Fish For Classroom

Hi, I’m brand new to this website and I have lots of questions to ask. My science teacher really wants to get some fish for the classroom and I offered to help her figure it out. The only problem is that she and I are complete novices to aquariums and fish. We thought it would be easier to get a hamster or a rat as both of us have experience with those animals. The school declined our suggestion and said fish were our only option.

Originally, we were thinking about getting a betta fish but then decided that we would like to have more than one fish in the tank (I read that bettas normally do not do well with other fish). My teacher wants three fish that can come in a variety of colors. If anyone has any suggestions on what kind of fish to get I’d love the advice! After doing lots of reading we were thinking that guppies would be a good fish to get. We wanted to get three because I read that male guppies can live together and will play. We would get females except we do not want the tank to quickly become overcrowded.

Unfortunately, the situation only gets more complicated. My school has very strict rules about the science lab (the place where we would be keeping the tank). They do not want the tank to take up too much space or occupy any of the outlets. If we end up getting a betta or three guppies, what is the minimum amount of space that they can comfortably live in? I was watching some videos about betta breeders and they seem to keep them in very small containers. I would want to keep them in a bigger tank. The school also does not want anything to be plugged into the outlets of the science lab overnight. Does anyone know of any filters, heaters, and lights that are battery operated? If not, can anyone think of any ways to get around this, such as a battery box or something that we can plug things into? If we have a live plant in the tank will we not need a filter?

I apologize for having so many questions. Thank you to anyone that can offer any advice! I understand if this is too complicated and it would just be impossible to keep fish with such strict requirements.

 

There are many battery powered air pumps and filters, I use them when the power goes out. Also, you will still need a filter even if you have live plants. Good luck, sounds like a fun project!

 

As a breeder myself, I can say that the small containers are typically about a gallon. You have to separate all males and aggressive females from the spawn. You're talking hundreds of bettas from a single spawn as well. Long term, they should be kept in a bare minimum of 2.5 gallons. Guppies need a bare minimum of 10 gallons. Bettas are extremely hardy fish and would be my recommendation. As for a good battery operated filter, bettas do very well with sponge filters which runs off an air pump. The Tetra Whisper 3I filter also runs off an air pump. You can commonly find battery operated air pumps.

 

How cold will it get?
Yes, you can rely on plants for filtration.
I have two guppies and two shrimp (and pest snails) in a six litre ( after substrate etc) cylinder. There is no heater and filtration is plants - the floating plants are doing the heavy lifting. Light is from the window. I have to shade it, dose liquid carbon and ferts, otherwise it's an algae farm.
It did take some experimentation to choose two guppies that get on in the small space, otherwise it's fighting, constant chasing/low level harassment or glass surfing. They love the sun, they wake up in the morning and go to bed at sundown. I like how they follow the rhythm of the day.
If it goes wrong I can return the inhabitants to the main tank. I don't know if I can keep it going over winter. I have a max/min thermometer and keeping an eye on it.
It requires no electricity but requires a lot of observation and intervention. I wouldn't recommend it unless you are experienced and have a back up plan.
A planted shrimp and snails habitat is safer. Inverts are quite cool. You can get a nice little ecosystem going and spare yourself the stress of trying to keep fish.

 

Hi, I’m brand new to this website and I have lots of questions to ask. My science teacher really wants to get some fish for the classroom and I offered to help her figure it out. The only problem is that she and I are complete novices to aquariums and fish. We thought it would be easier to get a hamster or a rat as both of us have experience with those animals. The school declined our suggestion and said fish were our only option.

Originally, we were thinking about getting a betta fish but then decided that we would like to have more than one fish in the tank (I read that bettas normally do not do well with other fish). My teacher wants three fish that can come in a variety of colors. If anyone has any suggestions on what kind of fish to get I’d love the advice! After doing lots of reading we were thinking that guppies would be a good fish to get. We wanted to get three because I read that male guppies can live together and will play. We would get females except we do not want the tank to quickly become overcrowded.

Unfortunately, the situation only gets more complicated. My school has very strict rules about the science lab (the place where we would be keeping the tank). They do not want the tank to take up too much space or occupy any of the outlets. If we end up getting a betta or three guppies, what is the minimum amount of space that they can comfortably live in? I was watching some videos about betta breeders and they seem to keep them in very small containers. I would want to keep them in a bigger tank. The school also does not want anything to be plugged into the outlets of the science lab overnight. Does anyone know of any filters, heaters, and lights that are battery operated? If not, can anyone think of any ways to get around this, such as a battery box or something that we can plug things into? If we have a live plant in the tank will we not need a filter?

