What kind of fish should I put in my tank?

Question

I currently have a 1.66 gallon tank that is empty in my apartment. I used to have a betta but after a year he died. I've cleaned the tank out, and am now looking for something to put in it. It sits away from any direct sunlight and it has an undergravel filter. Any suggestions?

It's a freshwater tank.

Answer 1

Definitely NOT goldfish! That tank is WAY too small for a goldfish to live a healthy lifestyle!

First thing you need to do is cycle your tank. After the cycling process is complete, you can think about fish. See the following link for great information about cycling your tank: http://www.flippersandfins.net/Cycling.htm

A general rule of thumb is an inch of fish per gallon. Since you have such a small tank, your best bet would probably be another male betta. Most of your other choices will either be schooling fish (and there just isn't any room to school in there) or they'll outgrow it too quickly.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your new tank.

Answer 2

The only thing I would suggest for a tank that small is a betta. You can only have 1 fish in a tank that size.

Definitely don't get a goldfish. I had a goldfish starter kit (5 gallon), I quickly had to upgrade to a 20 gallon tank. Goldfish are too big and messy for a tank that small.

Answer 3

1.66 gallons is too small for anything other then a betta. Try getting a different tail type if you don't want something that looked the same as your last one.

And to the stupid people that suggest a goldfish, can you please not give bad advice. They are looking for help not a way to kill some helpless animal. Goldfish can grow to around 8 inches or more and can live for 20+ years.

Answer 4

A betta. Even then you'd be squeesing it. A goldfish gets well over 2 feet. God, I hate animal cruelty, and in such numbers. A 2 foot fish goes into the 1.5 gallon. I though the inch per gallon rule was bad but this? Shocking

Get something bigger then you'll have a nice choice.

Answer 5

The best fish for a small tank set up will always be the goldfish. They come in a suprising variety, can survive harsh conditions (and even some neglect, God forbid!), and are honestly dumb enough that they can swim around the tank a million times and its still new to them. They're naturally happy all the time. Goldfish can also be very attractive, and if you give them special food, their colors become even more brilliant.

Answer 6

Tropical freshwater fish from South America are colourful and entertaining as well as cheap. A good pet shop that specialises in aquaria will help - try to vary species to bottom feeders as well as mid level and upper level dwellers, that way there will always be a number of fish swimming about and not just hiding under or behind a rock

Answer 7

The drawback is that you don't have a heater. You would need fish that can stand room temperature water. And a fish that is small. (general guideline is 1" of fish per 1 gal of water)

Only I can think of is a beta or goldfish. There is a fish called a shebunkin. They look sorta like a koi, but they stay small like a goldfish. They're calico usually like a cat.. multi colored. They're actually kinda neat looking.

Answer 8

Goldfish

Answer 9

Try making it into a water garden with aquatic plants in it , or keep it as gravel, plants, snails and such. Maybe a moss garden? Or keeping invertibrates and crayfish/frogs and stuff like that instead. if you're dying for a fish, get a betta.

Answer 10

Any thing that is freshwater fish. Just limit it to one or two. They have to have room to grow and move around. Goldfish are easy and so are guppies.