use for 1.5 gallon hex

[Pot Puffer]

i was wonderin if anyone has suggestions for a 1.5 gallon hex tank, i know no fish could live a long happy life in there. ive been reading that maybe some invertebrates may be able too. i was wonderin if maybe 2 ghost shrimp or 2 apple snails could live in it. its going to be planted with maybe java moss but im not sure yet. ideally if it was too be for snails it would be for breeding and im going to try to get a small heater too try too keep that water stable for temperature. basically any opinions/facts yall have would be awesome, thanks.
once the snails or shrimp were to breed id try to aquire a bigger tank for them but im kind of lookin for permanent/semi-permanent dwellers. the tank has been cycling for a while and theres nothing in it right now except 3 rocks and some gravel

[EmmanuelJB]

I would go with the 2 apple snails (mystery snails stay smaller and would probably be better). Just make sure they have enough food.

[gm72]

Apple snails can get to be the size of baseballs. No apple snails in a 1.5 gallon. How about a shrimp tank?

[EmmanuelJB]

Apple snails can get to be the size of baseballs. No apple snails in a 1.5 gallon. How about a shrimp tank?
Really! Wow I didn't know that! They are illegal in Maine so I havn't seen many, the only ones I have seen were REALLY small but I knew they could get bigger (Thats why I suggested mystery snails). Any way go with what gm72 said and get the shrimp!

[SunSchein89]

Although not fish related you could get a tiny house gecko or something :ssmile: . I'd just splurge on a 5 or 10 gal to give yourself a few more options unless you really want to use the tank for water. Just saw a 10 gal starter kit at my LFS for $39.99.

[Pot Puffer]

thanks alot for the replies so far, ive actually wanted to raise some apple snails to get too that size. would it be good for em for a few months maybe? then change to a shrimp tank or raise the baby apple snails in it?

[VoidParadigm]

Apple snail size is completely dependant on the actual species - which is usually only dependant on what ones are popular in your area.

Bridgesii's only get golfball sized. (Max one in a aquarium that small. They're very messy eaters.)
Maculata is the "baseball" sized one, at 4-6 inch diameter.

[gm72]

Apple snail size is completely dependant on the actual species - which is usually only dependant on what ones are popular in your area.

Bridgesii's only get golfball sized. (Max one in a aquarium that small. They're very messy eaters.)
Maculata is the "baseball" sized one, at 4-6 inch diameter.

Absolutely, which is why I stated they "can" get to baseball size. Regardless two of them are too much for such a small tank.

[VoidParadigm]

Fair enough, but still, that's like saying cichlids "can" get to a foot in length. Yeah, some species can, but others are a lot smaller. Apologies. Was just making sure the OP had all the facts.

Still, though, aye, two are too much. Absolutely right.

[Rhaethe]

I would plant it and put some dwarf shrimp in there. Would look lovely :ssmile:

[Pot Puffer]

okay, got 2 mystery snails. but just came across a little extra money, and gonna go to store tomorrow and grab a 10 gallon, a heater, filter, and everything else we'll need. should they be ok in the 1.5 while cycling the 10 for a while, or would snails be alright while cycling? the 10 gal will be planted also.

[VoidParadigm]

The snails will not be alright during cycling.
Apple Snails are messy. You are going to need to do a waterchange VERY frequently with two in that small container.
If you have access to another tank (friend's or your own) put some of the filter media in the ten gallon filter.
Your best bet is to insta-cycle the ten.

Do you have a camera?
If you pick them up, poke their operculum (the "door") so that they go in, then take a picture of their bottom side, I can help you identify just which species you managed to pick up, so you know how big they will actually get and whether or not you accidentally got Cana.s, who eat plants.

[Pot Puffer]

ahh, at the moment i dont have a camera. ill borrow one tomorrow if i can. hmm isnt the difference in bridgessi and cana. a slight nook in the shell that you can see kinda easy from the bottm? im not totally sure, and will still show the pictures when i get ahold of a camera. what are some good ways of insta-cycling? could i take a bit of the filter media from the 50 gal filter and use it? any other methods would be awsome to help form a guidline too.. thanks for all the help again folks.

[VoidParadigm]

Bridgesii shells have a 90o angle there, most in the Cana. group have a more outwardly rounded nook, while Paludosa have a more sloping one - though it's highly unlikely you have a Paludosa. I've never even seen one, let alone held one.

[chickenlady]

Well, just make sure you don't have a male and a female, or in 6 months you'll be doing what I'm doing, and pleading for homes for them. I was told how easy it was to remove the egg sacs as they were laid above the waterline. What they don't tell you is how snails will pick spots behind the heater or filter, or lay a small sac under the lip just out of sight, and before you know it you have hundreds of the buggers.

[Lady Hobbs]

I'd have it for cherry shrimp.