3 gallon tank [Archive] - Aquarium Forum

Glasstapper

11-22-2006, 04:01 AM

Ooh ooh!! OR.... maybe you could put a little dwarf puffer in there! :D Those guys are soooo cool! You'd need lots of plants and a dark sand substrate, I imagine. I think Kimmers has one of those cute little guys. She could probably help you better than me on making the guy happy if you want to get one of those.

freshwaterfishlover

11-22-2006, 10:41 AM

I do not know what I want to put in it, but I do not want a Betta. I want something less common. You allways see a 3 gallon at doctors offices with a Betta. Maybe Maybe Maybe I'll get one, but probably not.

Could I put a few Tetras in it? Like 2 or 3 Black Tetras(Black Skirt Tetras) or no?

Besides Bettas what can I put in the tank?

Lady Hobbs

11-22-2006, 02:07 PM

You want either one fish that will stay small (betta) or possibly a "few" neons or cardinals.

Glasstapper

11-22-2006, 03:11 PM

I also really like some of the leaf fish species. I think the Amazon leaf fish stays small around 3". I found this link on them, but you might need to do more research.
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And then, there's the Endler's livebearer. I rarely see this as pets, but I think they're beautiful and don't get any larger than 1". You could probably put about 4 of them in there? Maybe 5? This link has tons of pictures, but I can't read the language.
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Lady Hobbs

11-22-2006, 03:31 PM

I ALMOST got a betta yesterday myself. Had a big old fishbowl right in my hands but didn't know if it would jump out or not. No type filter could be used but still more room than the cup they come in.

freshwaterfishlover

11-22-2006, 04:48 PM

Maybe I will do Bettas. There not ugly fish at all. How many can I put in? I was thinking 2. Or should I only put in one?

Abbeys_Mom

11-22-2006, 08:32 PM

just one. You can't have two males, and a male and female can't be together in that small a space.

freshwaterfishlover

11-22-2006, 09:11 PM

I am not saying only one Betta is not ok, but I was wondering what else can fit good in a 3 gallon tank(besides bettas)? If other fish how many?

Lady Hobbs

11-22-2006, 11:06 PM

That size tank is good for one betta. Often they will kill another fish unless they are together in a very large tank so stick with one.

freshwaterfishlover

11-23-2006, 02:26 AM

Maybe I did not say the question right. What else is good for a 3 gallon tank?

kimmers318

11-23-2006, 12:02 PM

There are several things that can work in that small of a tank....but not many together if you know what I mean. 3 gal is small....as suggested, a betta is perfect......any of your schooling fish I wouldn't advise because to get a nice school you would be overstocking. And 3 gal doesn't offer much room for fish that like to swim around.
I have heard a lot of success stories on shrimp tanks....check out petshrimp.com for some ideas and then research the types of shrimp you like.

freshwaterfishlover

11-23-2006, 12:13 PM

A Betta it is.

Incredulous_Ed

11-23-2006, 02:57 PM

How about a dwarf puffer?

kimmers318

11-24-2006, 04:16 AM

Even though some sites will recommend 3-5 gal for a dwarf puffer, that is a better recommendation when setting up a community of them. Dp's like to zip around and that doesn't leave much room in a small tank. When I had to put Missy in a 5 gal temporarily, she was a very subdued (almost like she was depressed) dp....now that she is in a 10 gal with 2 others she is happy as a clam.

freshwaterfishlover

11-25-2006, 05:06 AM

I almost got the 3 Gallon, but did not. I will be getting it in a week.

As you guys have read, my 30 Gallon tank has ICK, so on ThanksGiving I went to the only fish store open to get medicine(and we have 6 stores in the area).

I went to the store with a friend of mine(he had a 30 gallon about 20 years ago) I saw the small table with 2.5,3 and 5 gallon tanks with Fish in them. I was positive I was going to get the 3 gallon on Thanksgiving. I told my friend I want the 3 gallon tank and I'm going to buy it.He told me"Ow man it's an addiction" "Why do you need another tank". He would not stop telling me that so I said ok, I will not buy it.

I plan to Get the small 3 gallon tank. I will go myself in a week and get it.

I was wondering if what I want to put in the tank is ok?

1- Gold Platy
2- neon tetras.

Also do you think 3 gallons is enough for one small plant or no?

