Any glaring issues with the fish I'm researching now? I know the sunfish can be tricky to feed, but I'm willing to start a grindal worm culture for them.

 

[jake21]

ember tetra; g. peacock; green neon... I'd suggest an angelfish (ignoring that they won't fit in a 5g); but they keep biting my fingers.

 

[Aaronious]

Kubotai Rasobora. Double check that they don't get bigger than Chilies or Ember tetras tho... Also those two types of fish.
2-3 Sparkling gourami.
a handful of Scarlet Badis
African Dwarf Frogs. Maybe? from what I remember its the same as the others. Will likely pick off some babies. But I don't know tank specs for these.

 

[jake21]

I would skip Kubotai; they are lovely fishes but super active and a bit more space is nice for swimming room. sparkling gourami will go after the shrimp. I've heard nice things about dario dario (scarlet badis) but most of them require live or sometimes frozen food... so be preapred.

Kubotai Rasobora. Double check that they don't get bigger than Chilies or Ember tetras tho... Also those two types of fish.
2-3 Sparkling gourami.
a handful of Scarlet Badis
African Dwarf Frogs. Maybe? from what I remember its the same as the others. Will likely pick off some babies. But I don't know tank specs for these.

 

[mostly moss]

I vote for the least killifish! I got some last year and they are adorable and very pretty in a more subtle way. I think they may pick off a few shrimp babies, but people seem to have reasonable luck with them with shrimp.

 

[ustabefast]

Best to keep it a shrimp only tank, but a few chili rasboras or similar might work out ok in a little 5 gallon.
I've kept chilis with cherry shrimp and saw baby shrimp swimming in the open water.

 

[tidalrabbit]

Thanks so much, all! I won't be stocking for at least a few months, so you have given me lots of research topics to occupy me while my plants grow in

 

[Eck]

I started with Least Killifish. They are very easy to keep and feed, placid, and they do produce fry regularly. If I had a criticism I'd say they do become slightly on the boring side. They help give confidence for a beginner. They are OK with shrimp, in my experience – I have 3 shrimplets in a nano, as well as adult red cherry, though that's not to say there couldn't have been more. If you were able to collect (Edinburgh) I'd give you a couple of Least Killifish babies. I also have a planter with a small heater and sponge filter with the white neon style ricefish, and they are adorable – very wiggly and friendly. I like the Japanese style ceramic planted but you do mostly see them from above, so I'm not sure how they'd feel in a heavily planted nano. They are more active than the Least Killifish and in my experience have slightly more character.