Beginner -Starting a new 5 gallon Hex

I just received a Marineland 5 Gal Hex tank as a present. I have been doing a lot of research about keeping fish and maintaining aquariums. I plan on putting in live plants, a small 50w heater, one mail Betta, one female Black Molly, one Dalamation Molly, one mystery snail. I will be running a fishless cycle for 6 weeks. How does this sound?

 

Most here would say that a 5 gallon tank is only big enough for a single male betta and maybe the mystery snail, with the live plants and heater. Mollies need more swimming room and need to be in a 20+ gallon tank.

Good luck and welcome to the site.

 

stick with just the betta starting out. maybe a snail, bettas can be very aggressive and would not try to keep them with other fish if you don't have much experience. also like plecodragon said the mollies need more room.

 

I agree! I have a 5 gallon tank and its only big enough for a Betta and a snail. Mollies are big waste producers and need to be housed in a much larger tank. Besides that, a lot of them come from the store pregnant ( I've had to return all mine because of that ) so that's another thing - they breed like crazy!

You could also use the tank as a shrimp only tank

 

Welcome to FishLore!!

Good advice above.
Good luck!

 

You might want to switch to a smaller fish... I stay away from snails bec they produce a lot of waste... and I would rather have a fish instead... maybe do 2 female betta? and a ghost shrimp? or try something smaller like cloud minnows with the betta? first I would test the male bettas personality and put it with a ghost shrimp to see if it kills it... mine ignored the ghost shrimp completely and knew it was ok... I have a male betta with 2 female platies ( so they won't breed) I know they will eat their babies if they are already preggers... but my tank is super stocked so I need to make sure to take care of water quality... dk if I would recommend it to someone else

 

I would not suggest beginners try a Betta sorority, Also, a 5 gallon is too small for a sorority and it's best to have more than 2 to spread out aggression. Ghost shrimp can also cause a problem with Male bettas, they have a tendency to eat fins.

White cloud minnows and Bettas have very different care requirements and would not be a good tank mate!

I really think a single male betta in a 5 gallon, especially a hex, is maxed out. A properly cared for betta is energetic and a lot of fun, you really don't need more.

 

I just received a Marineland 5 Gal Hex tank as a present. I have been doing a lot of research about keeping fish and maintaining aquariums. I plan on putting in live plants, a small 50w heater, one mail Betta, one female Black Molly, one Dalamation Molly, one mystery snail. I will be running a fishless cycle for 6 weeks. How does this sound?

Yes to the betta OR snail, the mollys need a larger tank. Fishless cycle using what ammonia source?

maybe do 2 female betta? or try something smaller like cloud minnows with the betta?

With all due respect, this is pretty horrible advice. 5 gallons is barely large enough for one single betta, male or female, the minnows need a school and a larger tank. If you're going to give stocking advice, maybe you could do some research on the species you're thinking of recommending PRIOR to recommending them.

 

I just have to disagree on how much room a 5 gallon can give... my first betta lived in a 2 gallon bowl for 3 years until I gave him to a friend... he was active and had a lot of room... so to me, a 5 gallon is more than enough room... I have 2 goldfish in a 5 gallon for like 4 years until my sisters bf put them in his pond... I think a lot of people take these rules way to seriously... as for the minnow... ive never had them but I read an article that recommended them with a betta in a 6 gallon tank so you would have to take that up with him... the only time I have ever had a fish die on me is when my husband was watching my betta for a month...so clearly I'm doing SOMETHING right... I think everyone gets a little strict with ruffled feathers if anyone suggests something they perceive to be going against the rules...there are a lot of people that don't think a betta needs 5 gallon min... or that goldfish need 75g

 

White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys albonubes)

This Minnow is popular with beginners and often marketed as "coldwater", it is in fact sub-tropical and will happily tolerate low-end tropical temperatures, and will benefit from the stability of a heated tank.

 

I just have to disagree on how much room a 5 gallon can give... my first betta lived in a 2 gallon bowl for 3 years until I gave him to a friend... he was active and had a lot of room... so to me, a 5 gallon is more than enough room... I have 2 goldfish in a 5 gallon for like 4 years until my sisters bf put them in his pond... I think a lot of people take these rules way to seriously... as for the minnow... ive never had them but I read an article that recommended them with a betta in a 6 gallon tank so you would have to take that up with him... the only time I have ever had a fish die on me is when my husband was watching my betta for a month...so clearly I'm doing SOMETHING right... I think everyone gets a little strict with ruffled feathers if anyone suggests something they perceive to be going against the rules...there are a lot of people that don't think a betta needs 5 gallon min... or that goldfish need 75g

You're allowed to respectfully disagree with anything any of us say..... public forums are based on personal opinion.

Although you may have read an article on keeping WCMM, I have a school of them, so can speak from experience. They need a larger tank. And no, thank you, I don't feel the need to take this up with whomever wrote the article.

