Suitable fish for a 5 gallon tank?

chub04

chub04

AC Members
Aug 23, 2016
50
3
8
32
I'm considering getting a 5 gallon tank as a desktop tank for my office. I know 5 gallon is small and probably not a whole lot could/should be kept in that small of a tank, but I was wondering if there was anything I could keep in it? It will be properly filtered, regular water changes/maintenance, heated (if needed), etc. Besides a Betta, are there any other options that would work?

PS... I was thinking of getting the Fluval Spec V Aquarium 5-Gallon Kit. Seems like a pretty good little setup, has anyone used it? Like it? Hate it? Opinions on it?
 
You could probably do a small group of neons or celestial pearl danios. There was a time I had 8 celestial pearl danios in a planted 10g and you really had to look for them. You won't need a heater for either provided the room stays typical room temp.
 
You could probably do a small group of neons or celestial pearl danios. There was a time I had 8 celestial pearl danios in a planted 10g and you really had to look for them. You won't need a heater for either provided the room doesn't get too cold.
 
Shrimp are great in little tanks.

I don't consider dario dario 'easy' fish, simply because they often won't take prepared foods, so if you go that route add the shrimp and have them well established before adding the fish. They'll take the shrimplets, but the adults will be fine.

Other options would be a school (6-8) of ember tetras or one of the small rasboras (chilis, sparrow, etc). All do best in a heavily planted tank, and are shy. A pair of dwarf croaking gouramies would be fine in a 5.

If you are in a state where they're legal, dwarf cray fish are interesting inhabitants that will be fine in a small setup.
 
I just bought this exact tank in white!

Here are some options that I'm considering

- male betta
- ghost shrimp or sakura yellows

- male betta
- pygmy corydoras

- male betta
- chili rasboras

- a pea puffer and nothing else (this is a longshot but pea puffers are so adorable)

As you can probably tell, I'm sort of a betta fanatic.
 
Kino, I like your ideas, but bettas will typically pick at and eat the shrimp. I wouldn't do corys in a 5g because you need a good sized group of them for them to be comfortable.
 
FreshyFresh said:
Kino, I like your ideas, but bettas will typically pick at and eat the shrimp. I wouldn't do corys in a 5g because you need a good sized group of them for them to be comfortable.
Click to expand...
I mentioned this in another thread and while typically I agree about the betta thing, I've had a great deal of luck in another tank that houses a male doubletail betta and some dream blue velvet shrimp. He actively avoids them/swims away from them quickly! Very unusual for a betta. I'd like to attempt it again because I know the breeding stock where my betta came from (definitely not pet store) and every betta I've gotten from this breeder in particular has had a bizarrely gentle temperament. If it doesn't work out though, I've got another cycled tank the shrimps can go into.

As far as cories go, you're probably spot on with that. It's nice to dream, though!
 
^ True on the bettas. I've had males that would seemingly ignore shrimp and I've had sororities of females that would pig out on my red cherry shrimp.
 
I dunno, I think a small group of dwarf corys could work as a species tank or with a mellow betta. Cherry shrimp (again lots of hiding places) & a betta.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom