Want to see other fish tank stocking ideas? Check out these videos: 10 Gallon Stocking Ideas: ua-cam.com/video/zYlDbL-bSAU/v-deo.html 20 Gallon Stocking Ideas: ua-cam.com/video/H6jbUbwTUHc/v-deo.html 55 Gallon Stocking Ideas: ua-cam.com/video/7H8VFi6osKo/v-deo.html Want to learn more about some of the suggestions featured in this video? Neocaridina Shrimp Care: ua-cam.com/video/UI-eMm-1QvI/v-deo.html Mystery Snail Care: ua-cam.com/video/gWWx2JU_JEo/v-deo.html Check out these cool fish room tours as well! Creative Pet Keeping: ua-cam.com/video/gfeRvfxuWi0/v-deo.html LRB Aquatics: ua-cam.com/video/2PLGjz0XQR0/v-deo.html
Kudos for this great video. I think it's safe to say that 2.5G ends up mostly in the hands of beginners. A lot of other channels just say, NO to 2.5G right off the bat and that doesn't help the beginners at all. This video informs them of reasonable options and it's great to see. Well done. We both know that if beginners get to enjoy their 2.5G, they'll soon be getting a 10G or bigger and they will catch the bug like us. :)
I'm getting a 2.5 , I'm intermediate fish keeper I have always just kept Huge 60g and up. I think the 2.5 is for experts . I am hoping for a really hands on little tank. I'll be growing land moss and ferns maybe some grass in the small tank using a West facing window placement. I will rescue a sad small female Betta and just give her the best life. It will be a small area , I plan on being active. I keep compost worms and have many live foods to offer. I will do a soil sand gravel substrate. Add a sponge filter.
I impulse bought a female betta with a 2.5 gallon BettaBow (sparsely decorated, one hiding spot). A few years later, she's still here, though I recently upgraded her to a 6.5 with a trio of corys and now she occasionally schools with them. This video definitely helped lay out the options for what I can do with her old dwelling, thanks!
I'll bet she loves her new home! Like so many people, years ago I had a Betta in a tiny little plastic box (I feel horrible for that now), and thought they were beautiful but boring. Since then, I've discovered that the more space a Betta has, the more fun it will be to watch. They love exploring their surroundings, when they actually *have* surroundings!
2.5 gallons is so much better than the cups they're living in/sold from. You're improving its life significantly even with just 2.5 gallons. So if you pass up a betta in a cup when you "only have have a 2.5 gallon", it's really a shame. Put the betta in a nice 2.5 gallon and let it have a better life. Any gallon(s) are better than 12 ounces.
@@AquaOne1 It's a fish. Not a human. You can't project those emotions onto a fish. It should be in the wild so, should I just release it into a lake?! Or should I just walk by the ones suffering in tiny cups because I only have 2.5 gallons?!
Yes, but you should still upgrade it to a 5 gallon as soon as you can. It's really not that expensive for a 5 gallon set up. It's only around $100 ($15 for the tank, $15 for the filter, $25 for the heater, $25 for silk plants (2 large ones), $15 for the gravel). But that's assuming you already have water conditioner and food. Then it could be more like $125, but it's still not much. And it all depends on what brands you buy, too. It still shouldn't be too expensive to get your betta what they deserve.
Right now I have 3 2.5 gallon tanks with rescue bettas in them. I didn't originally plan to start getting fish, but they were all near death in tiny cups and I had to try to save them. All are happy and healthy now and will have bigger tanks as soon as I can afford the tanks. Planning on getting each of them a 10 gallon. I didn't know that bettas were so active and social. I really enjoy having them.
@@AquaOne1 dude you need to chill. I agree bettas in cups is not a good thing, but you could make the argument that keeping any animal in captivity is cruel. Should we all just euthanize our animals and get out of the hobby? And saying she is supporting animal cruelty by buying the fish and re-homing it into perfectly suitable conditions is a fairly long bow to draw. I think she has done an admirable thing personally.
@@AquaOne1 The bettas I rescue are happy to be alive and well cared for. I couldn't be coldhearted like you and leave them laying on their side dieing in a tiny puddle of water. Seeing something suffering and doing nothing to help is animal cruelty. I wouldn't rescue you from a slow death. The world already has enough heartless people in it.
I’ve been keeping freshwater/saltwater/coral tanks for about 5 years now. I’ve had many different size tanks from 5 gallons to 100 gallons but never something this small until now. This video helped a ton, I have a lot on knowledge on fish keeping in general but this is a very tricky subject within the community and it’s hard to find solid info on it. I’m glad to have found someone willing to give their educated opinion, Thank you!
I kept a betta in a 2.5 g. tank for years and he was the best and first fish I didn't kill. I also kept a mystery snail with him. It was fun just watching the fish swim around and the snail go back and forth. Good ol' days, hey?
I will tell you right now. This is from my own experience. I have 11 bettas. They all are in tanks that no less than 1.5 gallons to 6.5 gallons. It depends on thr betta. My king pkm loves his 2 gallon. I had him in a 5 gal. He chewed his fins. I tried fixing water flow, nothing. I lowered the water, he didnt like that at all. I put him in a 2 gallon hospital tank and he was happier than a pig in a pile of donuts. Not all bettas like big tank. There isnt much you can stick in a 2.5 gallon. Maybe a small group of fry. I normally use smaller tanks to heal my sick and broken fish. I even have a sparkling gourami in a 2 gallon. All my tanks are planted tanks, they all have pothos and other fast growing plants as filters. I heat with room temp. I also use sunlight for their lights. I have happy healthy bettas.
Thank you for making this video. As a beginner I bought a 2.5 gallon aquarium but in the future I want to buy a bigger one. For the moment I want to learn how to handle with environment and how to make my fish happy. From the shop they recommend me the sword tails fish for this type of fish tank. Thanks again for your hard work!🐟🐟🐟
2.5g tanks are more hassle than enjoyment and for the same price you can buy a 10g that has waaaaaaaaaay more options for fish. That being said they're great for hospital/nursery tanks.
Finally nice to see someone who is not over ridiculous and says a betta needs a 5 / 10 gallon tank minimum I have mine in a 3 gallon and he’s doing perfectly fine 👍 even a regular 2 gallon would probably be ok at least but I also don’t like seeing them in a small bowl or a 1 Gallon tank and I think a betta is a perfect choice for a 2.5 gallon with nothing else in it except 1 or 2 snails maybe (im no fish expert)
A great alternative to shrimp or snails in a tank that size would be a small group of Thai micro crab (Limnopilos naiyanetri) only grow to around 1-1.5 cm so great with nano fish.
I have a peaceful betta, a endler guppy, three pygmy corys and a bunch of shrimps in my heavyly planted 2.5 gal. and everyone is doing great and living well together ! ^^
My Fluval Spec 3 is the most successful tank we own. Everyone usually complains about how hard nano tanks are to maintain. I will capitulate that the initial setup and stabilization process was tedious. But once the tank reaches the optimal balance, then it's just a matter of 70-80% water changes twice a week. Which, by the way, is incredibly easy when you're working with tanks less than five gallons. That's the scheduled water change for all our tanks which happen to be nano tanks (5 gallons or less). The following tanks are all heavily planted. Fluval Spec 5: • 11(?) Celestial Pearl Danio _Danio margaritatus_ (It's difficult to get an accurate count given how quick they tend to be.) • 4 Dwarf Anchor Catfish _Hara jerdoni_ (They are the coolest fish you never get to see.) • Pink Ramshorn Snails. Fluval Spec 3: • 6 Chili Rasboras _Boraras brigittae_ • 3 Female Celestial Pearl Danio _Danio margaritatus_ (The remainder of the recent brood which will remain in the Spec 3 until the _Apisto Project_ is fully operational. Then all CPD's are being housed with the new _cacatuoides._ The Spec 5 is at its stocking limited IMO.) • More Pink Ramshorn Snails. Some other great options for nano tanks would be the *Scarlet Badis* _Dario dario,_ *Celestial Pearl Danio* _Danio margaritatus,_ any of the _Boraras_ family with the *Chili Rasbora* _Boraras brigittae_ being the most vibrant IMO, *Green Neon Microrasbora* _Microdevario kubotai,_ *Ember Tetra* _Hyphessobrycon amandae,_ *Dwarf Anchor Catfish* _Hara jerdoni,_ *Rosy Loach* _Petruichthys sp. "Rosy",_ one or maybe a pair of *Sparkling Gourami* _Trichopsis pumila,_ perhaps a single *Pea Puffer* _Carinotetraodon travancoricus_ and lastly a select few species of killifish could also work in nano tanks. We when started our foray into the nano tank realm. We initially started out with the Scarlet Badis _Dario dario_ and we have been a huge fan of them ever since. They [Scarlet Badis] are incredibly interactive and intelligent mini cichlid. But alas, we parted ways with them because acquiring a female Scarlet Badis is nearly impossible. So we've moved on to _Apistos._ Hope this helps some of you along the way. Keep up the great work my friends. *EDITED for double spacing.
Thank you! Because other channels will say that you need at least 5 gallons for any fish. But beginners usually start with 2.5 or 3 gallons. And when their told that, they just quit, or get a goldfish, because nobody else with help them! But you just saved a lot of people, because they get a Betta, and then a year later, they will realize they should get a 5, then they get a 5!
I had a single betta and a nerite snail and he did great. Really wanted shrimp and got for a 5, but that chill betta that loves with chili rasbora went mad! So they moved to the 2.5, and the betta in there got his own 5 with kuhlis. So the 2.5 is now just shrimp and bladder snails and is a lot of fun to watch in the kitchen throughout the day. Squish a few tiny snails on the front glass and it's like a mini shrimp buffet.
Getting a 3 gallon tank with a single betta for my almost 3 year old for Christmas. She’s obsessed with my tank setup so it’s time to get her own. I’ll teach her to take care of it and she’ll be the coolest kid in school😌
I keep two male Betta's in separate 2.5 gallon tanks and they're doing just fine after a year. Just do regular water changes and keep the tank water clean just like any other size tank.
I just don't think 2.5 gallons should be a full time home for any fish, but these are some great suggestions if someone is going to insist on using them
You could probably keep a single sparkling gourami, scarlet badis, or 1-2 pygmy sunfish in a 2.5. Also the best cleanup crew for any tank, but especially a nano tank is "pest" snails (MTS, ramshorns, bladder snails).
Even though I wouldn't use 2.5 gallon tanks for anything other than temporary arrangements like a breeding or nursery or hospital tank, I think this video was a great idea! People are going to buy 2.5 gallon tanks anyway, might as well have some info on what might be okay in them. Besides once they start out with a 2.5, it'll soon become a 5 then a 10 then a 55 :)
Wow! Thank u for this vid. I dont have many tanks and prefer nano tanks for now. My largest is 45 gal. I have kept fish, shrimp and snails successfully in 2.5 gal. I am current using one as a grow-out for my Sparkling gourami fry with some crystal red shrimp and amano. I have never had a problem with keeping it balanced and clean. I’m also that person tho that when I get home late from my second shift every night I like to pick at and spot clean all my tanks. 🤔The tanks are all lushly planted too. 💕🌱🐌🐠💕
I need to move to a Lodge at 46 because of my heart condition and diabetes. I have been fish keeping for 24 years and can’t imagine my life without wet pets, but any tanks have to be under 5 gallons. This is a helpful video. I currently have a 3.5 gallon planted half moon tank with Orange Sakura shrimp. I have a 20 gallon nano fish community and an African dwarf frog in the tank. I’m looking to get another 3.5 gallon aquarium with a 3 male guppies with a African dwarf frog. Or a female betta and a nerite snai. I’ve found that a female betta has nice color and are more peaceful
This is such a great video. I need one for a 3.5 gallon tank please oh please! I got a Back to the Roots 3.5 tank to grow micro greens and appease my son’s begging for fish. I hadn’t realized before binging on YT that 3.5 gallon was so tiny!
So I have a a 2.5 gal planted tank. I’ve had it for 3 years now. It comfortably holds 3 small fish, and a mix of a few shrimp and snails with no water problems. Currently there are 3 tiny flame tetras in there and they are awesome. I also had a 10 gallon during this time and it was so hard to care for, it was so heavy. Some people are just not going to be able to care for a larger tank. And I’m really done with people at pet shops fighting me over this. :(
Being in hot tropics, with temps of 25-35 C ranges, a friend staying in a small flat bought a 3 gallon tank for her kids - this list would be great for her tank... No need for a heater, she's also left it mostly bare- only 3 white pebbles with a normal filter on top lid... A small plastic plant kept behind the tank- it's all quite cute... Kept in middle of hall with only partial indirect sunlight or room lights so no algal bloom.
I have a 10gal with a betta and two mystery snails. At first, my boy did nip at the snails a little bit, but now they've offered a source of entertainment. I have had many instances where I have watched my betta follow my snails around the tank, trying to swim as slowly as they slide, and slowing himself down when he realized he was outpacing the snail. He watched his snail buddy get an air bubble trapped in his shell from climbing up the bubble tube, resulting in him floating on the top of the tank, and now the betta stops the snail from going up the tube. It's been amazingly entertaining and the most fun I have had watching my tank.
I have a 2.5 gallon tank, bought it just for plants without any fish in it but i never set it up😂😂. I have two 10 gallon tanks running along with a 25 gallon as well
I also would put wild guppies on that list, just like endler's and least killi they stay small and do great on grazing on detritus, and even hair algae
How do you go about cleaning the 2.5 gallon? I have 2 that have sand and gravel with live plants and 1 betta. I do small water changes but it’s difficult to get to the substrate. Any suggestions?
1:56 I've had 2 betta fish and they had both lived in a 2.5 gallon tank and they were happy little fish and the last one of what i saw loved it so I just want to put that out there.
I had betta fish that were gifted to me by someone who had kept two females in a 1 gallon tank with a divider. No decorations or plants or anything, just some substrate. Very sad. The owners got bored of them, so I took them off their hands. I quickly moved them to individual one gallon tanks until they got used to the idea of having decorations and silk plants. Then upgraded them to 2.5 gallons. Eventually, 10 gallon tanks. But the 2.5 gallon was a useful intermediate step for adjusting the betta to more and more space and having more and more plants and decor about them.