I apologize for having so many questions. Thank you to anyone that can offer any advice! I understand if this is too complicated and it would just be impossible to keep fish with such strict requirements.

You could try an extension cord and say its "for my projector" if they ask

 

You have many suggestions and imo, the best advice was from Katie13. The issue I see with this project is that some schools turn their building heat down or up (to conserve energy) and you may not be able to adequately provide heat. I beg to differ with some of the posters that stated plants would be enough filtration.
Good luck and at the very least, it will need to go home on the fall break. Christmas break and other times such as that.

 

Your best bet is a 5 or 10 gallon with maybe 3-5 guppies, but the tank must be HEAVILY planted if there is no filtration. I'd reccomend java moss and hornwort, but honestly I'd ditch the fish and do neocaridinia shrimp. They'd look great in a heavily planted tank and they are very hardy. In a 5 or 10, you could keep around 20 shrimp.

 

If you go with an actual tank with lighting and so on:

it's not really a problem as you don't want to leave the lights on all night anyways. So you could just plug them as soon as you arrive to school in the morning and then unplug them just before you leave. For the weekend as long as there's enough natural room lighting it should be fine.

Good luck!

 

this is gonna sound crazy, but you all should get a flowerhorn. With a cycled tank of decent size, they're easy to care for and probably the most entertaining fish you can buy it outdoes any small fish. And they will live for a good 10 years at least if cared for properly. So you'll have a lot of awesome years to enjoy the fish.

 

They are not even letting you use electricity, or just that you can't take up an entire outlet(s)? That second condition is a bit dumb because you can add power strips or multi-taps to the outlet to get more outlets.

However, if they insist on no electricity, then I find that the fish which can survive without constant bubbling gas exchange would be the bettas, guppies, and some gold fish. There are likely more than this that you might be able to find easily.

 

Betta would still need a heater

 

I believe dwarf honey gouramis don't need gas exchange either. They are also very interactive with me lol.

 

A betta would still be your best bet with no filtration. Sunset or dwarf honey gourami is also an option, a single one can go in a 5 gallon. As long as the school maintains temperature constant around 72-74 which I expect they would, the betta wouldn't NEED heating, although it would be appreciated. A lot of water changes would be needed with a 5 gallon without filtration. Cheers

 

They are not even letting you use electricity, or just that you can't take up an entire outlet(s)? That second condition is a bit dumb because you can add power strips or multi-taps to the outlet to get more outlets.

However, if they insist on no electricity, then I find that the fish which can survive without constant bubbling gas exchange would be the bettas, guppies, and some gold fish. There are likely more than this that you might be able to find easily.

no goldfish

 

A betta would still be your best bet with no filtration. Sunset or dwarf honey gourami is also an option, a single one can go in a 5 gallon. As long as the school maintains temperature constant around 72-74 which I expect they would, the betta wouldn't NEED heating, although it would be appreciated. A lot of water changes would be needed with a 5 gallon without filtration. Cheers

bettas need a filter and a heater

 

Nah man, no oscar could go in a 46, right?
How about a 55 gallon community?

 

bettas need a filter and a heater

Well, I agree...technically no fish should be kept without a filter and heater, but given strong constraints they are the best option when filtration and temp is maintained.

 

If you can keep a moderate-heavily planted tank for filtration and a small thermometer for when it becomes cold, why not a shrimp tank? Tons of colors and they're quite fun to watch. They're more flexible when it comes to equipment because their bioload is so small.

 

Well, I agree...technically no fish should be kept without a filter and heater, but given strong constraints they are the best option when filtration and temp is maintained.

true although I wouldn't go with a aquarium if you can't use any outlets or can't take up a lot of room

 

So battery operated pumps don't last that long, you could try to find one with rechargeable batteries, might not run all night though...
Ideally you would need two outlets, one for filter, one for heater. The third would be for lighting, but if you have a sunny spot and ways to control algae you can get around the lighting.

Also to consider... who will take care of the fish during vacation? They will need to be plugged into outlets (heater/filter) when not there daily to recharge batteries. Also... who will be taking them home over the summer?

 

I would keep it simple. Get a 10 gallon tank with a nice heater, filter, some live plants, small piece of drift wood, & maybe a decoration or two & just add a Betta. They will love the space, besides the fact that betta's are relatively muchhhh easier to keep alive.

 

I would keep it simple. Get a 10 gallon tank with a nice heater, filter, some live plants, small piece of drift wood, & maybe a decoration or two & just add a Betta. They will love the space, besides the fact that betta's are relatively muchhhh easier to keep alive.

He can't use outlets lol

 

He can't use outlets lol

....oh...

Yeah, get a hamster then, haha.

 

They do make nice solar heaters and filters for small ponds were electricity is an issue.