2.5 Gallon Stocking

I am actually considering shrimp now. Sorry if I seem like a typical newb who just asks for what he wants to hear, I just like hearing all my options before making a decision. platytudes, could you give me some suggestions on some nice shrimp/plants to stock?

A litte bit of a disclaimer: I like to keep my tanks "biotope-ish," so I'd prefer to keep my tanks stocked with species from a specific region (Asia, South American, etc).
 
I am really not an expert on either plants or shrimp, although I dabble in both. Currently I keep red cherry shrimp, blue pearls, and I have kept ghost shrimp in the past. In a 2.5 gallon tank, as a matter of fact...but I wasn't the craziest about them. A black substrate is a must to get any enjoyment out of them, and I had sand with some black gravel sprinkled in. It wasn't enough to be able to see them clearly. Also, their behavior isn't particularly interesting...red cherry shrimp have been much more appealing.

I am pretty sure Cryptocorne wendtii, pelia and Riccia are all from Asia or thereabouts, and most of the shrimp in the hobby are from Asia. These three plants are all plants I have grown very easily and shrimp do love them. The Crypts will outgrow the tank, but they can be divided to keep them thinned. Either the green or the bronze variety is lovely.

I would suggest going to plantedtank.net and/or plantgeek.net and researching plants and going to planetinverts.com and/or shrimpnow.com and researching shrimp. If you're going to be buying them online, msjinkzd has an amazing assortment available on a regular basis :)

Got to go, but hope that gives you something to think about!
 
I keep bettas in 2.5g tanks no problem. I have three female guppies in a planted 2.5g with no problems either. Speaking of which, a 2.5g would be a great opportunity to get into planted tanks cheaply and gain some experience.

[video=youtube;xpCtO-tHsW8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpCtO-tHsW8[/video]
 
Would you say that your betta is thriving? Sorry, it's just all of this seemingly contradictory info is kinda throwing me for a loop. I know there are no exact answers, but I don't want to harm any animal, but I would like to keep fish if possible, shrimp if not possible.
 
powellmacaque said:
Would you say that your betta is thriving? Sorry, it's just all of this seemingly contradictory info is kinda throwing me for a loop. I know there are no exact answers, but I don't want to harm any animal, but I would like to keep fish if possible, shrimp if not possible.
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I'd think so. People here get a little defensive about putting bettas in small tanks, but I tend to disagree. IMO opinion, 2.5 is fine but is the absolute minimum for a permanent home as long as it's filtered, heated, and given frequent water changes (planted tanks are a plus). Try making your way to ultimatebettas.com if you're interested. They have the best betta community on the net, imo. Tons of breeders and people who have been keeping bettas for years at that forum.
 
powellmacaque said:
Would you say that your betta is thriving? Sorry, it's just all of this seemingly contradictory info is kinda throwing me for a loop. I know there are no exact answers, but I don't want to harm any animal, but I would like to keep fish if possible, shrimp if not possible.
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i know my betta thrives in my 2.5 g tank, she was so pale when i got her, now she really has had her collors come out. she is always happy to see me and never appears to mope. like jumko said 2.5 is fine as long as u filter it and heat it, i also have some bamboo in there along with a fake silk plant which she rests in. at first i felt really guilty about not giving her a 10 but she has done fantastic in her 2.5 and her water is always crystal clear. i just change about a quarter of her water every week but ive let it go 2 weeks with no effect on her or water clarity.
 
^^^ Sweet tanks!

I know a few people on here keep bettas in 2.5g tanks. Mine is in a 1g, unfiltered right now. But by sunday he will be in the 5g hex that is filtered, heated, lighted, and much more roomy for him. I never planned on keeping him in the 1g as long as I am, but the 10g is taking forever to cycle.

Anyway, I would say that a 2.5 would be good for some shrimp and snails together. Otherwise a betta.
 
pretty big change from the pale white thing she was when i got her, shes a bit fat but hey i just feed her to well.

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the wizard said:
While I agree that they are not best, your own example shows they often do not show a tank that is big enough. The question to ask is, why take a chance at keeping a species that you don't have the space for it to thrive?

People still keep goldfish in 2 gal fish bowls. There is a difference between "existing" and living a long, happy, healthy life. Many qualified and experienced people have already stated that about the only thing that should be done in 2.5 gal is shrimp or snails.

I like to opt for caution on the the fish's side when it comes to stocking. Probably because when I started keeping fish we didn't have the readily available information we have today and maybe I am just trying to make up for the fish that I have housed improperly as a kid.
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Better in a small tank with no nitrates than in a large tank with diseases and nitrates. Most fishstores have rampant disease. I dont care what LFS you go to there is ich. Its un deniable. Why do people look for the most healthy fish when they go in? All im saying is if you give them a stable flourishing home and the tank isn't super small they will live a happy life. They will get fed and do what fish do. The tank is only not big enough if they cant perform thier natural behaviors. But hey do freshwater shrimp man its way easier, or if u wanna drop the bigbucks on shrimp do sulawesi shrimp they are absolutley stunning. But expensive.
 
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