Abbeys_Mom

11-25-2006, 12:38 PM

Tetra and platties wouldn't do well. The smaller the tank the harder it is to regulate the temp and the water parameters. Try a female betta and some white cloud minnows if you want more then one fish. Both do well in smaller tanks. Male bettas and other fish don't mix well in small spaces.
As far as tanks being and addiction, it is certainly true. At one point I had a 55g, 33g, 27g, 3-10g, 5g, 2.5g and a .5g. I ended up needing a 30' python (syphon) to clean them all. If you are going to put a filter in your 3g, I recommend a small corner sponge filter. It will provide filtration and aeration off one air pump.

freshwaterfishlover

11-25-2006, 01:23 PM

I know the store had the tank over stocked. They have 3 neon Tetras, 1 Platy and a Barb in the tank.

What do the other of you guys think about 2 Neon Tetras and a Gold Platy in a 3 Gallon.

Lady Hobbs

11-25-2006, 01:41 PM

I think the small tanks are pretty useless myself unless you plan to use one for a betta. Period. They don't have enough room for really much of anything, get dirty easily and are hard to maintain. Personally, I would opt for a 30 gallon and start moving some of what you have around to relieve the overcrowding you already have and then you'll be able to get a few more of what you really want instead of having to pick fish "that will fit."

The price of those small tanks isn't a whole lot cheaper than a larger tank. I have a 20 gallon and a 10 gallon that sits on a stand that holds both and takes up very little room. 24 inches If room is a problem, this is a good solution. I got the stand at Walmart.

You can also put them in layaway if that's necessary but take your time and get what you really want so you can have the fish you really want.

I hope your ICK problem is about gone. Usually the meds work very well.

kimmers318

11-25-2006, 03:28 PM

I don't think either the platy or the tetras will be happy in a 3 gal. Platies really need more room to swim...tetras are schooling fish and should be in groups of 6+ to be happy, which would be way too many for that tank.
As Hobbs suggested....save for a bigger tank and rearrange what you have to make each tank properly stocked and look nice. Unless you want a betta, shrimp community or african dwarf frog, you really aren't looking at much in a 3 gallon.

freshwaterfishlover

11-25-2006, 04:32 PM

I could maybe go up to 5 gallon, but thats it. I have no more room in the fish tank area. I will get a betta and and 3 gallon.

Now my younger brother(16 me 22) that lives with his father is trying to get me to buy a 55 gallon saltwater for my room. He tells me Fish are much more fancier and a lot more to have in a saltwster tank.

I think I will stay with Freshwater and get the 3 gallon and a Betta.

Also in the Fish room is a Cokitial(spelled very wrong)Bird(Not my job).

Also my 2 Swordtails with Ick are getting a little better, but My Bannded Gourami with Ick still has it the same.

86vwgti8v

11-26-2006, 12:52 PM

I say since you plan on getting a small tank with just limited fish, go with the puffer, they are mean and need to be alone, from experience. so the small tank is perfect

Abbeys_Mom

11-26-2006, 12:59 PM

Puffers aren't a good beginner fish. They are alot of work to maintain and I don't think it would be happy in a tank that small. They like to have room to swim. I would stick to a betta, then you don't have to have a filter or aeration.

kimmers318

11-26-2006, 05:39 PM

Abbey's mom is right....although the recommendation is 3-5 gals per dwarf puffer...that is a much better amount when looking at a community of dp's. I had to put my first into a 5 gal for a short time while setting up 10 gal and she was not a happy puff. They like to zip around and surf the current, small tanks are just too small for that. Since they are carnivores they also can mess up a small tank quite fast with all of those dead snails laying around.

freshwaterfishlover

11-26-2006, 08:38 PM

I made my decition, I am not changing it this time.

Even though I have 6 store in the area I only go to 2. The biggest store and the friendliest.I went to the freindly store today and saw a 5 gallon and decided on the 5 gallon. I decided to put the 2 Neon Tetras and 2 Ghost Shrimp from the 20 Gallon in the 5 gallon and also add 3 more Ghost Shrimps to it.

I want to add Clams tp the 20 gallon, but it does not seem any store sells Freshwater Clams. May have to buy them on line.

This is what I want in the 20 gallon now

4 Frogs (already in the tank)
2 Clams
1 Jap Snail

I also wanted a small Crayfish in the tank, but people have told me harror stories, so unless I get another 20 gallon, wich I am not getting, I am not getting a Crayfish.