Stocking my 3 gallon tank

[Lomein]

Hello everyone!
I set up my little tank about two weeks ago with the hopes of adding some Neon Tetras and a few Ghost shrimps. Yesterday I checked my water parameters and decided to start adding the fish. I went to my local Petsmart and asked for some advice since I don't have much experience. They told me to get 2 shrimp and 2 zebrafish to get the tank started. After my tank was cycled I could get 3 neon tetras. I felt like that was a solid plan and made the first purchase. All was good until I noticed that one of my zebrafish seemed to be picking on the smaller one. The poor guy keeps hiding under the heater. One of my shrimp is also hiding facing a wall. After googling these species I came to the conclusion that my tank is way too small for them. What should I do? I could purchase a 10 gallon but I don't have much space in my room. I was considering getting 2-3 more zebrafish to help ease the aggression.

P.s. I was under the impression my tank was 5 gallons. Just this morning I realized that it is in fact 3 gallons

Setup:

• Tetra LED Cube Kit 3 Gallon aquarium, Cube-Shaped aquarium With Pedestal Base (Walmart)
• 50W Tetra HT Submersible Aquarium Heater (Petsmart)
• 10 Gal Top Fin® Silenstream™ Power Filter (Petsmart)

Water parameters:

PH high range- 7.8
Ammonia-0
Nitrate-0
Nitrite-0

 

[EntirelyEm]

i feel like getting a bigger tank would be best. Adding more fish to an already too small tank doesn't really seem like a great idea.
I'm also under the impression that your tank isn't completely cycled so that's also something you want to add into consideration before adding more fish.

 

[Ouse]

Welcome to Fishlore!

A cycled tank produces nitrate. Do you have live plants?

3 gallons is too small for any fish. Petsmart employees aren’t the most reliable sources of info more often than not, and it seems like they’ve ripped you off this time.

 

[Jojo205]

Most people will say 3 gallons is too small for pretty much anything except shrimp or snails. 5 gallons is generally the absolute minimum for a fish, like a betta, pea puffer, or a couple guppies. But 3 gallons is too small for any of those. Some people say bettas can be happy in 3 gallons, but it’d be pushing it in that small of a tank.

When did you start cycling it? 0 nitrates usually means the tank is not cycled. If you haven’t been adding any sort of ammonia in the last 2 weeks the cycle hasn’t even started. I have 0 nitrates in my cycled tank BUT it’s moderately planted and has a VERY low bio load.

For the aggression, yes your tank is too small. Instead of getting more fish, i would return them to the pet store if possible. Definitely don’t get more fish.

I hope this is helpful!!

 

[Ouse]

I also want to add that learning about the nitrogen cycle is important. Make sure to read about it because it’s mandatory for a successful tank.

 

[Lomein]

No

Welcome to Fishlore!

A cycled tank produces nitrate. Do you have live plants?

3 gallons is too small for any fish. Petsmart employees aren’t the most reliable sources of info more often than not, and it seems like they’ve ripped you off this time.

I don't have any live plants. Should I get some? They require some type of UV light right?

 

[Ouse]

No


I don't have any live plants. Should I get some? They require some type of UV light right?

You don’t have to, I was just asking because live plants consume nitrate.

Provided that nitrate isn’t being produced and nothing can be removing it, your tank isn’t cycled.

 

[Lomein]

Thank you guys for helping me. I am SO glad I reached out for help. I decided I am going to purchase a 10 gallon so that the fish can live a happy life. I would feel too guilty to return them. Once I get my new tank what should I do? Should I get more zebrafish and shrimp? I read that they do better in groups. Would there be enough space for some Neon tetras?

 

[Ouse]

Thank you guys for helping me. I am SO glad I reached out for help. I decided I am going to purchase a 10 gallon so that the fish can live a happy life. I would feel too guilty to return them. Once I get my new tank what should I do? Should I get more zebrafish and shrimp? I read that they do better in groups. Would there be enough space for some Neon tetras?

I’d cycle the tank first. Read about how to do that. Don’t feel bad for giving the fish away! We all make mistakes.

When it comes to stocking you want a group of at least six of a fish species. It’s a good idea to get a couple more than six in case you lose some fish. I’d focus on just building a zebrafish group rather than also having a neon tetra group taking up some space.

 

[Lomein]

I’d cycle the tank first. Read about how to do that. Don’t feel bad for giving the fish away! We all make mistakes.

When it comes to stocking you want a group of at least six of a fish species. It’s a good idea to get a couple more than six in case you lose some fish. I’d focus on just building a zebrafish group rather than also having a neon tetra group taking up some space.

What will happen to the fish if I return them? I got them from Petsmart.

 

[Ouse]

What will happen to the fish if I return them? I got them from Petsmart.

I’m not sure what you think could happen. When returning fish they’re put back in the pet shop’s fish section. I’ve returned fish before.

 

[EntirelyEm]

Thank you guys for helping me. I am SO glad I reached out for help. I decided I am going to purchase a 10 gallon so that the fish can live a happy life. I would feel too guilty to return them. Once I get my new tank what should I do? Should I get more zebrafish and shrimp? I read that they do better in groups. Would there be enough space for some Neon tetras?

that's great! looking forward to hearing about your new set up