5 Gal Inhabitants Advice

G

Gold

AC Members
Oct 9, 2005
56
0
0
Essex, UK
www.operationmafia.co.uk
Below is everything I plan on doing, please help me decide which fish and how many to use.

The Tank
I am soon to be purchasing a 5 gall, (it is really a 5.4 gallon) rectangular tank.
It has the usual basic light, adjustable heater and a ‘3 stage filtration with a coarse and fine sponge, carbon sachet and moving bio wheel’.
It measures: 30cm(h) 38cm(w) and 21cm(d)
I know it is a unusual shape with the width being longer than the length, but I intend on having the aquarium width ways to I can see more of the tank.

The Tank Location
It will be in our box/laundry room which has no direct sunlight, sitting on a stable work surface.
The room is normally fairly warm due to having the boiler in there regardless.
While as it is our laundry room, there is a handy tap/sink just a few meters away in addition to a power point a further few meters away in the other direction.

The Tank Décor/Environment
I am going for a very natural theme. I intend on having a sand or small pebble substrate. In addition I intend on planting it moderately with easy to keep plants such as java fern, java moss, hornwort and anacharis. I will also purchase some sort of cave or bogwood as centre piece.

The Fish I Had In Mind…?
I particularly like the dwarf Corydoras. I know my lfs has a abundant supply of Corydoras habrosus and Corydoras pygmaeus.
But I have also fallen in love with the dwarf puffers.
Additionally another newbie suggested I keep a male betta and then just a few shrimp.

So I see it that I have the choice of:
5 Corydoras habrosus/ pygmaeus
1 dwarf puffers and some shrimp (will serve a role when not eaten)
1 Male Betta and a few shrimp (will serve a role when not eaten)

I know all these fish would adore my tank setup plan; the question is which to choose.
Which do you personally think would be best, or do you have any other suggestions?

Please bear in mind i am a newbie, but i have spent over 2 months just reading from websites and peoples experiences.
Also please remember i have over a month to decide, as i would need to cycle the tank first :(

Thanks
 
All 3 setups are good, I guess it is just personal preference really!! I know that doesn't help much though :D ...I think the puffers require a bit more care than the other 2 options, you might look into all of their requirements and see if that influences the decision. I have a betta in a 10g and I really like him, lots of personality. I think the puffers are so neat and very cute, but they're so darn small they just don't seem to fill up a tank enough for me...
 
Sounds like a good set-up - If you are going to get the puffers I would get a male and a female in there. They would be fine in a 5 gallon planted.
 
Thanks for the reassurance people.
Those few words you have all said about each being ok have really boosted my courage lol.
But it makes my decision even harder now lol.

I am deeply in love with the dwarf puffers, but yeah the two factors that put me off them is they would not fill up the aquarium with enough for me, and they are extra hard to take care of for a beginner (live food only etc). Sometimes i forget this will be my first aquarium :)
So i will save the puffer fantasy maybe for my second and larger tank in the future, when I have more experience and courage.

But for my soon to be 5 gall, i still need to decide between a species tank for the Corydoras (5), or a male betta and 2/3 Corydoras.
Even though bettas have tons of personality and character, i like to do things properly, and Corydoras should really have at least 5 of their own kind.
So i am still stuck on that one.

As for TheMightyQueenPixie's Contest, when is the closing date?
It will be another week until i buy the aquarium, then a month of cycling before i can even add the fish, so odds are my masterpiece will not be ready in time :(
 
I would do either corys or a betta and snails or shrimp. 5g is a decent size for the corys, but I think I would do one or the other. IME with regular corys, they can be somewhat sensitive and the smaller tanks are a little harder to keep stable, (but with a filter/heater you should be fine). A betta is definately a little more hardy and might be a good thing to start out with and get your feet wet :rolleyes:
 
I agree that corys should have about 6+ of their own kind but I think a pair of corys and a betta would be your best bet. Bettas are absolutely gourgous and have alot of personality and corys are really cute( as you know) and also serve a purpouse of keeping the bottom fairly clean between regular maintence. If you do get corys get the pygmys or another small kind as to not overcrowd. I think your tank sounds great! Good luck! :thm:
 
Vote for Bettas

Yes, dwarf puffers can be tricky because they are live only eaters - even then you can get a more picky one that will eat only one thing that is live.

What about two bettas - divided. My fiance has one (5.5G divided) and it is very interesting. She has one all white betta and one blue/red betta. They will swim up to each other, flare, and then be on with their lives. Quite interesting. However, I do not know if "2.5G" is enough for two cories (two on each side). She uses ottos - two on each side.

Bettas are very close to personality to dwarf puffers - although I am partial to my dp's. Her bettas will greet me - but really only if they are hungry - at least from what I can tell. I love my dp's, they always greet me, follow me around like I "HAVE" to pay attention to them. I do play with them - chase them, they chase me etc. I accidentally sucked my female up in a syphon - twice. She is fine and attemps to get syphoned all the time - very stressful - for ME.

I would be careful with it being in the laundry room - lint and other "chemicals". Why did you choose there??

If you are lucky - you can get a betta that does not like the shrimp - not likely though.

Good luck in your quest!!!!!!

Aries
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom