View Full Version : Small freshwater tropical fish for 2.5g
t_h_e_s_a_c_k
09-09-2003, 6:08 PM
The title pretty much says it all, I'm looking for a small school of tropical fish for a 2.3-3g. Any suggestions?
Really that size tank is best for just a Betta.
ChilDawg
09-09-2003, 6:16 PM
Unfortunately, you can only put a single Betta or a pair of platies in that tank.
Perhaps a pair of male fancy guppies would do well. Just don't get a female or you will have tons of babies and probably a dead female.
Andy16
09-09-2003, 7:14 PM
You could get a school of neon tetras, like 3-4, but that wouldnt be that cool, a betta is your best bet.
The problem is that the small tank will technically fit a bunch of small tetras but there is too little swimming room for even these small fish. A betta is bigger but doesn't require as much overall swimming room. A cool setup would be a betta a few live plants like java fern and maybe some small freshwater shrimp like ghost shrimp.
poormanisme
09-09-2003, 10:40 PM
I'd be careful with the betta + shrimp thing. I have heard of other people doing it, but when i tried to add 5 cherry shrimps with my betta he ate them all. In fact he almost looked like he was taunting me as he crunched and swolled.:eek: Anyway, that day, it cost more to feed my betta than myself. :o
t_h_e_s_a_c_k
09-10-2003, 12:37 AM
i was trying to avoid getting a betta... ive had trouble keeping them in the past for some reason... can i keep a small school of any kind of fish in there?
Tetratastic
09-10-2003, 3:11 AM
I have a 2.5 hex with two african dwarf frogs, IMO they are just as entertaining (if not more) than a school of fish.
I've not had any myself, but I've known people that also had success with the least killifish.
The URL below claims that you can keep up to 10 in a one gallon tank, although I don't know how true that is.
http://www.petfish.net/het.htm
tricksterpup
09-10-2003, 12:03 PM
I am with Tetra on this. After all, it is the fish I try and push here at Aquariacentral.
I keep Heterandria Formosa (least killiefish). It is one of the smallest live bearers and is the smallest fish in the USA. They are very hardy and do well in small planted tanks such as a 5 or a 2.5 plant tank. I have 2 colonies in a 5 gallon and a 2.5 (I keep 7 in this tank) . They are a very active and curious fish.
These are not usually sold at the LFS here in the states but maybe up your way they may have them. If not, try your local fish club, there would be someone who has a colony of them.
I do suggest trying to find these guys, they are worth keeping and are a unique fish.
jim
http://floridafisheries.com/images/fish-pic/het-for.jpg
Dahlia
09-10-2003, 3:41 PM
How did you keep your betta in the past? They are very easy to keep, especially if your tank is filterered and larger than a little cup. Make sure you select one that seems healthy and active and make sure it likes the food you give it (some of them are picky about which kind of betta food they like, mine will only eat one brand of pellets and will look at nothing else. I had one in the past that was obsessed with bloodworms... it's because they are conditioned to the food their breeder gave them). Of course it is best if you can convince your fish to eat a variety of foods, but I only had luck with that some of the time. Since this fish would probably do best in your tank out of all the ones mentioned, I encourage you to give it another chance.
t_h_e_s_a_c_k
09-10-2003, 5:52 PM
It must have been that the ones i had purchased before werent healthy when i got them, they all died within 3 weeks of getting them. I kept then in this 2.5g hexagon and fed them betta bites. I think ill take your suggestion and give a betta another try.
ChilDawg
09-10-2003, 5:57 PM
There are all sorts of threads here with info on choosing Bettas...if you look at them, I can't guarantee that you'll do better, but you'll have a pretty good chance of it. Both of mine (using those techniques outlined in "Choosing a betta", or something like that in General FW) have lasted for at least two months (and Patriot, the 2 month one, is still building a bubblenest, eating like crazy, and swimming and flaring all the time)!
ChilDawg
09-10-2003, 6:00 PM
It's called "selecting a betta": http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14188
FLNGroovy1
09-10-2003, 10:17 PM
I had lots of success keeping 3 white clouds in a 2.5g tank. They stayed alive and seemingly happy for over 3 years. They're really hardy little guys and they are very active...fun to watch! You could maybe keep as many as 5...but 3 might be better.
blitzen25bm
09-11-2003, 12:51 AM
get some endlers