5 Gal Inhabitants Advice

[PumaWard]

My vote is for the cories. Something completely different than every one else's set-up. I mean no offence to betta people (heck, I'm a betta person ), but everyone has a betta and the cories are more original.

If you can, get dainty cories (I think they are the hasbrosus), IME, they are more out-going than the pygmies. Either cories though, and I would try to get darker sand personally, I found them hard to see in regular sand.

 

[Emg]

I'll throw another idea in there for ya...lol...

bumblebee gobies ? They're a pretty small fish.......though I'm not sure whether a 5 gallon would be too small or not...anyone know about these ? I do know that they're pretty cute !

Also, one pair of shell dwellers, like the lamprologus "Brevis" variety would do nicely in a 5.

These are just two very different ideas from the usual "betta, cory, shrimp" setups for such small tanks.

 

[knashash]

I'll throw another idea in there for ya...lol...

bumblebee gobies ? They're a pretty small fish.......though I'm not sure whether a 5 gallon would be too small or not...anyone know about these ?

Dwarf Puffers can be fed frozen food as well as live foods and they are quite hardy fish...so dont think that just cause youre a beginner that you wont be able to take care of them.

Also I thought bumble bee gobies were brackish?

 

[reiverix]

Bumble bee gobies are brackish but that would make for a different setup. A couple with a few small rock caves and a little piece of driftwood would be neat. Plants would be out the window though.

 

[Emg]

Also I thought bumble bee gobies were brackish?

Well, they are brackish, but he/she didn't say anything about not wanting to try brackish....puffers are generally brackish as well, though not all of them.

Not necessarily on the plants though....there are some plants that will do in brackish water...I'll have to look some up...

 

[Emg]

Here's some sites for brackish plants.....and tank info in general...

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/bracplants.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/bracsyscomps.htm

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/brackish/brackish.html

At one of the sites it did recommend 3 bumblebee gobies for a 5.5 gallon brackish tank.

A bit of info on the bumblebees....with a pic... http://badmanstropicalfish.com/brackish/bbgoby.html

 

[Gold]

Thanks for all the useful advice about brackish Emg, but i do not really want a brackish responsibility for my first tank.

Hmm, someone did mention about betta's being common, and having 5 corys would be original and doing things properly.

I am still in love with the puffers, but again it would be more expensive on my pupil budget having to treat 50% of the water each week instead of the usual 25%, and i know looking and pricing up live foods would be weights on my shoulders.

So i am going to go with the 5 of the smaller variety corys for my soon to be tank. I have been researching for months now, and have come across nothing else that meets my personality but practicality.
But I am nor ruling out the puffers yet

As for your contest TheMightyQueenPixie, you can count me in

So, has anyone tried corys or puffers as first fish, I would love to read about more peoples experiences!

 

[Henrye]

Just be aware that dwarf corys are not as hardy as some of the larger corys. Pandas are also quite delicate. A Betta does give you a little more leeway in being hardier (but then of course, any fish can be killed if you try hard enough). Two or three larger, hardy corys might be something to consider.

I would also watch out for the temps in your laundry room, especially with your boiler in there. In my limited experience it can get pretty hot, and including the lid, light, and the eclipse pump sitting in the water if filled up (you mentioned a bio whell, so I'm assuming it's an eclipse package) it can get VERY warm in that tank. Betta's' are usually more tolerant and prefer temps of 78 to 80, while corys will prefer below that. Be sure to keep an eye on the temps, as just between high ambient temperatures and the eclipse hood, you could start cooking fish in there.

 

[mvigor]

Excellent choice! You are going to love watching the cories play!

CLICK

 

[Gold]

Hey people.

Yeap i have made up my mind for definite now, i am going to have to have the 5 Corydoras habrosus, and a snail.

I was invited to a distant neighbour’s house today when he found out i was starting out in the hobby, and he has three tanks.
One of which was a 8 gallon species tank for Corydoras habrosus (9 in total I believe). And boy did i love them even more than when i saw them in the aquarium shop! Some people have been saying they are quite shy, but these guys were just busy the whole time, exploring the bottom and playing with each other.

As for some of you who are questioning my choice of the laundry room. The reason is it is one of the few rooms that are quiet, out of sunlight and always at a fairly constant temperature. While when I mentioned chemicals and lint, my dad said not to be daft lol. He said no chemicals would leak out the boiler, it is safe in a secure cupboard a few maters away from the tank position. In addition to the lint, we do not have a dryer, and when I asked if anything else would give of lint, again he just laughed.
So I am safely presuming the room is safe.

I am purchasing the tank in exactly 7 days from now. Then I have a long and patient cycling wait. And that leads me to a fresh question; does anyone have any recommendations for a good cycling product I can buy in the UK?