Classroom tank

[Lowflyer]

Hey guys

I've got a 2 ft, 15 gallon tank which I want to set up in my first classroom when I start my teaching career next year. What would you guys and gals recommend I do with this setup?

Any suggestions will be considered.

Thanks
Lukethumbs2:

[rich311k]

Platys or guppys something easy and fun.

[Goodbye]

You could go with a group of shellies. A group of them would be great for a 15g.

[Rue]

This is a great opportunity to teach responsible pet ownership as well...maybe have guppies...but males only...

[Lowflyer]

Thanks guys. What are shellies by the way?

And Rue, that's one of the reasons I am putting this tank up, but I would like to show the children how the fish reproduce, so a couple of males with a group of females is what would be cool I reckon. And I was thinking of swordtails instead of guppies, what you guys reckon?

[Lowflyer]

Sorry Rich, didn't see your post, I reckon platies could be a good idea too :D

[Goodbye]

Thanks guys. What are shellies by the way?


Shellies are Shell Dweller Cichlids, which come from Lake Tanganyika. As their name suggests, they like to have shells in their tank. Shellies spend lots of time darting in and out of shells. They are great for smaller tanks and do best in species only tanks. In a 15g, you could easily have a group of about 5-6 of them.

Here is a good link on them: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Lab_Rat]

I agree with either guppies or platies as they are colorful, active, and very easy to maintain. Shellies are really cool fish but idk if they would capture the attention of kids like the colorful livebearers would.

[Sharon]

A male Betta would be nice with some small Cories. Bettas and Cories have personalities that the kids might like.

[hybridguy]

I would do shell dwellers, u say the tank is 2ft that will work, very interesting fish.thumbs2:

[MrJim]

Zebra danios, corys, & a couple otos for the algae. Will there be a home for these fish when the school year ends?

[Lowflyer]

That sounds like a cool setup, but instead of the zebra's, what about rummy nose tets? And WRT holidays, in South Africa we teach all year round with the longest break been about a month or so, in which I can or I will get someone to maintain the tank

[rangur1]

pristella tetras would work well. a school of 8. they are easy to maintain.

[Jaster]

I have rummys and I don't think that would be a good idea. I just moved mine to a 20G long and they don't seem to like it very much. These guys love to move... I'm starting to feel like they don't have the room to swim like they want.
I would go with mollys personally. Some very nice colors and a very active fish. IMO they are also a bit tougher then guppys. They seem to handle noise and the occasional glass tap from my kids much better then the guppys do.

[Padams]

I vote for:

Zebras ------- constant motion and very hardy (no need to explain the death cycle)

Platys ------- To fill the livebearer requirement

Otos ------- part 1 of cleaners

Ghost shrimp --------- Part 2 of cleaners hard to see at times and draw attention to other inhabitants (& it's cool to see them swim with their little legs moving faster than kid from homework :ssmile: )

[Shea Knight]

Teaching elementary kids? :)

I like:

School of platys/tetras

A pair of Otos (I have a pair- take it from me, if they're anything like mine, they'll zip super-fast all around the tank and always look happy- great for kids...)

Some "feature" fish- but what at 15g you could get for that I don't know...

But definitely get the Otos, they're great...

[Lowflyer]

Ok cool, thanks gusy, really appreciate your input.

@ Shea Knight - yip, elementary kids, 10 year olds.

The general concencus is that I get otos, so I think I will do that.

Platies sound great, I like the colour variations that are available.

And as for the Rummy's, thanks Jaster for your input and warning me about the space issue, maybe the zebra danios would be a better option.

Ok, I like the choice of fish, now what about plants?

[domjd05]

I would do something relatively simple.. guppies.. danios.. etc.

What grade will you be teaching.. if its junior high/ high school kids.. beware.. In high school I watched a kid in study hall dump an entire package of m&m's into a teachers tank, then dump an entire bottle of dechlor. in it.. for no particular reason..

This was before I kept fish, nowadays I would've made him go bobbing for m&m's :hmm3grin2orange:

[Jaster]

... now what about plants?


something real but easy... I would say something low light Java moss, Java fern, or Amazon sword. They're pretty much set it and forget it plants if you did go for real. You wouldn't need anything fancy and can still grow with cheapo lighting. Which would be cool in a classroom. You would have a weeks of science lessons in the tank alone. lol

[Rue]

Thanks guys. What are shellies by the way?

And Rue, that's one of the reasons I am putting this tank up, but I would like to show the children how the fish reproduce, so a couple of males with a group of females is what would be cool I reckon. And I was thinking of swordtails instead of guppies, what you guys reckon?

You can teach reproduction without a real-life demonstration. I think this would be a great opportunity to teach responsible stewardship and to address the issue of unwanted pets due to overbreeding...

Just a thought...

[Lowflyer]

See, everyone has a teacher side inside ;-). Thanks for the input guys, really appreciate it. Will have to see what I need to teach and use this as an added extra

[Jaster]

What age group are you teaching? What subjects? Just curious...

I'm an assistant scuba instructor... (I do all the work and lessons, the instructor watches me assist and signs everything) lol

I'll tell you though, I've seen how many adults act in a classroom setting... I deal with 6-10 at a time 4-6 hours a week and there is always at least one... The last class I had, I had to break up a pencil sword fight. I swear... 2 30+ year old men. I feel so bad for teachers sometimes. I don't know how you guys do it with so many kids that don't know better yet... everyday...

At least I can have a beer in class and no one is going to think twice about it! lmao

[Lowflyer]

Haha, that's funny. I'm gonna be teaching age 10, and will be teaching all the subjects basically.

[Afk4Jfk]

Best Of luck teaching! What about some Glass Catfish. They Are An anatomy lesson right there!!