beginner w/3 gallon tank- happy fishies?

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nereidphoenix

AC Members
Sep 7, 2007
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Hi!

I live in a college dorm and someone gave me what I estimate to be about a 3 gallon tank a few weeks ago. I'm looking for some friendly, entertaining, pretty fish that I can give a good home to- I obviously want them to be as happy as possible and that's why I came researching rather than making what was going to be an impulse buy (was going to make a goldfish-in-a-round-bowl mistake.. eek!).

Will definitely keep on top of cleaning etc.. Would like live plants but unfortunately I don't have the room for a light- I don't think it would be possible to have them anyway with such a small tank, would it? Would some java ferns/moss be possible without a light/heater?

After some research I've been dissuaded from goldfish. I was thinking one male beta and maybe some small tetra or platies. I also heard corys are good bottom feeders- I'd like more inhabitants but is my tank too small for one/too small to need one?

Lastly: is Prime cycler necessary/advisable for such a small tank? I used to work in a large aquarium and so know the importance of ammonia/nitrite/nitrate/pH testing, but I'm used to husbandry for tanks of hundreds of gallons, so I'm a bit out of my element here!

Thanks for all your help. I'm going to upgrade to a 20-or-so gallon tank as soon as I'm out of school and have my own apartment...
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nereid
 
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WELCOME :)

For a 3g I would probably only put a single betta in there along with some snails and/or shrimp. Tetras, platies and corys are small fish but they need more room because they're active schoolers. Also bettas like it warm, around 75f, so unless the room temperature is very stable you'll need a heater.

There are plenty of small compact aquarium lights on the market if you want to try plants. Java fern and java moss are easy low light plants but you'll need some form of lighting for them.

I've never used a bought cycle product so I can't comment on them, but you do need to cycle the tank.
 
I agree with the above. If there is even minimal indirect sunlight, java moss or anacharis may be possible. Prime is not a cycling product, it is a water conditioner (removes Chlorine, Chloramine, and Ammonia. Detoxes Nitrite & Nitrate). Good job on researching before hand!

:welcome: to AC!
 
Yes, plants will grow in a 3 gallon if you have the correct light. YOu need to choose smaller plants, so they don't overrun your tank.

I would get one betta. They are beautiful fish, and if you want more space, you could always upgrade to a 10 gallon for very cheap. Assuming its a rectangle and not some odd shape, you can multiply the length x with x height, (in inches) and divide by 231 to get the volume.
 
My 5 gallon houses 4 Danios. You could probably put a max. of 3 in your 3 gallon, but no more. I think the Tetras, Betta, Shrimp, or ADFs would be a good choice also. I have never used any products to cycle a tank.
 
Be sure to cover your tank in the event you get a fish that likes to jump (a betta or Endlers)
 
DebbyS said:
Be sure to cover your tank in the event you get a fish that likes to jump (a betta or Endlers)
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I have heard that bettas like to jump but I have to say that even when I had my little 2 gallon betta tank set up without a lid, my betta did not jump out or go carpet surfing. Usually bettas will not jump unless there is something wrong with the water quality.

Marinemom
 
paradise gourami fine at room temp keep by itself
 
My 5 gallon houses 4 Danios. You could probably put a max. of 3 in your 3 gallon, but no more. I think the Tetras, Betta, Shrimp, or ADFs would be a good choice also.
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Don't put danios or tetras in a 3g with a betta. Danios and tetras should be kept in groups of 5+ and danios should be in atleast a 20g tank.
A shrimp or two would be a good choice.

paradise gourami fine at room temp keep by itself
Click to expand...
Paradise fish should be kept in 20g tanks. They are a lot more active than betta.
 
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