I have a 5.5 gallon box as a guppy nursery. I put the fry in there until they are big enough to take out. Right now I have 22 little fry, each one is like a millimeter long
I do a betta and a snail in a 2 1/2 is what ive done thats it. It does get boring for me to look at just because I like community tanks but they are just fine and not stressed. Plus I just rescue them sometimes from stores.
Have my Fiances Male Betta in a 2.5 gallon for now, as long as i keep up with his water changes, hes a happy boy, swims up when you have a finger and loves feeding time, will eventually upgrade him, but hes just a small lad at the moment
I'm late to this but i think a 2.5 is ok for a betta BUT if you do get a 2.5 then don't over-decorate and skape the tank. leave it simple but sweet, couple of plants and a hide. I'm thinking of getting a 2.6gallon for a betta if i can find a portrait 5 gallon i would get it in a heartbeat but they don't sell portrait tanks anymore. Mine is going to have a couple of moss balls a plant or 2 and that's about it. if you put too much its no longer a 2.5 its less
I have a dumbo betta with a curled gill who gets short of breath easily with a nerite snail and two ghost shrimp in a 2.5. The Betta ignores everyone. It might be my favorite tank.
Was going to add something similar when I saw saw your post. The really fancy, big-finned males aren't as active due to the size of their finnage. A 2.5 or 3 is plenty for them. The problem with nano tanks is keeping water quality and proper stocking. That's the owners fault no matter the tank size. Plenty of cool, small species, like your Betta/snail/shrimp combo, work fine (provided your Betta allows company!) and are classic for a reason.
As far as I know 2.5g was specifically made for 1 single betta it's a decent size for them instead of a cup or bowl and it's for beginner since it's affordable and easy to clean. Now my 2.5g is just a hospital tank and a spare tank (temporary) for un planned fish that save from someone and from a local fish store.
I was given a 2.5g tank from my cousin who had quite a sad setup that her fish jumped out of. I set it up with a better filter and a heater and plants and put a betta in it recently. He seems happy enough but I’d like to upgrade him to a bigger tank eventually.
I am one of those people that rescue sick bettas. My betta hobby started by accident. I seen one belly up breathing hard in a tiny cup with almost no water. They gave the betta to me because they didn't think she was going to make it. It's now been 14 months since I rescued her. Right now she is in a 2.5 gallon. And all of the other bettas that I have rescued are in 2.5 gallon. I am saving up to get 10 gallon tanks for them. It's taking a while because every time I see a sick betta, I get it and try to save its life.
I was wondering if I could use my extra 2.5 gallon tank.. its so small so I wasn't sure if fish were going to be happy in there.. I'm keeping my eye out for a 30 to 40 gallon tank, something around that range. I already have a 5 gallon beta tank with some aquatic plants and it just makes me want more lol.. Thanks for sharing! Its always such a pleasure seeing you🐟🌿 Love learning from your channel
For sure lol, I've been slowly purchasing the things I need lately. I have everything, but the tank and fish now lol.. I miss the hexagon corner tank I had so much. It was framed in all wood and had a wood storage cabinet underneath it too.. I had to sell it when we moved because of the expenses we had in buying our first house and all. But I sure do miss it, especially after a few yrs of being fish less lol. We had African cichlids, but I'm going for something a bit different this time. Watching your fish room and collection really makes me want to get back into things full swing! Thank you for always sharing such great information with us! I really appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos. Your channel is such a pleasure to watch, especially when I want to relax, unwind and brush up on my aquarium knowledge🐟🌿🐟 Have an amazing day!
Great video I really enjoy your content and you explain everything very well thank you I agree with about the Otos I have five currently that was all my LFS had (I plan on getting more) they are very active social little fish and really enjoy swimming in a group mine swim in the current and bubbles of the sponge filters very glade you mentioned them keep up the awesome work I have kept a single paradise fish in a 3 gallon as he was EXTREMELY aggressive he was much happier alone after being removed from two other larger tanks
I have a 2.5 tank because its's the only surface space I can give. However, I do have a medium sized mystery snail in there too and I think thats the most perfect setup. They don't bother each other or make the water quality bad, my snail cleans up my bettas food and I still feed my snail too. But I think it's perfect for humans, you have a flamboyant obvious fish and a sneaky hidey snail.. I think it's so fun 'hunting' to find my snail and interacting with the betta, The only acceptable addition, in my opinion, is ONE molly or plattie.
I just purchased the fluval 2.6 gal tank and was hoping to use it to move a 4-5 swordtail fry to grow out before putting back into the larger tank. Is this ok or will it stunt their growth? Love your channel ty!
Yes! And they're, in my opinion, your go tos for small tank cleanup crew. Being so small, they fit easier, and have less bioload than cleaner fish. Plus, tons of other things. Great critters. Hope it helps!
Intresting... I say 3 Gallon minimum for an Betta with long fins but for Betta with Short fins minimum 10 Gallon becouse they swim so much more and they are so much more active .... ( This is what you find in Germany fish keeping)
I agree! Some of my long finned bettas are in 10 gallon tanks, and barely utilize the whole tank. Meanwhile, my short finned betta loves his 10 gallon.
agreed! I have 2 halfmoons and 1 plakat. I now have 1 halfmoon in a 5.5 gallon and the other in a 8 gallon and even though they do explore the entire area, they do take frequent breaks. My plakat on the other hand is in a 16 gallon and never stops moving except to inspect whatever it is he sees or to hunt bbs
Once you get a well balanced tank, and figure out neo shrimp, its so easy to take care of them the problem becomes them breeding too much. Even without food or water changes or anything added other than light and heat, I have a 2 gallon cube thats going wild with shrimp breeding even after a year.
Thank you this was very helpful! I would like to take over the material my father in law has, he stopped his hobby a while ago... I’m not sure about the size of his tank for now! I can’t get it right away, I’m preparing first but it’s a bit difficult without seeing what I will be working with... so I’m preparing for any eventuality 😅
Came across a 2.5 gallon tank that has been set up and planted as of today. My plan was to put in a snail (turns out one hitchhiked on one of the plants), a couple cherry shrimp and a couple endlers... I saw somewhere else that endlers are very active swimmers and 2.5 might be too small, was wondering if anyone had any advice on this?
