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I am going to be setting up a five gallon minibow for my sister and I was wondering what the best stocking list is for it?

Choice #1
1-Ram of some sort
5-Glolite tetras

Choice #2
1-betta
5-Neon tetras

Choice #3 (suggested in TFH)
3-zebra danios
3-neon tetras
1-betta
3-cory cats

Choice 1: A single Ram rarely does very well. The Glolites would be fine although it's very little swimming room.

Choice 2: Ditto with the tetras. The betta's fins, as long as the neons aren't small enough to be eaten.

Choice 3: Yeah, I saw this answer too, and was quite appalled. Instead, how about a betta and six Pygmy cories? Or a school of Pygmy Rasboras or Ember Tetras? A brackish tank with Bumblebee Gobies?

-Molly
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To me Choice #1 doesn't sound like it would work since that tank is too small for even one ram and you need at least 6 of a schooling fish, preferably more, if you want them to be happy. Choice #2 might also cause problems since the neon tetras might nip at the long flowing fins of the betta, or the betta might chase the neons. Also, 5 might be too small of a school. Choice #3 sounds overstocked to me, and i think the danios and neons and the cats would be unhappy kept in such small schools. Have you thought about dwarf puffers? What about endlers? You might have a chance with #2 if you kept the tank really clean, but i dont know. What kinds of fish do you want?

I think you should get a honey or dwarf gourami with some tetras of your choice

Both honey and dwarf gouramis are too big for a 5 gal - they have definite mass to them and like room to move.

-Molly
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Killifish

I have the same tank and it's occupants have varied in the time I've had it.

Intended stocking was two or three betta imbellis which, of course, my LFS stocked regularly until *I* wanted them. I got tired of waiting for them... I'm still waiting four+ months later.

I used the tank for quarantine for a couple betta girls (one the first time, then three the second time in QT). You could try and put two together and see how they do on a more permanent basis. The three started arguing after being in there a while (and growing significantly in that time).

I added in two algae eating shrimp when the tank was empty and they have stayed in there since. They like to hide in the scraps of driftwood I have in there. It's also planted pretty well, so they like to climb along the crypts and such.

My ten gallon is overstocked, so to relieve that population, I grabbed Baby (a rescued day old barb fry from a LCPS, now several months old) and a few of his female guppy friends and tossed him in there. One of the "females" decided he was male, so out went the girls and the boy stays there until my sister takes him into her tank, where all the guppy boys stay.

Eventually, Baby's moving into bigger quarters, and the male guppy is moving to my sis's, so... I think I'll end up with the two algae eating shrimp and three or four female guppies (you could do this with males for a more colorful display).

I think you could make a fun male betta tank (adding some sort of buddies for him if you want), possibly a female betta tank (if you find a pair of non-aggressive girls), a few guppies (same sex) could be fun, frogs! ADF's would be cool... hmm... there's a few species of killies that might do okay in there, but don't quote me on that. I'm sure there's a bunch more in the way of stocking ideas, but that's what I have to offer.

Oh, and if you want to go planted, there's a thin compact flourescent bulb (the twirly ones) sold at walmart. It's about nine bucks, I think, but it fits into the incandescent fixture. I have a couple types of crypts (lutea, willisii), anubias var nana, and a few baby java ferns in there. Granted, it's not high light, but the plants grow decently.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

killifish
guppies
endlers
female bettas
ADF
ACF
Paradise fish (better off in a ten)
Cherry Barbs
Dwarf puffer

I do not recommend schooling fish in a 5 gal. I have one and I cannot see putting a school of pretty much anything in a five. Upgrading to a ten gives you a lot more choices

I'll do graffiti,
If you sing to me in French.

I agree with Katie. I wouldn't put a schooling fish in a 5 gallon. They are just too small for a proper school of pretty much any commonly available fish. Not only is 6 (the minimum for a school) too many fish for a 5 gallon, but it also allows VERY little room. Most (if not all) schooling fish are active, so I just don't think they belong in a small tank like that.

I like the idea of endlers or guppies. They are colorful and active, so your sis would probably like them. Killifish are nice too. I have a trio (well, a pair now... one jumped >.&lt of A. australe in a 5 gallon. There are many other readily available killis that would do well in a 5 gallon.

---

They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

Dwarf puffers are great, but just watch about them getting stuck in the flitration system, they're not the brightest of fish by any means

WoW Addict and proud of it
1.66g Hex - Nothing as of yet
29g - Nothing as of yet

hey everyone, thanks for those responses and keep them coming! The former fish were endelers and they overproduced and weren't that good looking as we accidentally bought them as feeders.... well anyways i'll think about it and get back to you all,

I agree with a betta and some pygmy corys

I'll third that last response - betta and pygmys.

I am planning on a 7 gallon bowfront and will have one of my two bettas in it, with a small school of habrosus cories. It is probably the only school I would recommend in such a tank as they don't get much bigger than a half inch.

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There is another species of pygmy cory called a hastatus. Not sure if there are any others.

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I think this last one is bigger than the habrosus. I have a school of them in my 20 and they are very active if you have things for them to sift through. I rearrange things every now and then to mix it up for them.

ok, in my 5 gallon i have

one crwon tail betta named fred and 4 white clouds and a snail and all seem happy, had some shrimp in there... not a good idea with fred. but ,at least here, you can get a couple different types of white clouds, and these different types do school together so just napther option



me