Help me stock my 5g tank!?

Question

After 8 years (!!!) the sole resident of my 5 gal Eclipse hex is RIP. She was a little female betta who was fiercely agressive.

I have cleared out the tank, done a new set up with plastic plants & natural pebble gravel and in a couple of days, I will be ready for new fish.

SO......what should I put in it? I am thinking 3 female platies....thoughts?

Tank is cycled it was an 8 year set up (I did strip down but kept last filter and original gravel). I will check all levels prior to adding fish.

No more Bettas - I want something new

It is small but I am OCD with keeping it well maintained (20% weekly water change - once a month cleaning with 50% water change was my routine with Miss Betta)

Was hoping for more than 1 fish for some action in the tank. If not platies, I was thinking maybe 2-3 white cloud minnows (and I'll dump my heater) or neons (although I hear they're sensitive).

Only worry with livebearers is breeding - I don't want to breed anything so will need to easily sex for all female.

Other options if I go with another solitary set up:
1 paradise
1 dwarf puffer
could I do a single dwarf gourami? I thought they needed a bigger tank.

Answer 1

Stocking a small tank is no different really than stocking a larger version.

Get a mental image of a normal sized community tank and now think smaller. Even smaller. As small as you can get. Now you have it, the same kind of fish in the same ratios but the smallest varieties out there. Dwarf cory catfish, Sparkling gouramis, most any of the smaller killifish, small tetras, Least killiefish ( which is actually a livebearer) all make good bets for a micro community tank. Toss out any “rules” you know about inches per gallon and just keep the tank to about 5-6 fish. Another choice for tank inhabitants is to go for a species tank. A single pair of a small fish can not only live but thrive and breed in your new micro tank. Killifish, sparkling gouramis and Least Killifish come to mind first, but there are obviously many more choices. Now for maintenance issues.

With quality lighting, a reasonable variety of plants are candidates for a mirco tank. Jave Moss, Jave Fern, Bladderwort, crystalwort all come to mind. Several of the bunch plants available at pet stores could be included as well if you are ready to do lots of pruning. There are also several varieties of small anubias sp. And even some micro swords available to spruce up your tank.

MM

Answer 2

ok well im like you i had a betta in a 5 gallon for 10 years i no long time then i restocked it with platties 5, but then they died 5 months laater i finally relised that my tank was way to small and nothing but betta's could live in it so i got a 10 gallon with 2 fancy goldfish that what i recomened you do just take all pebles rocks plants out of 5 gallo and buy a 10 gallon with a poweer wisper filter i would go to petco for the filter and the tank but if you have a thrift store near you get it there you can get tanks for like 8 dollarsa there thats where i get most ofmine but trust me GET A 10 GALLON it will save you time and sarow and if you dont have that money save ujp im only 13 and i got that ity was only 40 dollars for eveery thing including fish gravle andd tank and the filter is only 30 and maybe 20 online


so dont waste time and get a 10 gallon i keppt douting myself about a 10 gallon till i got one and there so fun to watch because you can put alot of fish in there

Answer 3

guppies and mollies could no longer slot in there besides. a hex tank would not enable for many swimming area, yet you need to place one male betta OR one lady betta in there, no longer the two. you have got a shrimp and a pair snails in there, too. no goldfish-as you probable comprehend they produce way too lots waste and want 30g+. yeah no cichlids min is 50g for many, some can bypass in much less schoolers like tetras would not have adequate space. in case you want a great sort of relaxing fish, get an better tank. 5gs can not greater healthful lots.

Answer 4

You could put a pair of chocolate gouramis in there. Also 2 female DP's would work too.

I have dwarf gouramis and they are very active swimmers, they wouldn't like a 5g tank.

I would ditch the gravel for a sandy substrate. Thats easier on fish like the puffers and cory's. In case you decide on getting them.

Answer 5

Well first you have to "cycle" your tank. Its too long to explain here but a Betta can live in an "uncyled tank". Briefly, you need "good" bacteria in your gravel that will grow slowly (it eats waste). It takes about 30 days to grow it so if you start off with too many fish, the poop (ammonia) will be too much and kill your fish. Start off with one, next week get another---no more than 3 "Little" fish.
Good luck and GO Slowly

Answer 6

IMO, 3 platies is overstocked. They are also schoolers, so you need at least 4, preferably 5.

You could do 3 guppies, tho; 1 male/2 females, or 3 females. I wouldn't do 3 males, because they are likely to spat unless you have more of them.

You could divide it and do 2 bettas.

You could do 4 or 5 african dwarf frogs.

Answer 7

I think that would be a good idea. Not much more than three fish would go well in that small of a tank. If you wanted a bit more color, you could go with a few male guppies.

Answer 8

gourami! They are the best! I like the Two spot gourami. And they are really esay to keep. But they do get a little agresive (Mine never did tho....) So make sure you dont have to much in there....

Answer 9

i would advise the dwarf puffers or the white clouds, the puffers have alot of personality and the white clouds are very active and colorful.
one or the other as they do not mix.

Answer 10

Maybe, you're pretty limited since it's only a 5 gallon