I have two 2.5 gal tanks with a male betta in each. The only issue I've had so far was with female bettas. My first female betta was a glo betta & she was doing great until we lost power for a couple of days. She stopped eating & died a day or two after the power came back, while my male veiltail did fine. I then got what I'm thinking was a failed sorority sister (the pet store tried to start one & she ended up back in a cup). I brought her home & she was doing awesome & then one morning I woke up to find her doing a t-pose & that was it. T.T I now have another male veiltail in that tank & he's doing great too. He's a lot more peaceful than my red male, who's always flaring at his reflection, the silly thing.My newer one, who's blue, loves to explore his tank. I have heaters in both tanks & I use a sponge filter. And for extra "filtration" (for want of a better word), I have moss balls in each tank. I still have the tiny .25 gal bowl I got my first betta in as a pet when I was a little, that I keep pieces of moss ball in it as well as a .5 gal bowl that has more moss ball pieces & a couple of tiny invasive snails in it. I still can't believe they sold us such a TINY tank for a betta & that was some 25 years ago. What's even worse is they still sell those tiny things for bettas & they're barely bigger than the cup the poor fish came in. Anyways, thank you for taking the time to make a video about nano tanks & what you can keep in them! :D
Thanks for this. I have two 2.5 gallon tanks right now, neither one ready for occupants, and have been trying to decide what to keep in them. I really like the idea of Endler's. They're beautiful fish, but not a great match for the fish I keep in my other tanks. I really would rather not deal with fry, though. I'd feel too bad if anything happened to them, and I'm really not in a position to raise baby fish at this point. Is it okay to keep very small group (3-4) of males only?
@@PrimeTimeAquatics My first thought was Chili Rasboras, but I don't think I'd be able to have enough to make them comfortable. Too bad, they're on my list of "must haves." I saw someone do a beautiful 3-gallon set-up with Chilis and shrimp, but he's an expert. I'm no expert. I'm just a big fan of little fish.
I have a 3.4 gallon tank. I already have 5 tetras. Can I put a betta in this setup and can I add few more tetras in there. I am new please give me some advice
I have a 3 gallon aquaponics tank with a betta and the plants filter the water insanely well. Was doing water tests daily and the plant and bacteria systems were just sucking out all the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. Never got a test that showed more than trace amounts. I want to move my betta to a bigger tank but I’m wondering if you think I could stock the 3 gal with half a dozen zebra danios given the reduced bioload from the plant root filtration? Or will the zebras become too aggressive in that small of a space?
I loved this video! Very very informative! How about stocking options for 5 gallon tanks? I loved how you considered the swimming behavior of the fish as well as the size. Everyone says that I could keep neons in a 5 gallon, but based on their swimming behavior, I don't think it would be a good choice. I'd love to know your thoughts!
Jason, you are brave posting about a 2.5 gallon tank....i find it annoying that "the internet" just says its plain wrong, when my fish think it isnt.....have 3 happy 1-2 inch fish in my tank.... they swim about top to bottom, play with each other....just look like really happy fish. Yes its higher maintenance as u have to do regular water changes....but the tank is small, so its a few pints out and a few in once a week and a quick sponge clean (yes a full clean every few months).....theres a definite witch hunt vibe from some people on the internet when it comes to smaller tanks in my opinion.
I wish I had a great answer, but the truth is both sponges are running from an older pump with dual outlets and I think it's getting old - thus the reduced flow. : -)
I have a 3 gallon fish bowl with a little worlds filter and I love it because it’s planted and very pretty and I’ve had shrimp,betta,mystery snails, and confession: a fair goldfish that I kept for 7 years
Want to see other fish tank stocking ideas? Check out these videos:
10 Gallon Stocking Ideas: ua-cam.com/video/zYlDbL-bSAU/v-deo.html
20 Gallon Stocking Ideas: ua-cam.com/video/H6jbUbwTUHc/v-deo.html
55 Gallon Stocking Ideas: ua-cam.com/video/7H8VFi6osKo/v-deo.html
Want to learn more about some of the suggestions featured in this video?
Neocaridina Shrimp Care: ua-cam.com/video/UI-eMm-1QvI/v-deo.html
Mystery Snail Care: ua-cam.com/video/gWWx2JU_JEo/v-deo.html
Check out these cool fish room tours as well!
Creative Pet Keeping: ua-cam.com/video/gfeRvfxuWi0/v-deo.html
LRB Aquatics: ua-cam.com/video/2PLGjz0XQR0/v-deo.html
hi i wanted to ask where do you get the fish tanks and
from
Kudos for this great video. I think it's safe to say that 2.5G ends up mostly in the hands of beginners. A lot of other channels just say, NO to 2.5G right off the bat and that doesn't help the beginners at all. This video informs them of reasonable options and it's great to see. Well done. We both know that if beginners get to enjoy their 2.5G, they'll soon be getting a 10G or bigger and they will catch the bug like us. :)
Thank you!
I started with a 5 gallon and not even a month later I got two 15 gallons
I started at 20, but Im obsessed with 2.5 nano scapes
Just got my first tank it is a 2.5 I am young so this video helps a lot
I'm getting a 2.5 , I'm intermediate fish keeper I have always just kept Huge 60g and up. I think the 2.5 is for experts . I am hoping for a really hands on little tank. I'll be growing land moss and ferns maybe some grass in the small tank using a West facing window placement. I will rescue a sad small female Betta and just give her the best life. It will be a small area , I plan on being active. I keep compost worms and have many live foods to offer. I will do a soil sand gravel substrate. Add a sponge filter.
Obviously five oscars, seventeen comet goldfish, three male betta, and a blue tang.
I think that could work. hahaha
understocked. throw in a great white shark or two will look better
Chuckled at the idea of someone putting salt fish with fresh ones
I think a blue whale would really have a lot of personality
Tigers or lions work great in 2.5
I impulse bought a female betta with a 2.5 gallon BettaBow (sparsely decorated, one hiding spot). A few years later, she's still here, though I recently upgraded her to a 6.5 with a trio of corys and now she occasionally schools with them. This video definitely helped lay out the options for what I can do with her old dwelling, thanks!
I'll bet she loves her new home! Like so many people, years ago I had a Betta in a tiny little plastic box (I feel horrible for that now), and thought they were beautiful but boring. Since then, I've discovered that the more space a Betta has, the more fun it will be to watch. They love exploring their surroundings, when they actually *have* surroundings!
Betta
Endler
Least Killifish
Shrimp
Snails
Anyone else getting the thanos vibe?
I am now.
Yoooo
If Thanos had magnificent facial fur.
Good call!
Yes 😂 I literally thought that while watching another video
2.5 gallons is so much better than the cups they're living in/sold from. You're improving its life significantly even with just 2.5 gallons. So if you pass up a betta in a cup when you "only have have a 2.5 gallon", it's really a shame. Put the betta in a nice 2.5 gallon and let it have a better life. Any gallon(s) are better than 12 ounces.
Hey, you take him from a small prison to a bit larger prison. Are you proud? That is no point, at all.
Alli Patton. Agreed.
@Aqua one I’d be proud putting one in a planted 2.5 gallon, than them dying in a cup
@@AquaOne1 It's a fish. Not a human. You can't project those emotions onto a fish. It should be in the wild so, should I just release it into a lake?! Or should I just walk by the ones suffering in tiny cups because I only have 2.5 gallons?!
Yes, but you should still upgrade it to a 5 gallon as soon as you can. It's really not that expensive for a 5 gallon set up. It's only around $100 ($15 for the tank, $15 for the filter, $25 for the heater, $25 for silk plants (2 large ones), $15 for the gravel). But that's assuming you already have water conditioner and food. Then it could be more like $125, but it's still not much. And it all depends on what brands you buy, too. It still shouldn't be too expensive to get your betta what they deserve.
