Fish Thread for posting Pictures of our fish, tanks, ponds, and Q & A

[ShinShien]

Post more pictures! I need inspiration. I've had fish off and on for close to 40 years - saltwater, community freshwater and cichlids, but I've been aquarium-less for several years now. I bought this little cutie a couple of months ago. I swear she put on the puppy dog eyes and begged me to buy her. I've never had a female betta, but she has so much personality!

It was totally an impulse buy. I went in Petco to buy dog food and came out with a fish. I have her in my daughter's old 5 gallon minibow tank, but I've just pulled down a 15 gallon tank from the attic and I'm ready to set it up and get more fish. If I had a spot for a bigger tank I would go for it, but I really have no where to put anything bigger.

I've also gotten two more bettas since then. A male and female crowntail that I wanted to breed, but they are not cooperating.

Oh well, they're still pretty to look at. I may try to put the two females together in the 15 gallon when I get it set up.

I love the females. They do have great personalities. I used to breed bettas. They need still, shallow water *I used plastic shoe boxes*, and a small yellow lid or plant. Don't know if you know, but their courtship involves a lot of chasing and biting. Beautiful fish BTW. Crowntails and Half-moons are my favorites.

 

[MyPetNugget]

I've got a female and a male betta fish, but not of the same breed. they both have their own little 1.5 gallon tanks and are cleaned every week. I just received a 5 gallon tank with a light bulb, filter, net, feed and I forget the other things. I just want to fill it up with lots of pretty fish.

However, when I go to these websites about fish and look at what should in that size tank, the people are giving mixed answers. Like some say no guppies while some say 6.

So I guess the best place to go with my fish questions is BYC! I just need to find the right types if fish that will do well in there. Thanks for any help!

 

[Andi]

I am very impressed to hear you are researching before buying!!! That says you care and want to succeed. Awesome!
One thing that gives me concern is " lots of pretty fish". A 5 gallon is quite small and most species of fish are not going to be as tough as Betta are when it comes to tolerance of water chemistry that can change quickly because of the smaller volume. So its great that you are planning ahead!
Were you thinking of multiple kinds of fish or all the same kind? Guppies are doable in a 5 gallon but with caution. Okay, I'm going to assume you are familiar with chickens and space. Too many in a small space is not only unhealthy for their health but also emotionally stressful. I would recommend for your size tank to not get any females. They get much larger than the males, and usually aren't as pretty. That and they are breeding machines that will over populate a 5 quickly. If you have all males I wouldn't get more than 6. A cousin to guppies is the Endlers' livebearer. They have a huge variety of colors, are a little smaller and don't breed quite as fast. The females do get big and look like fishing bait, so you may want to stick with all males.
There are other nano fish that are colorful if having a mini school of the same color is alright. I listed some ideas in a previous post.
If you want to try your hand at live plants, they consume nutrients directly so there's no dealing with the nitrogen cycle, if you have enough plants. You don't need CO2 if you use the lights the tank comes with and shade type plants. You have to supplement fertilizer but there's no need to siphon the substrate because the plants use the nutrients.

 

[MyPetNugget]

I would prefer different types, but going with the same type will be fine with me! So I think I get the idea about the crowded space problem. It's fine with me to get a few fish, because that would definetly be better than a bunch of unhappy sick looking fish. I will go with all males, because I am not wanting to repopulate unless another fish dies. I was thinking guppies or those brown stripey ones like these:

.
Please do not assume this is my picture. This is one of amazon.com's mini bow pictures.
I understand that in the pictures some people put WAY too many fish in the tanks. I was thinking like a guppy or two and one of those stripey fish.
Is it possible that all three could live in a five gallon? or just two guppies. sorry if when I said "lots of pretty fish" made it seem like I wanted 10 or 15 because that is not the situation.

 

[MyPetNugget]

and do live plants make the tank fill up with lots of dirty algae? I had seen that in a book once.

 

[Andi]

Tetras feel more secure in schools. That being said, it doesn't mean one wouldn't survive on its own. There's a lot of neat tetras out there!
I'm excited for you!

 

[Andi]

Plants don't make algae. Plants consume the nutrients put out by the critters in the tank. They are the filter. When algae happens is when there are too many nutrients for the plants to consume. Algae isn't bad. Its a tool to help let us know how the tank is doing and pitch in to consume ammonia and nitrite that is harmful to our fish. Its part of getting to putz in our tanks. No different than weeding in the garden. New tanks will always have algae. Once an ecosystem is established and well balanced the maintenance is minimal. Once I learned how there's no going back for me! Fish are happier, healthier and have better color.

and do live plants make the tank fill up with lots of dirty algae? I had seen that in a book once.:/

 

[Andi]

Here is a 1 gallon crock on my desk next to a north window. Its 3 years old and in desperate need of thinning. No filter. No pump. No light. No heater. I've never cleaned the gravel. I fertilize once a week. I wipe the glass with a inside out sock maybe every 3-4 weeks. hake a cup or 2 of water out and replace it each week. Thin the plants 3-4 times a year. Feed the freshwater shrimp 2-3 times a week and have fun watching them everyday.

 

[ShinShien]

I've got a female and a male betta fish, but not of the same breed. they both have their own little 1.5 gallon tanks and are cleaned every week. I just received a 5 gallon tank with a light bulb, filter, net, feed and I forget the other things. I just want to fill it up with lots of pretty fish.

However, when I go to these websites about fish and look at what should in that size tank, the people are giving mixed answers. Like some say no guppies while some say 6.

So I guess the best place to go with my fish questions is BYC! I just need to find the right types if fish that will do well in there. Thanks for any help!

When you say 'not of the same breed', do you mean they're not both betta splendens, the domestic betta, or they're like crowntail and one's a half-moon or common? If they are both a type of splendens, they will breed.

 

[Andi]

This is a closer look with my crappy cellphone. As you can see its a jungle and no algae.