What is a good fish to have in a 5 gallon Eclipse tank in my office that is low maintenance? *** Please don't suggest the typical species like Betta, goldfish, guppies, mollys, etc (yawn)*** I was thinking Arfican Cichlids . Dwarf or green spotted puffers are cool as well but they tend to be hard to maintain. Can anyone suggest a small, colorful fish with interesting character? Bumblebee Goby?
2007-07-24 07:30:20 · 17 answers · asked by Mightie Mouse 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
Wow, some of these responses are quite passionate and makes me think twice about setting up a tank now. I'm now feeling a bit guilty about the ant farm I had when I was a kid as well. Maybe I'll go with a miniature crab instead.
2007-07-24 09:27:12 · update #1
Don't let the nasty people get you away from your goal here. Look for 1 or 2 smaller breeds of the cichlids like the Neolamprologus brichardi or the N. savoryi http://cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=2219 but only a single fish or possibly 2. The N. savoryi will do fine singly but the maintenance will be the same or more than a full size tank with weekly water changes and some attention to PH, nitrates, etc. The levels checks are easy with the appropriate 5 in 1 test strips and a 50% water change weekly. My main tanks are 250g 175g 100g and many 55g breeder tanks but I do have a 5 gal at my desk for 4 years now for a small pair of Brichardi thart are comfortable enough to breed regularly.
Jim
2007-07-24 16:22:02 · answer #1 · answered by Jim M 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Endler's live bearers are a nice small fish that are a bit different.Killi fish are also a good suggestion.There is nothing wrong with 5 gallon tanks provided you do weekly maintenance (it should take about 20 minutes) and don't put in really large fish or ones that are very active and like to swim a lot.
2007-07-24 09:31:41 · answer #2 · answered by Jackp1ne 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Bettas or Neon Tetras are your only possibility for low maintenance fish. If you are willing to do weekly vacuuming, a pair of Brevis (Tanganyikan Shell Dwelling Cichlids) would be your only "personable" fish option. And they would be the only fish in the tank (they might get a little cramped). Puffers require live or frozen food, so they take quite a lot of money to feed and a lot of time to feed them. For the Brevis, you need a sand bottom, stable heated tank temperature, a stable pH of about 8.0, 3+ shells (with a 1 inch diameter hole, and 2 inches deep). They will eat Cichlid pellets, frozen food, and flake food. If kept in the proper conditions, they may even breed. If you have any questions about them, email me at nosoop4u@cox.net. Good luck!
Nosoop4u
2007-07-24 07:42:53 · answer #3 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
A puffer would be good.... be very careful with the gobies.. No they don't get very big. But they killed one of my guppies. They're carnivorous fish and are bottom feeders, or stay on the sides of your tank. you'll need to get 4 to 6 too so they feel more comfortable. You could mix them with a few puffers, but make sure you really watch and see what the tail fins of your fish look like for the next few days.
2007-07-24 10:05:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Something small, different, colorful and easy to maintain in a 5 gallon tank huh? Not asking a lot but I do have your answer! Killifish. Most of them will easily fit in a 5 gallon tank and many, many species are small enough that you could handle 5-6 in a 5 gallon tank easily. They are extremely colorful and very easy to maintain. How much more colorful can youget for a small freshwater tank than this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Nothobranchius_rachovii_male.jpg/200px-Nothobranchius_rachovii_male.jpg
http://www.angelfire.com/bc3/fishmark/killifish/thumbnails/400x300/pumpkin.jpg
http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/img/Aphyosemion_splendopleure_1.jpg
Do a google for more pictures of them, they will knock your socks off.
BTW, all of the above fish could go in a 5 gallon and I wouldn't have a problem with a pair of each of them in a 5 gallon.
MM
2007-07-24 08:00:50 · answer #5 · answered by magicman116 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You are asking a ridiculous question and then demanding a ridiculous answer.
Simply put, no fish other than a betta belongs in a 5 gallon tank.
If you don't have the $$$ or space to play the game right, don't play at all!
2007-07-24 08:55:23 · answer #6 · answered by JJB 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You can't expect to get exotic fish like that in your cheap little rinky dink aquarium. I don't understand people who don't care about animals, they just want to cram them in tiny little things and then watch them while they suffer. I don't care what you want suggested, a betta is the ONLY fish suitable for that itty tank. Puffers and chinclids need more space, as well as gobys.
2007-07-24 08:44:23 · answer #7 · answered by boncarles 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
5 gallons isnt alot, if you want special fish then you will need to upgrade.
African cichlids will need at least a 10gallon for the smallest african cichlids(shellies)
The problem is the fishes that you want arent low maintainence.
but you can gowith a bubblebee goby but no more than 1. it would look bare, but thats one of the only options. youwill need some sand for that tank.
but africans will need at least 10 gallons, but again thats only for shellies, other africans will need 30 -55gallon plus
2007-07-24 07:35:44 · answer #8 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
neon tetra and guppies will be nice as they require little space and colorful. However, they will require an air pump.
betta fish will be the best if u dun really have the time for your fish. betta dun require a pump.
2007-07-24 08:41:29 · answer #9 · answered by KenGOh 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They only low mainance fish for a 5 gal is a betta or 5-6 neons,
2007-07-24 08:27:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