What kind of freshwater fish do I put in my new tank?

Question

Hello,
I have a 5 gallon poly hex tank. It is my first time having fish. I am doing this as a 4-H project. The tnak has been set up for 3 weeks. I actually put two mollies in a couple weeks ago, but they did not do well. Tank had not cycled correctly and too much nitrogen...
I am going to wait until the tank has been set up a month before I put other fish in the tank.
Anyway, what fish do you suggest?

Thanks,
rrockey

Answer 1

Molly are more sensitive to water quality than many fish. (A friend of mine always includes one for that reason.) They also do a bit better with salt, but no amount of salt can counter too much ammonia, or nitrates. (Salt makes mollies less prone to diease.)

Guppy, or platty are a good starter fish. As are danios, and minnows. Teras, and barbs are a bad fish for the veritcle nature of the tank as they need back and forth room. Goldfish are simply too large, and messy to have more than one in a tank.

A betta would do well but verticle tanks tend to make them more aggressive so it would likely need to be a loner. A single female betta would be fine in this kind of tank with patty, or danois. Multiple female bettas wouldn't be a good idea in this kind of tank. (I use 5 gallon hex tanks for my male betta for shelf space reasons, but they won't put up with fish tank mates in the hex tanks. Unlike wider 5 gallon tanks.) If you are willing to move the betta to a 2-3 gallon bowl after cycling males bettas make great fish for cycling. I cycle all my tanks with a male or female betta. In my larger tanks the betta stays if he/she isn't being picked on by the other fish.

Otherwise you can cycle the tank by running it, and dropping in finely crushed fish flakes are couple of days. An apple/mystery snail would help the proccess a long. A 5 gallon tank only need to be cycled for 2 weeks. Then add one fish a week after that. Just be sure not to over feed. (Once a day only what they can eat in 2 minutes.) Molly just really aren't suitable to smaller tanks, and to early tanks. Small tanks tend to build up ammonia too fast. Most guides reccomend 30+ tanks for molly.

Answer 2

To start, I would get a few feeder fish. They will cycle the tank in just a few days and they are cheap. Here, in New York City, they are 10 for $1. After a few days to a week, your tank should be cycled. For a 5 gallon tank, I don't think I would put anything big in there. Maybe just keep the goldfish in there. They are cold water, so there is no need for a heater. Well, let me know how it goes.

Answer 3

the rule I was taught was 1 inch of fish for every gallon. Which basically means you can have 1 - 5 inch fish or 5 - 1 inch fishes. So there is a start. If it's heated, I'd go with 4 zebra danos or 4 mollies (lots of color choices) if it's not heated, then you are really bound to guppies or gold fish,

Answer 4

Bettas are VERY nice additions to any tank. Many people and Petstores claim they cannot be mixed with other fish. Well, thats funny cuz mine gets along with my guppies, gouramis, glass catfish, plecostomus, and swoard tails. So, if you get a betta, i'd get 2-3 guppies (that are bigger then it's mouth) or some ghost shrimp or mabey an african dwarf frog (they live in water). DONT OVER CROWD THE TANK PLEASE!!! if you still are worried about male bettas fighting...i would get a female then, because not many fish can live in a 5 gallon tank, and your gonna want a b-e-autifull betta!!!

Answer 5

What about trying Barbs, especially Rosy/One Spot Barbs as they are cute, attractive, swift in respond and hardy. I attually bought a pair, which just to fill my tank (with no air pump) cos it looks too empty. I did not notice them at first, but I started noticing them when my guppies and platies die day by day. The only survivor in the tank until now is this pair of Rosy/One Spot Barbs. And I did read from books and heard from others that this fish is very suitable for beginners and they did well in community tank too. But there must be at least a pair in the tank.

Answer 6

i always break in a new tank with "junk fish" cheap hearty fish like comets and goldfish... but if they do well you have to live with them a while... small tanks are always problematic as their water balance is very hard to maintain.... live plants help with the nitrogen but can be messy... 3 weeks is plenty, you can buy stuff at any petstore to take the chlorine/hardness out of the water (though by now the chlorine is already out....) mollies/barbs/plecos/etc. are all tough fish...

Answer 7

Guppies rule! Tetras are also a hearty fish.

Answer 8

Angel Fish - very hardy

Answer 9

put the water u have

Answer 10

a flower horn or an gold or australian arowanas. or maybe piranhas! : p