5 Gallon Tank My First Serious Fishkeeping Attempt

[Ohlinger]

I was thinking that chronicling my progress of my 5 gallon tank would be helpful for other newbies like myself because although I’ve had fish on and off all my life this is the first time I am getting serious with it.

My tank info:
1 Java fern
3 other plants (I’ll post pics another time because I can’t figure out what they are and I’m sure someone here knows)
9 ghost shrimp

I am setting this tank up for a betta and I’ve seen videos saying ghost shrimp are good tank mates and some saying they are not the best. I used Tetra SafeStart (I think that was the name brand) to begin the cycle and after two weeks my tank had cycled. Since I have plants I watched their growth and also the readings of the test kit to determine my tank was ready.
The ghost shrimp are doing fine, I’m using pellets made for them and I just learned they need calcium in their water as well. I ordered some shrimp mineral beads, but if anyone knows the best thing to use please let me know.
I am waiting a bit before looking for a betta because I wanted the shrimp to get comfortable. I also threw a small bag of biological media in the tank temporarily so I can use it to help cycle another project at a later date. I’ve ordered some floating plants for the top (frogbit). So far everything is looking good.

 

[peachsonas]

Nice! I’m excited to see pics of the tank and eventually, the betta, so I’ve started to watch this thread! When I was looking for a tank mate for my betta, I heard ghost shrimp can work sometimes. I think it was a good call for you to put the shrimp in first, so the betta won’t feel inclined to kill them right away. Nerite snails are also hearty companions too and they take care of algae. Excited for you! From a fellow novice and betta owner

 

[Ohlinger]

Thanks! I like to draw and paint bettas, they’re so regal and have such personality. My limited experience with bettas has taught me that some are more inclined to bother tank mates than others and I hope it will work well this time.

 

[peachsonas]

Thanks! I like to draw and paint bettas, they’re so regal and have such personality. My limited experience with bettas has taught me that some are more inclined to bother tank mates than others and I hope it will work well this time.

Wow! You’ll definitely have to share your paintings too. I like to draw too. I was so pleasantly surprised how much the little blue betta I got from a cup perked up and is so feisty now. They’re so personable and even goofy sometimes (a lot of times) but just absolutely beautiful to look at.

 

[Ohlinger]

My last betta was brown in the store but when I got him home and he perked up his entire body looked like it was made from soft glittery sand. I wish I had taken a picture. He was a veiltail. I bet a blue betta is gorgeous.

 

[Ohlinger]

 

[Ohlinger]

A few things that happened yesterday should be noted:
-I received the floating plants I ordered and added them to the tank

-I bought 10 more ghost shrimp from a local pet shop (the First 10 came from a big chain pet store) and I didn’t realize they didn’t look so good until I got them home. As of last night I lost five of them, but this morning the rest seem to have perked up. I also notice that they are darker than the ones I bought first so I can tell the difference between batches. I will probably not buy from that shop again, I noticed they had a betta in a goldfish tank and the poor little thing was being pushed around by the power jet they had in the tank. I asked about it and they said they put him there temporarily because they were cleaning his cup, but I don’t know. I just didn’t like the general condition of the shop. It wasn’t like that before the pandemic.
-my ammonia level spiked and I had to do a water change. Today I am going to do another because the level while lower isn’t ideal.

 

[Ohlinger]

(Not the best pic quality, sorry)
I blanched some cucumber and fed it to the ghost shrimp and they seem to like it. I’m still dealing with higher ammonia levels so more water changes. I’ve noticed algae growing on one of the decorations and some plant growth, so I’m hoping that means that the plants are eating some of the ammonia. I haven’t had any more deaths, though, and the shrimp look healthy. I keep catching them floating upside down on the floating plants. I ordered a couple of moss balls and they should get here in a few days.

 

[Danny002]

Could you post a side-by-side of a lighter shrimp and a darker shrimp? You may have gotten some Amano Shrimp instead in the second batch. I don't think this will cause any problems, but it would be good to know.

Also a tip when choosing a betta: Place the cups next to each other and see if one of them is calmer than the other (not sick or lethargic, just one that doesn't really care as much). You could also hold them by the store's community tanks to see how they react to the fish just going about their business. This should help you pick one that won't totally annihilate your shrimp.
You don't want to be like me, spending $60 on shrimp because "my betta isn't that aggressive!" only to have them live together just fine for about three days and then suddenly almost all the shrimp disappear overnight.

 

[Ohlinger]

Could you post a side-by-side of a lighter shrimp and a darker shrimp? You may have gotten some Amano Shrimp instead in the second batch. I don't think this will cause any problems, but it would be good to know.

Also a tip when choosing a betta: Place the cups next to each other and see if one of them is calmer than the other (not sick or lethargic, just one that doesn't really care as much). You could also hold them by the store's community tanks to see how they react to the fish just going about their business. This should help you pick one that won't totally annihilate your shrimp.
You don't want to be like me, spending $60 on shrimp because "my betta isn't that aggressive!" only to have them live together just fine for about three days and then suddenly almost all the shrimp disappear overnight.

I hope these pictures are adequate, but if I had to describe them the first batch I got was more clear and whitish, the second was still clear but darker tinted with bands on their antenna. Also, thank you for the advice about the betta, I will definitely be trying it.

 

[Danny002]

View attachment 795643View attachment 795644
I hope these pictures are adequate, but if I had to describe them the first batch I got was more clear and whitish, the second was still clear but darker tinted with bands on their antenna. Also, thank you for the advice about the betta, I will definitely be trying it.

Interesting, the darker ones don't really look like amanos, they usually have spots and their backs don't have that peak in it. I'd just chalk it up to them being sourced differently/ being different grades of shrimp. Like I said before it shouldn't make any difference, I was mostly just curious lol

 

[Corygal8857]

Just be careful when adding your betta! Keep an eye out and make sure they don't get aggressive with your shrimp. I have a female betta, and I was told she would get along okay with a pleco. Everything was fine for a bit, but then she started attacking the pleco. Fortunately, I was able to separate them before anything too bad happened. Every fish has a different personality, so your betta may not have any issues with a tank mate. Just be careful!

 

[Ohlinger]

Just be careful when adding your betta! Keep an eye out and make sure they don't get aggressive with your shrimp. I have a female betta, and I was told she would get along okay with a pleco. Everything was fine for a bit, but then she started attacking the pleco. Fortunately, I was able to separate them before anything too bad happened. Every fish has a different personality, so your betta may not have any issues with a tank mate. Just be careful!

I’ll definitely be sure to keep an eye on it. Thanks!

 

[Ohlinger]

There’s a lot of algae in the tank now. I had to scrape it off of the front just to be able to take this picture. After doing a lot of reading about what I should do about it I decided to order some trumpet snails. The shrimp are doing fine, and the water parameters are looking better as well. I swear I’m eventually getting a betta but I don’t want to buy one just to bring it home and it get sick or die because the tank isn’t right.

 

[Ohlinger]

Baby Shrimp!!

(It’s the little white thing by the plant)
I’ve got baby shrimp! I’m just hoping that there’s enough plants and things so that they don’t get eaten by the adult shrimp. I’ve seen about four different ones.
I’m waiting until I’ve gotten the algae under control a bit more before introducing a betta. Im also still debating whether to buy one from the store or order online (I’m wary about ordering online even though I know lots of people have had success, my father-in-law included) because I want a shorter finned betta and it’s hard to find where I live.

 

[Corygal8857]

Baby Shrimp!!
View attachment 797216
(It’s the little white thing by the plant)
I’ve got baby shrimp! I’m just hoping that there’s enough plants and things so that they don’t get eaten by the adult shrimp. I’ve seen about four different ones.
I’m waiting until I’ve gotten the algae under control a bit more before introducing a betta. Im also still debating whether to buy one from the store or order online (I’m wary about ordering online even though I know lots of people have had success, my father-in-law included) because I want a shorter finned betta and it’s hard to find where I live.

Awww those little babies are so cute!

 

[MickSG]

Congratulations on the baby shrimp. I don't think you need to worry about adult shrimp eating their babies. At least I've never observed this.

 

[Danny002]

I'll also say that I've never seen or heard of adult shrimp eating the babies, so they should be okay. But that is very exciting!

I can also vouch for getting fish in the mail, it's how I got my betta. Despite coming from 1,000 miles away and taking longer than usual to get here, he still arrived in great condition! I think it really does depend on where you get them from, how they pack their fish, and what quality of shipping you pay for. As long as you get them from a reputable source and pay for quick shipping (which the seller will probably require anyways), you shouldn't have any problems.
I do understand your nervousness though, I would poke around locally and see if you spot any you like. If not, I'd suggest you try to find a good betta breeder. They're usually more personal than a standard website that you buy fish on and will probably be able to pick one that they think will do well with your shrimp.

 

[Ohlinger]

I didn’t think of a breeder. Thanks!

 

[Ohlinger]

I’ve let the algae go a little too far.

This picture is after a water change. The snails I ordered out of desperation were delivered and have done well so far, but they’re not cleaning algae as well as I would like yet.

I haven’t seen the baby shrimp in a while. I checked the filter and didn’t see any. I keep finding molts from the adults, though.

I’m really happy with my plants. The frogbit has propagated enough to cover half the top of the tank, which is what I wanted. I also see new leaf growth on the other plants (I don’t know what they’re called, I haven’t researched them yet). I’m just worried that the algae’s going to overrun them. I’m getting the algae under control before finding the betta. I’ve also thought about adding some amano shrimp to help, but I can’t find any around here so I will have to order them online like the snails.

 

[Ohlinger]

This is the betta I finally decided on for the tank. This picture doesn’t do him justice. He’s jet black except for light blue rays in his fins. The algae problem is a bit better because I’ve started to limit the amount of time the tank light is on to only 8 hours and I think the snails have eaten a lot of it. Also, I couldn’t get a picture but I’m pretty sure I have one lone baby snail in the tank.

 

[LoachWhisperer]

Cool betta!

 

[Ohlinger]

Cool betta!

Thanks!

 

[Corygal8857]

Awww! I’m excited to see more pictures!

 

[Rachelwkeaton]

I too have the same opinion. Awaiting to see more pictures!

 

[Ohlinger]

The algae problem is just about gone except for a bit that I’m not worried about because of the snails. Max is in there (he was behind the floating plants when I was trying to get a good picture) doing pretty good except he’s always hungry.The research I’ve read seems to tell me not to feed him everyday because they can get constipated easily so I’m feeding him three days and then having him fast for one day. If this isn’t right I hope someone more experienced with bettas will let me know.
The shrimp are doing much better than at first. I did wake up and find one dead on top of the floating plants but other than that they don’t seem to mind Max much. He doesn’t mess with them except when he spots the same food they have but he’s still small and the larger shrimp don’t take his bullying.

 

[Ohlinger]

 

[LHAquatics]

Following!
I am noticing that your anubias is planted in the substrate. Java fern and anubias feed on nutrients with the rizhome.

 

[Ohlinger]

Following!
I am noticing that your anubias is planted in the substrate. Java fern and anubias feed on nutrients with the rizhome.

Does that mean I should take it out of the substrate? Thanks in advance.

 

[CoconutTheBetta]

Does that mean I should take it out of the substrate? Thanks in advance.

Yes. If you don't take it out the rhizome with rot. You can attack it the barrel!

 

[Ohlinger]

Yes. If you don't take it out the rhizome with rot. You can attack it the barrel!

I’ll do that. Thanks!

 

[Ohlinger]

Max is doing well. I’m feeding him two days and having him fast a day, and I’m keeping an eye on him to make sure he isn’t looking bloated. I give him bloodworms sometimes and he likes me to tweezer feed him one worm at a time. The ghost shrimp have all died. I thought at first maybe Max killed them even though I’ve never seen him really try to hurt them, but my husband has a 10 gallon with only ghost shrimp and they all died around the same time. The ammonia and nitrite levels are 0 in both aquariums and the nitrates are negligible thanks to all the plants. I also use a shrimp safe fertilizer. Since I can’t figure it out I think either I’ll just have snails and Max or I may get a small group of Corydoras.

 

[Corygal8857]

Yes! Cories are the best!

 

[Ohlinger]

I bought these two Corys today. I wanted four but they only had these guys left so I’m going to go look next week at some other places. My betta was curious at first and followed them around for a bit but now he’s ignoring them.

 

[Corygal8857]

Yay! So glad the integration went well. Those Cories are just adorable! I'm looking forward to seeing the ones you add.

 

[Ohlinger]

Max seems to be building a bubble nest.

 

[Ohlinger]

That first picture is Max with his fins perfectly displayed and I was lucky to get it. The corys are doing well and I added two more but they are rescued pepper corys and they’re not loving the camera. They do, however, seem to generally stay with the other corys so I hope they’ll be ok. I’ve read that corys should ideally be kept in groups of their own type but I didn’t have anywhere else to put these guys.