Smallest Tank

[tori.lock]

I know that it's common advice to beginners to get the biggest tank possible, but the biggest tank possible for me would be pretty small. 10 is the very biggest, but because I'll be in a dorm and traveling back and forth during holidays I'd like a smaller tank that I could carry with me without too much difficulty. I was wondering what good fish/tank set ups would work for me. I was considering a 5g with a single dwarf puffer, and I tried to doo some research on other options but I had a hard time finding anything on small tanks, at least anything reliable.

[Lab_Rat]

How much fishkeeping experience do you have? If this is to be your first tank and you decide on a 5g then I would recommend a single betta. If you can, go with the 10g since you will be able to keep a small school of tetras, platies, and/or other types of fish.

I've never kept dwarf puffers but from what I've read they can be a bit of a difficult fish to keep. They need live food (snails) to keep their teeth in check.

[BirdOfPray]

When I was in college I had a couple of 10-gallons -- one in the dorms, and I added a second when I moved into an apartment later. I had (male) guppies in one and black skirt tetras in the other. I liked the guppies best because I got different colors and could tell them apart so they were more like real pets. At the time I didn't realize corys had to be kept in groups so I had a couple of corys in each tank and loved those. If I were doing it again, I think I'd go for a betta in a 5-gallon like I have on my desk now. He's got some personality and definitely good looks, and the 5-gallon would have been easier to move than the 10 ever was, not to mention taking up less counter space (very precious in a dorm room!). Also, the betta would be better able to handle being transported in a not-aerated container. I was only 90 miles from home, so it wasn't too bad a trip, but I probably stressed my fish more than necessary when moving them since I didn't really know what I was doing. No losses, but I feel bad about it in retrospect.

If you're up for the challenge, I'd imagine a dwarf puffer would be a lot of fun too. I love watching those little guys and may try one someday, but don't yet trust myself to keep one alive and happy. If you had a betta in a cycled 5-gallon tank, it'd be ok to leave over short breaks (maybe up to a week?) without taking the tank with you -- either set up an automatic feeder or let him fast for a few days. Put the light on a timer and you're set. I don't know that dwarf puffers could handle that kind of thing, and I also don't know how well they'd do with being moved around a lot. Maybe someone who's kept them can tell you more, but my impression has always been that they're pretty sensitive.

I hope that's not coming across as discouraging because that's not my intent at all -- just trying to remember some of my challenges with a tank in a dorm room so you can think them through in advance. :)

[tori.lock]

Yeah, I've been weary about the puffer idea. As tempting as it is, I don't have the experience, time, funds or lifestyle to care for it properly. As adorable as they are, and from all the good things I've heard I'd hate to risk it. Maybe once I get more experience I'll try it out, but the betta idea is probably the best idea.

Are there any other fish I could keep in a 5-8g? I'll probably go with a betta, but I'd like to get a better idea of things first.

[Northernguy]

lol Thats another problem with a 5gal. everyone always wants more fish in them right away!
If you can get a ten you can get a small school on there.
You could do some shrimp or an apple snail.
The apple snails are cool to watch.

[HeatherB]

I would get a 10. I have 10's and they are quite versatile. If you did go for a 10 you could do a betta, with any of the following: platys, mollies, swordtails, cherry barbs, tetras, etc. I have mine with snails and shrimp as well. To minimize any territorial stuff, I have always added my betta last to a community tank.

A 10 gallon has a fairly small footprint, and you could easily get a stand, they are relativly inexpensive. It is much easier to keep your water quality stable in a larger tank, even if the difference is only 5 gallons!

Go for a 10!!

[tori.lock]

I really want to go for a ten, and the issue is space and transporting it. I'm going to school in Monterey, but I'll be traveling to San Diego for breaks. A 5 gallon I could transport it much easier than a 10 if I had to take it on a plane or something. Considering the 7 hour drive I think a betta is the only fish that would make any sense. I don't know of anything (unless you guys have ideas) that would do well with that journey.

[Anomaly]

Dwarf puffers are not THAT hard to care for. A single dwarf puffer in a 5g would be fine if it is introduced to a well-filtered, already cycled tank and if you keep up with your water change schedule. There's not really much to it. Feed it bloodwormes daily, and throw a few pond snails in there from time to time.

Now, if you're planning on taking the tank on long drives quite often, I don't think I'd get a dwarf puffer.

[MrJim]

"Transporting" a 10 gal tank doesn't seem very practical~~obviously you'd have to empty most of the water out...how is this done? It's not a suitcase..:hmm3grin2orange:

[tori.lock]

Thanks. I have heard mixed reviews on how easy it is to care for a dwarf puffer. Some sites rate them as expert only, others say that a dedicated beginner could do it. Just for the transportation thing I'll stay away, and work up to it once I get my own place, or maybe a good fish-sitter in the area. Thanks for all the help.