what should I get??!?!

shadow88 said:
Well no need to jump on me....jeeze. I'm going by what I've been told about loaches here...

Ok so how about this for tanks:

5-gallon rectangular:
- 3 guppies
- 1 platy
- 3 oto cats later on
- shrimp
- plants/decorations

5-gallon hexagon tank:
EITHER 1 male betta
OR a couple killi fish
- shrimp
- plants/couple decoration

Now, I've bee told that bettas have to ahve something to rest on near the surface of the water, is it true? If so how do I do that with the hex tank? Also, will shrimp be enough to clean the hexagon tank or is there some type of cleaning fish that I could get one of and isnt big?

I will *cries* wait 'till I have a bigger tank if I have to for loaches.... :(
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The plan for the hex tank is good IMO. For the rectangal, I think it's still a bit much. Maybe go with 2 guppies (same sex) or a platy and shrimp or snails. Otos unfortunately are probably out for a 5G because they need algae to feed on although they can be suplemented with veggies, they don't always take to them well and end up starving.

I understand the desire for loaches, they are among my favs! They are VERY active and alot of them need strong current. I'd say 55 as the minimum for most, 30 min for Kuhlis, HUGE for Clowns.

Good luck and share some pics when they're done! I can't set up any more tanks so I need to live vicariously. :grinyes:
 
well, my rectangle tank has 132 sqare inches on surface area, just the bottom of the tank, flat. The fish I have in it now are very happy, and it doesn't look crowded at all. Is there any other type of small bottom fish I could put in? Also, its a dwarf platy, not a regular one....if that helps...

Thanks for your opinions :)
 
The limitation is really with water volume (dilution of wastes) and the size of filter that you can employ. Small tanks are really tough to stock for dispay. I have 2 5s running with a pair of killies in both (hopefully to spawn). For the bottom, you might be able to get 3 dwarf cories, but if you do I'd only suggest a single other fish.

"Dwarf Platy" is just a common name often misassigned to various smaller platy species. The "Monterrey Platy" (Xiphophorus couchianus)is among the smallest and is actually related to Goodeids. These fish are rarely seen in the aquarium business, because they are critically endangered in the wild. Many breeders are now breeding them though. I've seen "Sunburst, Sunshine, Coral, etc." sold as "Dwarf Platies" and some get up to 2 1/2+ inches.
 
Cory Keeper said:
Forget ANY loach unless you already have a tank upwards of 55g, The posters saying no to loaches are saying that for a reason. There is not a single loach in existance that should be kept under 55g for various reasons.
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who told you that??? i know of plenty of loaches that can be kept in less than 55.... maybe 5 is a little to small but i know a few that may work

there are many loaches that can be kept in less than a 55.......
 
so how about a male betta and shrimp with a cleaner fish or 2? and what are dwarf corys anyway? I keep hearing the name but I have no idea what they are or where to get them, how big, etc.

I haven't been too concerned with clealiness, since I vaccuum the gravel once a week on average, and I plan of getting shrimp, which I am told are very good waste-removers...

Also, a friend of mine had like 4 khuli loaches (the little striped ones) in what I think was a 20-gallon and they only ever stayed in one small area at a time all together, which is why I figured I could get three for the rectangle tank....also, I wanted to get driftwood for them to hang out in, which would give them more places to sit than just the bottom

Thanks for the suggestions :)
 
shadow88 said:
so how about a male betta and shrimp with a cleaner fish or 2? and what are dwarf corys anyway? I keep hearing the name but I have no idea what they are or where to get them, how big, etc.

I haven't been too concerned with clealiness, since I vaccuum the gravel once a week on average, and I plan of getting shrimp, which I am told are very good waste-removers...

Also, a friend of mine had like 4 khuli loaches (the little striped ones) in what I think was a 20-gallon and they only ever stayed in one small area at a time all together, which is why I figured I could get three for the rectangle tank....also, I wanted to get driftwood for them to hang out in, which would give them more places to sit than just the bottom

Thanks for the suggestions :)
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Dwarf Cories are Corydoras Pygmaeus. I'm not sure where you are located, but they seem to be available locally in the NE & Ca, but otherwise usually need to be ordered online. Shrimp are good at cleaning up, but nothing takes the place of routine (weekly) maintenance and they do need a supplemented diet to thrive. A 20G is truly the smallest tank that I'd consider putting a group of kuhlis in and it would have to be heavily filtered.
 
I'm from MA, so would I be able to find a fish store that has them? I wouldn't think petsmart or places like that would....
 
shadow88 said:
I'm from MA, so would I be able to find a fish store that has them? I wouldn't think petsmart or places like that would....
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You have a much better chance to find them than I do, but you probably stand a better chance at an independent shop. The chains pretty much stock the same stuff everywhere.
 
why would the tank have to heavily filtered for kuhlis?

also, heres a thought: since I don't really have room in the hexagon tank, couls I add a snail to the shrimp? they eat just about anything, right? I mean the kind that wont reproduce on its own, maybe one for each tank?

I'll start looking around for the small corys too :)
 
shadow88 said:
why would the tank have to heavily filtered for kuhlis?

also, heres a thought: since I don't really have room in the hexagon tank, couls I add a snail to the shrimp? they eat just about anything, right? I mean the kind that wont reproduce on its own, maybe one for each tank?

I'll start looking around for the small corys too :)
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Just because they produce alot of waste in comparison to the actual volume of water and need to be in a group to be happy. One Kuhli would work, but wouldn't thrive because they are social.

One snail per tank would be a great addition! :)
 
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