View Full Version : centerpeice fish?
julianbc
12-08-2005, 2:03 PM
I was hoping to get some inspiration for my eclipse 5 gallon from the small tank contest, but unfortunately there were only 3 entries. Just wondering if anyone has any good ideas of what would make a good centerpeice fish that could live in a dorm room 5 gallon? And maybe some accompanying fish, shrimp, frogs, etc. Any suggestions are appreciated, just looking to create a nice and interesting tank.
pbrack
12-08-2005, 2:55 PM
For small tanks, I've always liked having full of plants and a small school of fish. In your case, I'd settle for neons or the really small Killies (live bearers?...forgot the name, they only grow to an inch). If not, yuo could always go for a betta which is nice as well.
joeyg2100
12-08-2005, 3:37 PM
I would go with a heavy planted tank, and put in about 4 cardinals. I just bought some cardinals for my 55 gal. and they are a great looking fish. They are somewhat like the neons, but IMO they have better coloring.
deeplove
12-08-2005, 3:41 PM
IMO the Cardinals are much nicer looking and easier to maintain than the Neons. It might just be me, but I feel that the Neons are some what fragile. But the Cardinals have a nicer red belly than the Neons and they look a little meatier...
I'm thinking fish for dinner.
pbrack
12-08-2005, 3:43 PM
But the cardinals are a bit larger than neons, so in a small tank, I think a larger school of neon would look slightly nicer than cardinals, IMO. But you can't go wrong anyways.
sumthin fishy
12-08-2005, 3:48 PM
Im wondering how this will pan out? Is anyone going to suguest 15 fish for that tank like they did in the contest?
A betta and 2 ADFs would be a nice setup with heavy plants. Is the tank a standard or a hex? just curious.
Primetime
12-08-2005, 3:53 PM
A obvious centrepeace for a 5 gallon is a Betta.
IMO if you want something different, maybe a school of tetras? I mean pick a small type. The best way to pick the tetra you like most is by looking at it yourself at the store. Some fish look wayy different in pictures than in real life. IMO u should pick a type of tetra thats small and you like most and get a school. (I dont know about which tetras can live in a 5 Gallon but I am sure Neons can).
Good Luck
pbrack
12-08-2005, 3:58 PM
Im wondering how this will pan out? Is anyone going to suguest 15 fish for that tank like they did in the contest?
15 Pacus? :D
Yeah according to that contest, you should be able to go ahead and cram it with cardinals.... :rolleyes:
I personally think a betta is great in a 5G
Roan Art
12-08-2005, 5:39 PM
Look, I agree with you guys about the overstocked tank in the contest, but it would be nice if you laid off it a bit.
TheMightyQueenPixie put up her time and money to run that contest and all I've seen is criticism in the results. Maybe you don't mean to, but no one is differentiating between the entry and the person who ran the contest, Pixie. That kinda sucks.
Please let's cut her some slack, okay? All she's doing is displaying the entries for voting. If that tank wins, then obviously people don't really care if a tank is overstocked or not. That doesn't say a lot for the members here.
If you wanna bash whomever entered the tank, fine. If you want to bash whomever votes for that tank, fine. But please leave the contest and the contest creator out of it or at least make sure your comments don't target her.
I'll shuddup now.
Roan
tricksterpup
12-08-2005, 5:41 PM
For small tanks, I've always liked having full of plants and a small school of fish. In your case, I'd settle for neons or the really small Killies (live bearers?...forgot the name, they only grow to an inch). If not, yuo could always go for a betta which is nice as well.
The fish you are thinking about are Heterandria formosa, aka the least killie or dwarf live bearer. These guys are hard to come by, these are usually a special order from your pet shop but they are great fish.
The males reach about 1/4 of an inch long at full adult hood and the females are larger at an inch. They are very peaceful fish and thrive in tiny tanks. I own a small colony right now in my 5 gallon. I plan on getting more soon for an outdoor container. But they do well having plants like hornwort floating on the top of the tank and they eat crushed fish flakes.
http://www.akwarium.prx.pl/adv/drobniczka.jpg
http://www.aquaristsreunited.fslife.co.uk/images/Heterandria%20formosa.jpg
http://www.diewasserwelt.de/privat/heterandria.jpg
But a planted tank would be perfect for them so give them a try. :)
I never once attacked Pix! I apologize if it came across that way.... I'm criticising the people that think that it is okay to put that many in the tank. And if so many people are okay with it... then others with small tanks are going to go ahead and do it, and theres really nothing anyone here can say about it being wrong. The other contestants also put in a lot of time and money and are seeing someone else win who really isn't setting a good example for those looking for advice about their small tanks.
TheMightyQueenPixie
12-08-2005, 6:47 PM
Holy smokes :) Dont worry I dont feel attacked :) Part of the contest was to vote on the suitablility of the species, tank etc....It is up to the voters to make that decision...I just post em :) And for the record, I think we had some really terrific entries
Roan Art
12-08-2005, 9:06 PM
You're right, sorry Ems. Guess I'm just a little upset that everyone is picking something that we all hammer into newbie heads is dead wrong.
It DOES look nice and it's hard to see past that. I didn't even look at the list of what was in the tank. All I saw were the cardinals and voted for it. With just the little guys, it's not too bad stock-wise.
Guess I'm feeling kinda guilty for not reading before I voted and took it out on you. I apologize.
Obviously I'm having a bad day. I'm gonna go commune with the fishes.
Roan
sumthin fishy
12-08-2005, 9:47 PM
Holy smokes :) Dont worry I dont feel attacked :) Part of the contest was to vote on the suitablility of the species, tank etc....It is up to the voters to make that decision...I just post em :) And for the record, I think we had some really terrific entries
Right!! I was in no way attacking this upstanding, hard working, positive contributing member. I too appologize if it came across that way. It is just upsetting that the purpose of the contest was to show newbies what would be suitable for a small tank. I would have loved to link that thread for the original poster of this thread, but I couldn't do it now that there is a tank with insuitable inhabitants, that is actually winning.
now that http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a384/mikewoodsy/hijak.jpg I will add that you could do a trio of guppies (2girls and a boy) and some ghost or cherry shrimp in that 5. I like the look of real plants if you are willing to take the extra care.
UncaBret
12-08-2005, 9:53 PM
15 Pacus? :D
15? In a 5 gal.? I wouldn't go for any more than a dozen. ;)
I would plant it with small leaved plants....hhmm...anyone have any suggestions for types of plants that will give that tank a larger appearance scalewise ? (water sprite, moneywart, pygmy chainsword, cabomba ??)
A little piece of nano sized driftwood with some java moss attached......and some small schooling fish (dwarf cories, endlers ??) with one very snazy looking betta.
stingray4540
12-08-2005, 10:50 PM
15 pacus?!?! :eek: That's way over stocked! Haven't you guys ever heard of the 1 fish per gallon rule? 4 oscars and 1 pleco would be perfect.
On a serious note, what about some white clouds? they are very hardy and pretty. Kinda look like tetras but different. :D I don't like tetras. Maybe cause they are the only fish that I have never been able to keep alive longer than 2 days.
pbrack
12-08-2005, 10:57 PM
Actually, if there was a fairly large leaved plant (crypts? or ....) and had very small fish (i.e. least killie), I think the contrast would be cool looking. The plant would luke HUGE compared to the tiny fish.
It probably would look pretty cool Brack and not a bad idea at all ! Opposing perspectives !! Neat ! (can you tell I'm a child of the 70's ! :rolleyes: )
I was thinking more of making the tank look like a scape in miniature. I've seen tanks done that way and they look like tiny giant little worlds...lol...very eye catching !
Two different perspectives ! Wonderful the variety of ideas and things you can do with a small tank ! :D Have fun deciding BC...and post us a pic when you get it all setup !
I absoultely ♥ crypts!! they do so well in my small tanks....