Right now I have 3 2.5 gallon tanks with rescue bettas in them. I didn't originally plan to start getting fish, but they were all near death in tiny cups and I had to try to save them. All are happy and healthy now and will have bigger tanks as soon as I can afford the tanks. Planning on getting each of them a 10 gallon. I didn't know that bettas were so active and social. I really enjoy having them.
Glad you are enjoying them!
For every "rescued" betta in the US, there will come a new one. What you do is, you support that animal cruelty.
@@AquaOne1 dude you need to chill. I agree bettas in cups is not a good thing, but you could make the argument that keeping any animal in captivity is cruel. Should we all just euthanize our animals and get out of the hobby? And saying she is supporting animal cruelty by buying the fish and re-homing it into perfectly suitable conditions is a fairly long bow to draw. I think she has done an admirable thing personally.
@@AquaOne1 The bettas I rescue are happy to be alive and well cared for. I couldn't be coldhearted like you and leave them laying on their side dieing in a tiny puddle of water. Seeing something suffering and doing nothing to help is animal cruelty. I wouldn't rescue you from a slow death. The world already has enough heartless people in it.
I’ve been keeping freshwater/saltwater/coral tanks for about 5 years now. I’ve had many different size tanks from 5 gallons to 100 gallons but never something this small until now. This video helped a ton, I have a lot on knowledge on fish keeping in general but this is a very tricky subject within the community and it’s hard to find solid info on it. I’m glad to have found someone willing to give their educated opinion, Thank you!
Confession..... I have the same size tank and kept my Betta in it for a bit before upgrading him. He was quite content and happy in the 2.5 though😉
I kept a betta in a 2.5 g. tank for years and he was the best and first fish I didn't kill. I also kept a mystery snail with him. It was fun just watching the fish swim around and the snail go back and forth. Good ol' days, hey?
The larger, the betta 😎
...
*exit the chat*
I will tell you right now. This is from my own experience. I have 11 bettas. They all are in tanks that no less than 1.5 gallons to 6.5 gallons. It depends on thr betta. My king pkm loves his 2 gallon. I had him in a 5 gal. He chewed his fins. I tried fixing water flow, nothing. I lowered the water, he didnt like that at all. I put him in a 2 gallon hospital tank and he was happier than a pig in a pile of donuts. Not all bettas like big tank. There isnt much you can stick in a 2.5 gallon. Maybe a small group of fry. I normally use smaller tanks to heal my sick and broken fish. I even have a sparkling gourami in a 2 gallon. All my tanks are planted tanks, they all have pothos and other fast growing plants as filters. I heat with room temp. I also use sunlight for their lights. I have happy healthy bettas.
Appreciate you sharing your experience!
The problem is, once you decorate the tank, it's no longer 2.5 gallons.
Very true, as is the case for all tanks.
Yeah i got a 5 gallon with stone aquascape so now its 3 gal
So leave it as barren as possible accordingly
It's better then a betta being in a dumb bowl with no room what so ever
@@loviebunnie314 yeah but still not good
Thank you for making this video. As a beginner I bought a 2.5 gallon aquarium but in the future I want to buy a bigger one. For the moment I want to learn how to handle with environment and how to make my fish happy. From the shop they recommend me the sword tails fish for this type of fish tank. Thanks again for your hard work!🐟🐟🐟
2.5g tanks are more hassle than enjoyment and for the same price you can buy a 10g that has waaaaaaaaaay more options for fish. That being said they're great for hospital/nursery tanks.
Very true!
Finally nice to see someone who is not over ridiculous and says a betta needs a 5 / 10 gallon tank minimum I have mine in a 3 gallon and he’s doing perfectly fine 👍 even a regular 2 gallon would probably be ok at least but I also don’t like seeing them in a small bowl or a 1 Gallon tank and I think a betta is a perfect choice for a 2.5 gallon with nothing else in it except 1 or 2 snails maybe (im no fish expert)
A great alternative to shrimp or snails in a tank that size would be a small group of Thai micro crab (Limnopilos naiyanetri) only grow to around 1-1.5 cm so great with nano fish.
Ya, those guys are tiny!
I have a peaceful betta, a endler guppy, three pygmy corys and a bunch of shrimps in my heavyly planted 2.5 gal. and everyone is doing great and living well together ! ^^
I have two 2.5 gal tanks and a betta in each. I’m looking to add tank mates, any suggestions for starting out?
@@anae7135 Ramshorn Snails
@@worldwidepolls7464 I have nerites currently. I had shrimp but the betta snacked on them 😞.
My Fluval Spec 3 is the most successful tank we own.
Everyone usually complains about how hard nano tanks are to maintain. I will capitulate that the initial setup and stabilization process was tedious. But once the tank reaches the optimal balance, then it's just a matter of 70-80% water changes twice a week. Which, by the way, is incredibly easy when you're working with tanks less than five gallons. That's the scheduled water change for all our tanks which happen to be nano tanks (5 gallons or less).
The following tanks are all heavily planted.
Fluval Spec 5:
• 11(?) Celestial Pearl Danio _Danio margaritatus_ (It's difficult to get an accurate count given how quick they tend to be.)
• 4 Dwarf Anchor Catfish _Hara jerdoni_ (They are the coolest fish you never get to see.)
• Pink Ramshorn Snails.
Fluval Spec 3:
• 6 Chili Rasboras _Boraras brigittae_
• 3 Female Celestial Pearl Danio _Danio margaritatus_ (The remainder of the recent brood which will remain in the Spec 3 until the _Apisto Project_ is fully operational. Then all CPD's are being housed with the new _cacatuoides._ The Spec 5 is at its stocking limited IMO.)
• More Pink Ramshorn Snails.
Some other great options for nano tanks would be the *Scarlet Badis* _Dario dario,_ *Celestial Pearl Danio* _Danio margaritatus,_ any of the _Boraras_ family with the *Chili Rasbora* _Boraras brigittae_ being the most vibrant IMO, *Green Neon Microrasbora* _Microdevario kubotai,_ *Ember Tetra* _Hyphessobrycon amandae,_ *Dwarf Anchor Catfish* _Hara jerdoni,_ *Rosy Loach* _Petruichthys sp. "Rosy",_ one or maybe a pair of *Sparkling Gourami* _Trichopsis pumila,_ perhaps a single *Pea Puffer* _Carinotetraodon travancoricus_ and lastly a select few species of killifish could also work in nano tanks.
We when started our foray into the nano tank realm. We initially started out with the Scarlet Badis _Dario dario_ and we have been a huge fan of them ever since. They [Scarlet Badis] are incredibly interactive and intelligent mini cichlid. But alas, we parted ways with them because acquiring a female Scarlet Badis is nearly impossible. So we've moved on to _Apistos._ Hope this helps some of you along the way.
Keep up the great work my friends.
*EDITED for double spacing.
Joanna has a whole bunch of nano tanks going up soon. Looking forward to seeing what she does with them. : -)
You change 70 - 80% of the water twice a week?
