Fish Addict

I was thinking about possibly getting my Dad a small tank for Fathers Day. Here is what I was thinking:
Getting my dad a tank, something with lights and filter built in, and getting some cherry shrimp, or other type.
I want to have it be the least work possible, so I have a few questions:

What is the smallest tank I could get (sorry everyone who promotes big tanks, but this needs to be able to fit on his desk) that could hold 6-10 shrimp? I saw a 3 gallon online that sounded good...

If he put it near a window so the tank got direct or indirect sunlight, would it be able to grow enough algae to keep the shrimp fed?

If there isn't enough algae, would the shrimp be able to eat dead plants, or would he have to feed the shrimp?

Thanks for reading my huge post, and I hope everyone has a good Fathers Day!

TFA101

window locations will get too hot and will incourage algae growth. I would suggest you'd leave it with the desktop location. A few cherry shrimps would be nice in the tank, though you could do a betta, but whatever floats your boat. Anyways, the shrimp will not last on algae alone, and they will need to be fed small spirulina pellets or algae wafers fed in very small portions. A three gallon is perfect for some shrimp. 5-7 sounds good, but be sure to keep your water parameters at top condition for your shrimp(s)' health.

Good luck!

Fish Addict

Do you think there would be a way to get enough algae so he wouldn't have to feed them? I am trying to make it so theres as little work as possible...

TFA101

The only way there would be enough algae would be if there was something wrong with the tank. I'm not sure, but I think there are things that encourage algae growth. Plus, the whole point is to encourage responsibility. Thats the whole way the shrimp are going to live. All I can think of is sinking spirulina flakes or algae wafers served in very small portions

TFA101

btw, shrimp cannot sustain themselves on algae alone anyways, so shrimp pellets would also need to be added to the menu

angelfish220

Does your father really like aquariums? Is he going to care for his pets? I'm just making sure, because many fishtank gifts usually end up as fish deaths because the recipiants dont want them.

If he does want them he will take care of them, so feeding them wont be an issue.

Fish Addict

Oh okay... I guess it might not be a good idea... though he does help out a ton with my tank, and has saved it from disaster a ton...

The only thing is he can be gone for a while on trips, so i'd want to make it easier...

And I'm going to give him the option, more than giving the tank, sort of saying if you'd want to do this, I'll pay.. I guess...

Also, if he fed the shrimp he'd have to do water changes right? or just when he needed to replace evap. water?
I could see about an auto. feeder...