OzzyFan

Are there any cichlids that stay small enough for a 5-gallon tank? I saw a few 1-inchers in a pet store the other day, and the current residents of my 5-gallon tank (1 young leopard danio and 1 neon tetra) are big enough to move to my 25-gallon tank now, leaving my 5-gal empty, except for two 1-inch shrimp.

If there aren't any cichlids that stay that small, then I'll put something else in the tank. I just saw this as a possible opportunity to get a few cichlids, since I can't really put any in my bigger tank, which is a community tropical tank.

Shawnie

none that will live happily...5 gals is too small

Barbrella

Are you sure you're thinking of cichlids? Not even one can live in 5 gals, and not even the smallest. The 1-inch cichlids you saw sound like fry.

A dwarf puffer can live in 5 gals, if you're up for some rather specialized care.

Or for easy care, great personality and beauty, what about a nice big female betta?

OzzyFan

Yeah, I'm not really up to a lot of specialized care at this point. I'd like to get something I haven't had before, and certainly it has to be a smaller fish. I have two male bettas already (in separate bowls), so I could transfer one of them to the 5-gal tank and maybe get a female or two to go with him...but I'm also interested in putting a few guppies in there, or some fish I haven't had before.

Slug

Shelldwellers. Could keep a trio in there probably (1m 2females). Would have to keep up with fry removal though. Its possible. Then again, i push every limit fishkeeping has to offer for the sake of it.

Butterfly

Matt I respectfully have to disagree I keep shelldwellers (Multis) and don't feel that 5g is big enough for them. They need room to move sand and shells around to their satisfaction and to make breeding pits. just my thoughts
Carol

Allie

Most African cichlids from all areas need space to chase and what not. I would not keep shellies even in a 5g. They may be small but they need space like Butterfly said.

Slug

Agree to disagree i guess. A good number of people do it, just gotta get the right species and pairing/sexing.

http://www.shelldwellers.com/index.p....html#msg25129

Usually brevis is the popular choice.

Allie

There is a difference between doing what you want and what is right for that particular species of fish. Surviving and thriving are two different things. I wouldn't keep any cichlid in a 5g.

Red wag platy

I think you should take care of the fish you have now. Bowls are not appropriate for bettas. Please research their proper care http://www.fishlore.com/Profiles-Betta.htm

Allie

Betta should be kept in 3-5g heated tanks alone with no females. They will tear each other apart. They cannot go with much else in a 5g.

Butterfly

Thats cool
Carol

Angela_96

Shell dwellers need at least a 20g long for the room to spread out and have their terrories. I wouldn't put them in a 5g tank.

Slug

Thats only some species and the number you have in there. And i've kept them in tanks as small as 10gals before.

pinkfloydpuffer

Puffers aren't that difficult

MeGustaUnaPez926

I wouldn't get any new fish, you definitely need to put one of your bettas in the 5 gallon tank. They cannot live in bowls. One of your bettas should go in there, and you need to get another tank for the other betta. Make sure both tanks have heaters, filters, and are cycled.

pinkfloydpuffer

My goodness you're right. I missed that....
I'd say divide the tank and put both in there. It'd be a bit cramped, but still tons better than a bowl.
Or if you could get another 5g for the other betta, that'd be excellent.

guppywhitecloud

bettas can live in bowls one of my bettas can live in a bowl.............................................. ..................................for 3 yrs

CHoffman

Just because they CAN doesn't mean that they are happy healthy fish. Bettas are just like any other tropical fish they need a filter, heater and a min of 2.5 gallons..5 is better.Just because the Betta is surviving doesn't mean it's the ideal environment for your fish.

Allie

They can but they need constant tempurature, most places have too many fluctuation in temp. Betta thrive in 5g, they swim and swim...a bowl doesn't give them much room to show off.
You & Your betta were lucky. I live in Canada too and could not keep a betta in an unheated bowl. They all got ICH, fin rot and died. Mind you the quality of a betta makes a HUGE difference and tempurature fluctuation in the bowl. Our apartment is very humid yet can get cold really fast. Not good for betta in a bowl.

Plecolover12

Sadly, no. I felt the smae way when I wanted a pleco in my ten gallon tank and then I learned it could not live in it happily.

Angela_96

There are a lot of fishkeepers who have the "myth" stuck in their heads that the Bettas live in shallow swamps , and don't need room to swim, etc,

I can quoate from one of my tropical fish books, it describes putting a Betta in anything less than a 2.5g filtered, heated tank as animal abuse.

Nicolas Rodriguez

I sighed at the post about shell dwellers in the 5gal, but i full out face palmed when i saw the post about bettas in bowls. Im convinced, pet-co, and some LFS have convinced people that Bettas are happy in a small bowl by selling "Betta Starter Kits" for ten dollars, which is just gravel, a bowl, a plant, and a fish...

Amanda

There's a difference between living & thriving.

Je55*e

Tank dividers are actually pretty cruel (for betta, anyway). The bettas can see each other but not get to each other, and they get confused and riled up constantly.

Amanda

I have a divided 10 gal. for 2 male bettas, and I love it. The males flare, but they eventually ignore each other. It's a nice way to keep 2 bettas in one tank.

CHoffman

It' doable...If you put lots of plants and decor so they can't see each other I don't see why it wouldn't work...

angelfish220

really it depends on the divider. If you use an opaque divider or a moss wall with 2 different filters and heaters etc. its just like 2 tanks. If you use a pet store clear slotted divider then yes it depends.

sutherland

Slotted dividers are also used in breeding as well. Sometimes separation encourages curiousity, and then up comes the divider.