Thank you! Because other channels will say that you need at least 5 gallons for any fish. But beginners usually start with 2.5 or 3 gallons. And when their told that, they just quit, or get a goldfish, because nobody else with help them! But you just saved a lot of people, because they get a Betta, and then a year later, they will realize they should get a 5, then they get a 5!
I love Endlers, they are so adorable 💕
Maybe a dwarf African clawed frog..they like to chill and eat and need to be able to get to the top to breath..and stay farely small
They do best in groups though, so look like 3 would be best. But good suggestion, they are the cutest!
@@rayanansi563 that's true...didn't think of that...
I have 3 in a 15 g
Fantastic pets
Pick a dwarf frog, clawed frogs can get up to 5 inches
Yeah, clawed frogs get really big, it may be good for eggs and tadpoles tho
I had a single betta and a nerite snail and he did great. Really wanted shrimp and got for a 5, but that chill betta that loves with chili rasbora went mad! So they moved to the 2.5, and the betta in there got his own 5 with kuhlis. So the 2.5 is now just shrimp and bladder snails and is a lot of fun to watch in the kitchen throughout the day. Squish a few tiny snails on the front glass and it's like a mini shrimp buffet.
I'm staring at your beard the entire time! The colors...
Ya, that just sort of happened. Haha
G L O R I O U S
@@PrimeTimeAquatics me too lol it's an attention grabber.
Getting a 3 gallon tank with a single betta for my almost 3 year old for Christmas. She’s obsessed with my tank setup so it’s time to get her own. I’ll teach her to take care of it and she’ll be the coolest kid in school😌
I keep two male Betta's in separate 2.5 gallon tanks and they're doing just fine after a year. Just do regular water changes and keep the tank water clean just like any other size tank.
I sadly have always had bad luck with keeping fish alive and it makes me feel horrible! This video helped a ton thanks!
I have an old 2.5 from a kid I found and I just use it for a quarantine tank for whatever fish I need to use it for.
I just don't think 2.5 gallons should be a full time home for any fish, but these are some great suggestions if someone is going to insist on using them
Ya, I find the 10's much easier to work with.
I'm even skeptical of 5 gallonsnbeing a permanent home
@@EightJane I keep shrimp in a 10 gallon and want to upgrade them! I just think animals like as much space as possible
Bailee Jane 5 is actually plenty of space depending on the fish. Bettas are fine in 5 gallons
@@langenandanimals yes I think too :D
You could probably keep a single sparkling gourami, scarlet badis, or 1-2 pygmy sunfish in a 2.5. Also the best cleanup crew for any tank, but especially a nano tank is "pest" snails (MTS, ramshorns, bladder snails).
Celox FYI - you just named 3 of my favorite fish 👍
Thank you as I will probably will be returning my comet and get a few guppies as my comet will soon outgrow my 2.5 gallon tank.
The blue shrimp is so pretty
Endlers are fantastic! ❤
Even though I wouldn't use 2.5 gallon tanks for anything other than temporary arrangements like a breeding or nursery or hospital tank, I think this video was a great idea! People are going to buy 2.5 gallon tanks anyway, might as well have some info on what might be okay in them. Besides once they start out with a 2.5, it'll soon become a 5 then a 10 then a 55 :)
Thank you!
I went from 5 to 55 in 5-6 months 😅
I have a betta in a 2.5 gallon with a bonsai tree. It’s been living for a year now.
Minimum tank size is 5 gallons, life expectancy is around 5 years. You’re setting a pretty low bar for yourself.
2.5 gallons is perfectly fine for a betta. its extra work but it's enough as long as it is setup correctly.
Wow! Thank u for this vid. I dont have many tanks and prefer nano tanks for now. My largest is 45 gal. I have kept fish, shrimp and snails successfully in 2.5 gal. I am current using one as a grow-out for my Sparkling gourami fry with some crystal red shrimp and amano. I have never had a problem with keeping it balanced and clean. I’m also that person tho that when I get home late from my second shift every night I like to pick at and spot clean all my tanks. 🤔The tanks are all lushly planted too. 💕🌱🐌🐠💕
Sounds awesome! Hey, are you going to Aquashella Chicago?
Definitely! I went last year, had a blast and I’m planning on this year 🐠🎊🐟💕🌱🐌
Do you keep shrimp and fish in the same 2.5 tank? If so, what types and how many?
I need to move to a Lodge at 46 because of my heart condition and diabetes. I have been fish keeping for 24 years and can’t imagine my life without wet pets, but any tanks have to be under 5 gallons. This is a helpful video. I currently have a 3.5 gallon planted half moon tank with Orange Sakura shrimp. I have a 20 gallon nano fish community and an African dwarf frog in the tank. I’m looking to get another 3.5 gallon aquarium with a 3 male guppies with a African dwarf frog. Or a female betta and a nerite snai.
I’ve found that a female betta has nice color and are more peaceful
This is such a great video. I need one for a 3.5 gallon tank please oh please! I got a Back to the Roots 3.5 tank to grow micro greens and appease my son’s begging for fish. I hadn’t realized before binging on YT that 3.5 gallon was so tiny!
So I have a a 2.5 gal planted tank. I’ve had it for 3 years now. It comfortably holds 3 small fish, and a mix of a few shrimp and snails with no water problems. Currently there are 3 tiny flame tetras in there and they are awesome. I also had a 10 gallon during this time and it was so hard to care for, it was so heavy. Some people are just not going to be able to care for a larger tank. And I’m really done with people at pet shops fighting me over this. :(
Betta in 2. 5g is no problem!
I have 5x 2.5g for bettas and I never saw any problems!
Also co2 costs are really low
Good video👍
I really liked how you chose the stocking options😁
Personally i like the betta and endlers in a 5 gallon tank
But 2.5 is also good
Being in hot tropics, with temps of 25-35 C ranges, a friend staying in a small flat bought a 3 gallon tank for her kids - this list would be great for her tank... No need for a heater, she's also left it mostly bare- only 3 white pebbles with a normal filter on top lid... A small plastic plant kept behind the tank- it's all quite cute... Kept in middle of hall with only partial indirect sunlight or room lights so no algal bloom.
I have 3 ember tetras with ramshorn snails in a 2.5 gallon. Seems to be working fine.
I have a 10gal with a betta and two mystery snails. At first, my boy did nip at the snails a little bit, but now they've offered a source of entertainment. I have had many instances where I have watched my betta follow my snails around the tank, trying to swim as slowly as they slide, and slowing himself down when he realized he was outpacing the snail. He watched his snail buddy get an air bubble trapped in his shell from climbing up the bubble tube, resulting in him floating on the top of the tank, and now the betta stops the snail from going up the tube. It's been amazingly entertaining and the most fun I have had watching my tank.
That's too funny!
I have a 2.5 gallon tank, bought it just for plants without any fish in it but i never set it up😂😂. I have two 10 gallon tanks running along with a 25 gallon as well
I have a 3.5 gallon half moon and Bettas are my favourite fish. These look great a specially with live plants. 🤗
These ideas are great I’m so going to use some in my vids
I also would put wild guppies on that list, just like endler's and least killi they stay small and do great on grazing on detritus, and even hair algae
How do you go about cleaning the 2.5 gallon? I have 2 that have sand and gravel with live plants and 1 betta. I do small water changes but it’s difficult to get to the substrate. Any suggestions?
