Per the title, I'm wondering if there is any variety of goldfish that would stay small enough to remain healthy in a 5g hex aquarium (16" high X 13" wide) with a good HOB filter. I have a regular 29g tank with a variety of tropicals, but my daughter wants her own small tank and one goldfish. Researching around this forum, it looks like no goldfish stay small enough for that tank (maybe 4" or less). Is that really true?
Is there any goldfish suitable for a 5-gallon tank?
- Thread starter msquared
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There is no Goldfish suitable for a 5 gal tank. Minimum for a single Fancy would be at least 20 gal, and for a single Comet or other pond type at least 75. Don't get hung up on the current size of the fish, and don't believe for one second that a fish grows only to the size of its container. Small tanks usually do result in stunting, but it has nothing to do with the dimensions. It's about water quality. If Fancy isn't the size of a baseball with fins within 3 years, it's stunted. If a Comet isn't at least 8"-10" long in the same period the same assessment applies.
You need to stick to fish less than 2" or so. A betta could work, or a school of nano fish such as Endler's livebearers (aka Endler's guppies). You'll need a heater to keep the water temperature in the mid to upper 70s.
Some fish, like zebra danios, are very active so even though they're small, they are unsuitable for this kind of aquarium.
Basically, look for small fish and then research their needs. Get a book on aquariums if you're new to them or wanting to learn more.
Some fish, like zebra danios, are very active so even though they're small, they are unsuitable for this kind of aquarium.
Basically, look for small fish and then research their needs. Get a book on aquariums if you're new to them or wanting to learn more.
Okay, well now I know a whole class of fish that we don't want. I'm not new to aquarium fish, but my experience is only in smaller tropicals in a larger, heated tank. I avoided making the little-pleco-becomes-a-giant mistake in the past, and I want to make sure my daughter avoids the same thing with this 5g tank. So...back to the drawing board!
The new little Fluval tanks have made nano fishkeeping much more popular than in the past. Before, you were very hard pressed to find fish suitable for this size aquarium, now there are a lot more choices. I myself prefer to think of these as invert tanks. Considering dwarf crayfish, shrimp in a multitude of colors, and colorful and interesting nerites are now readily available online (or even from your LFS or pet shop) I don't think there is anything "boring" about a tank without fish and with only shrimp and snails.
However if your daughter wants a "personality" type fish, then a betta is hard to beat. Just make sure to keep that water quite warm, and keep in mind their stomach is the size of their eye, so they shouldn't eat nearly as much as they want to.
However if your daughter wants a "personality" type fish, then a betta is hard to beat. Just make sure to keep that water quite warm, and keep in mind their stomach is the size of their eye, so they shouldn't eat nearly as much as they want to.
I was kind of wanting to avoid needing a heater, but I that's not a deal-breaker. Can one male betta cohabit with some snails or a couple shrimp? That could be an interesting combo, and I like having different species that tend to stay at different levels (my 29g is stocked like that).
If you provide plenty of cover, shrimp should be ok. I have a densely planted 20 gallon tank where many blue shrimp coexist with a betta and some barbs. However if the tank is pretty sparse (the way betta tanks tend to be) then it will probably eat your shrimp. Snails should be fine. The colorful ones, nerites, tend to need lots of algae to graze though. They might eat an algae wafer now and then, but they do best in tanks that have plentiful algae. Hard water is important to snails and shrimp, the calcium and minerals helps them molt and keeps their shells from pitting. Most tap water is hard in the U.S., if you have a water softener or naturally very soft water, that might be a problem...
Mystery snails ought to be ok. Some bettas will attack their antenna, but not all. Bettas are very variable in their behavior. I like females best because they're quick, but males with their long flashy fins, tend to be a bit slower and arguably more invert friendly for that reason.
Mystery snails ought to be ok. Some bettas will attack their antenna, but not all. Bettas are very variable in their behavior. I like females best because they're quick, but males with their long flashy fins, tend to be a bit slower and arguably more invert friendly for that reason.
If your daughter likes the orange look of goldfish, you could do a few dwarf platties. We sold those at the pet store for little tanks. They were very cute.
Emily
Emily