I'm not sure why you're getting so snappy, but I'd appreciate the courtesy of a little respect. When advice is asked for, and then given, you have to expect differences of opinion to be stated. You then have to weigh that information yourself. Personally, I always will give people with hands-on experience the edge. I can't say that holds true for everything that might be posted, though. Just because a fish has lived for however long in what I consider to be a substandard environment, it doesn't mean that fish has thrived.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, I hope you continue to do so.

 

You can pretend you were "respectful" but I'm not an idiot, as far as considering if a fish is thriving... I would like a way to test that lol

 

a test IMO would be to look at the environment they live in and compare it to what we put them in. nothing can be as good as nature but a 5 gallon hex? how much horizontal swimming room is that? 10in? that is way to small.

I treat any info I get as a poll and will see what most say. I'm pretty sure most would say no more than a betta in a 5 gallon especially a hex tank.

the info I got said WCM like a high temp of 70f. now you could push that a lil but my bettas are all in 82F and seem to like that best. idk who wrote the article but seems like bad info to me.

more than one female betta is very dangerous even in the right conditions. the right conditions are 30in tank with at least 5 females.

I can see how you thought lyndab was rude to you. now I would admit you were wrong about the fish you suggested being that most disagree with you/ the article you read.

 

Remember not to feed the trolls.

 

What do you mean cichlidnut I keep an Oscar in a ziplock bag and he's happy as can be.

Sent from my Android using Tapatalk 2

 

You can pretend you were "respectful" but I'm not an idiot, as far as considering if a fish is thriving... I would like a way to test that lol

I don't pretend. Just ask any other member. I'm brutally honest, but in a respectful way.

It's actually very easy way to know if your fish is thriving, as compared to just existing. If he has good color, is disease-free, is achieving normal growth in the proper period of time for that species, he eats well, eliminates well and behavior is true to the species, and reaches an age standard for the species. I'm sure there are more I could add to the list, but those are the things I thought of immediately.

The thing is, you have to be honest and have no denial about what the standard for that species is. You have to have done your research on the species and compared notes with other reputable and knowledgeable fishkeepers to see what's right in front of your eyes. But it's not hard to do. It just takes dedication and a passion for the hobby.

 

Go for a planted discus set up for sure!

J/K

I been a member for awhile and I must say I've noticed LyndaB can be very rude to other members!

J/K again and I keed big on that one.

As for the stock. A single male betta with one gold mystery snail doesn't sound like the worst idea in the world to me. They're good tank mates for male bettas in my experience. And a 5 hex I think you can do it...

 

A betta can be successfully kept in less than a five gallon, but some try for optimal conditions rather than simply sufficient. And a betta should never be kept in less than a gallon as some recommend. So the info out there is all over the charts when it comes to bettas. I don't know if the betta might turn on a snail at some point - I know a lot have - but I do know that it is a very rare occurrence to have two bettas, male OR female, coexist in a five gallon. it's hard enough getting the females to get along in something much larger. Tank size aside, it's not a good idea to try something that volatile when first starting out.

They are right about mollies needing a larger space. One betta and MAYBE a snail tankmate might be your best bet.

 

I just received a Marineland 5 Gal Hex tank as a present. I have been doing a lot of research about keeping fish and maintaining aquariums. I plan on putting in live plants, a small 50w heater, one mail Betta, one female Black Molly, one Dalamation Molly, one mystery snail. I will be running a fishless cycle for 6 weeks. How does this sound?

HI Painterroy,

Welcome to fishlore. I hope you'll stick around and share your journey into fishkeeping with us. It's got a big learning curve at the start but is very enjoyable. I, too, recommend starting with the betta and a snail in that tank. My bf has kept that combo very comfortably for many years now. Live plants are a great idea. Bettas love to lounge around and yours will appreciate the real plants to relax in. They are majestic little fish. I also enjoy my mystery snails a great deal. They are so much fascinating to watch in action.

Depending on the betta, he may not tolerate the snail, so you may want to watch the betta for a few weeks to guage his temperament before adding the snail. I've had some very laid back ones and some that flare at and lunge toward anything and everything, including me at feeding time.

Later, when you feel you have a handle on the routines, you might consider a larger tank that will accommodate mollies.

Good luck on your fishless cycle. Keep us posted!

Nina

 

Hex aquariums fall into my "funky shape" category (along with bowls, talls and many smaller bowfronts) and I would take that into consideration too.

Id be leary of a snail with bettas--I guess it depends on your heart. They really are temperamental and its really just pure luck in finding ones that are friendly as opposed to destroying everything in sight. I have one that flares up any time I come near the tank without food, and he's supposed to know me! Wouldn't ever dare put anything living in there. The other comes up and looks at me, doesn't flare, just stares. It could be attempted, but knowing if the Betta actually will put up with or like a snail is a different story. I don't know why it would kill it, but bettas aren't known for their friendly loving tolerance of others.

This isn't perfect advice (since this rule in itself is pretty bad) but if it goes over the 1 inch per gallon rule, you're REALLY over the limit with just about any fish. Not to mention many fish like much more than that and require friends