Great question. Aqueon sells a mini gravel vac with a little squeeze pump to get the siphon started - it works well!
Turkey Baster, takes a while, works well
1:56 I've had 2 betta fish and they had both lived in a 2.5 gallon tank and they were happy little fish and the last one of what i saw loved it so I just want to put that out there.
If they were standard bettas that is a one in a million occurrence.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I feel like they did plus its not insanely rare
I had betta fish that were gifted to me by someone who had kept two females in a 1 gallon tank with a divider. No decorations or plants or anything, just some substrate. Very sad. The owners got bored of them, so I took them off their hands. I quickly moved them to individual one gallon tanks until they got used to the idea of having decorations and silk plants. Then upgraded them to 2.5 gallons. Eventually, 10 gallon tanks. But the 2.5 gallon was a useful intermediate step for adjusting the betta to more and more space and having more and more plants and decor about them.
I have had the same beta in a 2.5 and I’ve had home for 2 years and counting
Next video idea - how you keep that badass beard trimmed so neat! 👌
I have a 5.5 gallon box as a guppy nursery. I put the fry in there until they are big enough to take out. Right now I have 22 little fry, each one is like a millimeter long
I do a betta and a snail in a 2 1/2 is what ive done thats it. It does get boring for me to look at just because I like community tanks but they are just fine and not stressed. Plus I just rescue them sometimes from stores.
4:55 what is that tall green stem plant in the background? It's really nice
and also the one at 8:19
Have my Fiances Male Betta in a 2.5 gallon for now, as long as i keep up with his water changes, hes a happy boy, swims up when you have a finger and loves feeding time, will eventually upgrade him, but hes just a small lad at the moment
I'm late to this but i think a 2.5 is ok for a betta BUT if you do get a 2.5 then don't over-decorate and skape the tank. leave it simple but sweet, couple of plants and a hide.
I'm thinking of getting a 2.6gallon for a betta if i can find a portrait 5 gallon i would get it in a heartbeat but they don't sell portrait tanks anymore. Mine is going to have a couple of moss balls a plant or 2 and that's about it. if you put too much its no longer a 2.5 its less
I have a dumbo betta with a curled gill who gets short of breath easily with a nerite snail and two ghost shrimp in a 2.5. The Betta ignores everyone. It might be my favorite tank.
Was going to add something similar when I saw saw your post. The really fancy, big-finned males aren't as active due to the size of their finnage. A 2.5 or 3 is plenty for them. The problem with nano tanks is keeping water quality and proper stocking. That's the owners fault no matter the tank size. Plenty of cool, small species, like your Betta/snail/shrimp combo, work fine (provided your Betta allows company!) and are classic for a reason.
Interesting have a 15 inch cube tank with a betta and 6 ember tetras never had any problems fingers crossed.
As far as I know 2.5g was specifically made for 1 single betta it's a decent size for them instead of a cup or bowl and it's for beginner since it's affordable and easy to clean. Now my 2.5g is just a hospital tank and a spare tank (temporary) for un planned fish that save from someone and from a local fish store.
I was given a 2.5g tank from my cousin who had quite a sad setup that her fish jumped out of. I set it up with a better filter and a heater and plants and put a betta in it recently. He seems happy enough but I’d like to upgrade him to a bigger tank eventually.
I have a 2.5 Fluval and have a nerite snail a shrimp and three guppies. This was after my Beta got sick and died.
I am one of those people that rescue sick bettas. My betta hobby started by accident. I seen one belly up breathing hard in a tiny cup with almost no water. They gave the betta to me because they didn't think she was going to make it. It's now been 14 months since I rescued her. Right now she is in a 2.5 gallon. And all of the other bettas that I have rescued are in 2.5 gallon. I am saving up to get 10 gallon tanks for them. It's taking a while because every time I see a sick betta, I get it and try to save its life.
2.5s work just fine and you will have more space. : -)
I was wondering if I could use my extra 2.5 gallon tank.. its so small so I wasn't sure if fish were going to be happy in there.. I'm keeping my eye out for a 30 to 40 gallon tank, something around that range. I already have a 5 gallon beta tank with some aquatic plants and it just makes me want more lol.. Thanks for sharing! Its always such a pleasure seeing you🐟🌿 Love learning from your channel
The fish room is growing. Haha.
For sure lol, I've been slowly purchasing the things I need lately. I have everything, but the tank and fish now lol.. I miss the hexagon corner tank I had so much. It was framed in all wood and had a wood storage cabinet underneath it too.. I had to sell it when we moved because of the expenses we had in buying our first house and all. But I sure do miss it, especially after a few yrs of being fish less lol. We had African cichlids, but I'm going for something a bit different this time. Watching your fish room and collection really makes me want to get back into things full swing! Thank you for always sharing such great information with us! I really appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos. Your channel is such a pleasure to watch, especially when I want to relax, unwind and brush up on my aquarium knowledge🐟🌿🐟 Have an amazing day!
Great video I really enjoy your content and you explain everything very well thank you
I agree with about the Otos I have five currently that was all my LFS had (I plan on getting more) they are very active social little fish and really enjoy swimming in a group mine swim in the current and bubbles of the sponge filters very glade you mentioned them keep up the awesome work
I have kept a single paradise fish in a 3 gallon as he was EXTREMELY aggressive he was much happier alone after being removed from two other larger tanks
Thanks for sharing your experience!
I had 2 platys as a kid and one day they breed and I had little orange babies. That was my childhood stand out fish.
That's really cool!
DWARF MEXICAN CRAYFISH/MINI LOBSTER CAMBARELLUS PATZCUARENSIS
How about a Scarlet Badi? But I don’t know how many is suitable.
One should do well.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I shall do that. Thank you so much.
I have a 2.5 tank because its's the only surface space I can give. However, I do have a medium sized mystery snail in there too and I think thats the most perfect setup. They don't bother each other or make the water quality bad, my snail cleans up my bettas food and I still feed my snail too. But I think it's perfect for humans, you have a flamboyant obvious fish and a sneaky hidey snail.. I think it's so fun 'hunting' to find my snail and interacting with the betta, The only acceptable addition, in my opinion, is ONE molly or plattie.
I keep my ramshorn snails in 2 gallon planted tank. No fish , just snails and they are fine.
That works well!
I just purchased the fluval 2.6 gal tank and was hoping to use it to move a 4-5 swordtail fry to grow out before putting back into the larger tank. Is this ok or will it stunt their growth? Love your channel ty!
They might be ok for a month or so. Often the 5.5 gallons are a little nicer and you might get an extra month or two out of the tank.
Can you mix snails and shrimp?
Sure!
Yes! And they're, in my opinion, your go tos for small tank cleanup crew. Being so small, they fit easier, and have less bioload than cleaner fish. Plus, tons of other things. Great critters. Hope it helps!
I have a 2.5 gallon with a betta and three platies and a snail with double filtration, a heater, and live plants.
Intresting...
I say 3 Gallon minimum for an Betta with long fins but for Betta with Short fins minimum 10 Gallon becouse they swim so much more and they are so much more active ....
