Just got a fish tank for my birthday...

...and I have a whole raft of questions before I get my first fish. I'll post them one at a time - any advice gratefully received My first query is: I have an 8 gallon freshwater tank. How many fish can I get, and what species? I was thinking of zebra danios, neon tetras and swordtails. How many of each? Thanking you in advance!

 

First of all, let me say again HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Then I have to tell you I cannot answer your question because I am probably the worst person to try the formula on how many fish can go in how much water. :-[ (Just never will understand it myself) I did, however, just have to tell you congratulations on the New Tank. Oh how envious I am. I love seeing anyone getting a new one. I live vicariously through them so keep us informed on your progress.

Congrats, again!
Rose

 

It's me again saying WELCOME! and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

8 gallons is not a lot to work with unfortunately, but what I think would be a pretty tank would be a pretty male betta and 3 cory cats. The basic guideline is 1 inch of fish (figured on adult size) per gallon of water in your tank. That means you can only have about 8 inches for a healthy tank. You might could get by with 3 neons added to the betta and cory cats, but that would be maxed out. I think it would be a beautiful tank though!

 

there is some formula for calculating max fish in a tank....hmm....can't quite remember o well the 1 inch per gallon rule works fine for small fish like tetras, but it doesn't work for big fish like you wouldnt put a big 10 in fishin a 10 gallon, but you could probably put 10 small neons in a 10 gal I think

 

I have 6 zebra danios and they do really good together, but for your 8 gallon tank I would suggest getting no less than 4 (they are much happier in larger groups) but that really depends on how many of the other fish you decide to get. I don't know much about the tetras, but swordtails are also good 2 or 3 females to every 1 male. Good Luck with your new tank!

 

I agree with Gunnie neons and corys

 

While zebra danios are small and hardy, they are also very fast little guys. I think they're way too fast for an 8 gallon tank. They'd be much happier in at least 20 gallons, given their temperaments. Neon tetras, are quite slow and don't require as much swimming space as zebra danios do.

 

Now that I think about it, Isabella is right.. I couldn't imagine my zebras having less space than they have now- they do use up the entire tank with their crazy swimming! Maybe neons would be better, but you should still have them in a small school.

 

I like the Betta/Cory combination also.
Unless you maybe wanted just six neons and three corys. Panda corys are a favorite of mine and stay really small, but you would need at least three of them.
A tank this small can become unstable very easily, so keep a watch on your fish and test often.
oh and by the way.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! ;D
Carol