Best fish for unheated, but filtered 5- or 10-gal?

Question

I'd like to set up a filtered 5- or 10-gal tank. I don't want to deal with a heater. I live in SoCal, so the water temp would vary from 65 deg in the winter to 85 deg in the summer.

Can I keep some tetras or guppies with an algae eater or plecostomus?

What about just a couple of those little fantail goldfish?

Thanks!

Answer 1

One of the best choices for an unheated tank would be White Cloud fish from China,their habitat is mountain streams and they are not expensive. They are schooling fish so 8 or 10 in a 10 gallon tank would make a nice display.
A ten gallon tank is too small for any Goldfish to share with any other fish.
The 65 degree end of the temperature scale would be too chilly for any of the tropicals that you mention.
If you like fancier types of fish there is a long-finned variety of the White Cloud that are actually easier to find now than the plain ones. Both types are active and attractive to watch.

Answer 2

No goldfish, no plecos. Both get far too large for a 10 gallon.

For a five gallon, there are very few fish I could recommend. A betta would be about it, to be honest. A tetra or something could fit, but they are social fish and shouldn't be kept alone or in smaller groups.

Now if you get a ten gallon, your options open up a bit more. You could get a SMALL school (5-6) of fish like white cloud minnows, guppies or danios. Even tetras are a bit iffy because they prefer temps in the mid-high 70's year round.

Answer 3

Go with the 10gal.

I would stay away from the goldfish since they can grow fairly large and are a dirtier fish.

Tetras love schools so i would say buy about 10-15 neon tetras or other kind of tetra (less if they are larger).

A pleco would help with algae but will go hungry if your tank does not produce enough - so wait on one of them.

Guppies are a good choice for a beginer. If this is your first tank i would personally start off with about 10 feeder guppies. They will run you about $2-$3 for all 10. This way you aren't out a lot of money if you make a mistake (don't worry we all do at some point.)

Though they look kinda plain but guppies can teach you a lot about keeping fish. You'll learn everything from feeding and tank maitenance to breeding and even genetic blending if you buy a couple of fancy tail guppies later on.

There is a lot you will need to know before getting started and i would recomend talking to someone at your local pet store. You can also email me and i will send you some basic info you will need.

Answer 4

A five gallon is only good for bettas, who need a filter. So don't go there. To be honest, a 10 gallon is too small for cold water fish. If you can do a 20 gallon you can get a goldfish, even two. But goldfish aren't apprpriate for anything smaller than 20 gallon. They are healthier if in pairs, and need at least 10 gallons per fish -- but I would not do just one 10 gallon for one fish, because it will be way big for the tiny tank. A 20 gallon for two fish allows them to move around more, if you know what I mean. Those little fantails are BABIES and grow into footlong adults.

Answer 5

Look at Guppies, Minnows, Bleeding Heart Tetras, Buenos Aires Tetras, and other fish that stay small and can handle gradual swings in temperature. Avoid Plecostomus and other algae eaters as most common varieties grow very large (Common Plecostomus will reach 2 feet in length). Avoid Goldfish as well, while they may be small and cute when you buy them, Fancy Goldfish will reach about 8-10 inches, and Common/Comet Goldfish will reach about 1.5-2 feet. I would suggest a 15 gallon tank as a BARE minimum for a SINGLE Fancy Goldfish, and a pond for Common/Comets. Email me if you have any questions.

Nosoop4u

Answer 6

You would probably be better off to stick with goldfish. You could succeed with a single male Beta (AKA: Siamese Fighting Fish), but five or ten gallons would be a little large for one, and you cannot have two in the same tank!

Just don't make the mistake of continually adding new fish to a stable tank of fish; because the more you do that, the more you chance introducing a disease!

Answer 7

GUPPIES - NO
PLECO - YES
GOLDFISH - YES
TRY TO KEEP TEMP ABOVE 70
IM IN TX/UNHEATED 30G TANK/ TIGER BARBS/ GOURAMIS/ SILVER DOLLAR/CORY CAT/ NO PROBLEMS

Answer 8

bettas are perfect for those conditions

Answer 9

beta