( This is what you find in Germany fish keeping)
I agree! Some of my long finned bettas are in 10 gallon tanks, and barely utilize the whole tank. Meanwhile, my short finned betta loves his 10 gallon.
agreed! I have 2 halfmoons and 1 plakat. I now have 1 halfmoon in a 5.5 gallon and the other in a 8 gallon and even though they do explore the entire area, they do take frequent breaks. My plakat on the other hand is in a 16 gallon and never stops moving except to inspect whatever it is he sees or to hunt bbs
Once you get a well balanced tank, and figure out neo shrimp, its so easy to take care of them the problem becomes them breeding too much. Even without food or water changes or anything added other than light and heat, I have a 2 gallon cube thats going wild with shrimp breeding even after a year.
Thank you this was very helpful! I would like to take over the material my father in law has, he stopped his hobby a while ago... I’m not sure about the size of his tank for now! I can’t get it right away, I’m preparing first but it’s a bit difficult without seeing what I will be working with... so I’m preparing for any eventuality 😅
Hope it works out well!
Came across a 2.5 gallon tank that has been set up and planted as of today. My plan was to put in a snail (turns out one hitchhiked on one of the plants), a couple cherry shrimp and a couple endlers... I saw somewhere else that endlers are very active swimmers and 2.5 might be too small, was wondering if anyone had any advice on this?
I would tend to agree with that. We had them in a 5 gallon and they were constantly on the move. Wound up putting them in a 29 gallon.
I have two 2.5 gal tanks with a male betta in each. The only issue I've had so far was with female bettas. My first female betta was a glo betta & she was doing great until we lost power for a couple of days. She stopped eating & died a day or two after the power came back, while my male veiltail did fine. I then got what I'm thinking was a failed sorority sister (the pet store tried to start one & she ended up back in a cup). I brought her home & she was doing awesome & then one morning I woke up to find her doing a t-pose & that was it. T.T I now have another male veiltail in that tank & he's doing great too. He's a lot more peaceful than my red male, who's always flaring at his reflection, the silly thing.My newer one, who's blue, loves to explore his tank. I have heaters in both tanks & I use a sponge filter. And for extra "filtration" (for want of a better word), I have moss balls in each tank. I still have the tiny .25 gal bowl I got my first betta in as a pet when I was a little, that I keep pieces of moss ball in it as well as a .5 gal bowl that has more moss ball pieces & a couple of tiny invasive snails in it. I still can't believe they sold us such a TINY tank for a betta & that was some 25 years ago. What's even worse is they still sell those tiny things for bettas & they're barely bigger than the cup the poor fish came in.
Anyways, thank you for taking the time to make a video about nano tanks & what you can keep in them! :D
Do you have heaters in your 2.5 gallon Bette tanks? I have a 2.5 that stays at 72 degrees. Is that too cold for a betta?
We had a small aqueon nano tank heater in ours. I would try to get the temps up to at least 76 degrees.
Thanks for this. I have two 2.5 gallon tanks right now, neither one ready for occupants, and have been trying to decide what to keep in them. I really like the idea of Endler's. They're beautiful fish, but not a great match for the fish I keep in my other tanks. I really would rather not deal with fry, though. I'd feel too bad if anything happened to them, and I'm really not in a position to raise baby fish at this point. Is it okay to keep very small group (3-4) of males only?
That might work. In a tank that size you could see some aggression though.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics My first thought was Chili Rasboras, but I don't think I'd be able to have enough to make them comfortable. Too bad, they're on my list of "must haves." I saw someone do a beautiful 3-gallon set-up with Chilis and shrimp, but he's an expert. I'm no expert. I'm just a big fan of little fish.
I have a 3.4 gallon tank. I already have 5 tetras. Can I put a betta in this setup and can I add few more tetras in there. I am new please give me some advice
Probably not in a tank that size.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thanks. Would I be able to add anything else
I have a 3 gallon aquaponics tank with a betta and the plants filter the water insanely well. Was doing water tests daily and the plant and bacteria systems were just sucking out all the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate. Never got a test that showed more than trace amounts. I want to move my betta to a bigger tank but I’m wondering if you think I could stock the 3 gal with half a dozen zebra danios given the reduced bioload from the plant root filtration? Or will the zebras become too aggressive in that small of a space?
Danios are really active. I generally don’t put them in anything less than a 10 gallon.
What size filter should I use for starting my new 2 and a half gallon tank, and where can I buy one?
Here you go!
ua-cam.com/video/AAB8W4_r1jY/v-deo.html
This is such a cool video - remember those "Aquababies" that they used to sell? A 2.5 gallon tank is certainly better than those!
I loved this video! Very very informative! How about stocking options for 5 gallon tanks? I loved how you considered the swimming behavior of the fish as well as the size. Everyone says that I could keep neons in a 5 gallon, but based on their swimming behavior, I don't think it would be a good choice. I'd love to know your thoughts!
Thank you! Yes, the 5 gallon is on the list too. : -)
Would a single pea puffer do well?
Ya probably
First of all I have 2 and 1/2 to 4 gallons. Got to say awesome tank
Thank you!
Jason, you are brave posting about a 2.5 gallon tank....i find it annoying that "the internet" just says its plain wrong, when my fish think it isnt.....have 3 happy 1-2 inch fish in my tank.... they swim about top to bottom, play with each other....just look like really happy fish. Yes its higher maintenance as u have to do regular water changes....but the tank is small, so its a few pints out and a few in once a week and a quick sponge clean (yes a full clean every few months).....theres a definite witch hunt vibe from some people on the internet when it comes to smaller tanks in my opinion.
I think the 2.5 gallon can be fine with the right fish and they have their place in the hobby. We have 11 of them set up right now. :-)
So could I do 5 least killifish and 2 or 3 cherry or ghost shrimp? How many of each would you recommend?
Sure. You might want to do cherry shrimp instead of ghost shrimp.
Wow surprised you made this vid thanks👍
Ya, was hesitant to do it. : -)
Would a 2 gallon be enough for a gold fish?
I know this is an older video but you mention this fish a lot(H. Formosa). Any suggestions on where to pick them up? Flips doesn't carry them.
Maybe Aquabid?
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks, I'll look into that!
How did you reduce the flow of the sponge filter so much
I wish I had a great answer, but the truth is both sponges are running from an older pump with dual outlets and I think it's getting old - thus the reduced flow. : -)
I keep 2 mystery snails named Pedro and Maria in a 2.5 tank. I just threw in a hiding spot, sand, some fake plants and they love it
Thank you for covering this!!!!!
Thank you for watching!
I hear chili rasboras do well in 2.5 gallons. Would you say this is true?
I think so - they stay very small. Just have to make sure your water parameters are consistent.
I know I'm really late but I recently bought a 3 gallon tank what would you recommend i was thinking 2 guppies 1 mystery snail
I think that could work.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thanks for responding
I have a 3 gallon fish bowl with a little worlds filter and I love it because it’s planted and very pretty and I’ve had shrimp,betta,mystery snails, and confession: a fair goldfish that I kept for 7 years