Hey everyone! I haven't posted in a while, but I'm now in college and looking to keep a nice planted tank. I was gifted an almost complete 5-gallon setup that I'm currently cycling. So many options are running through my head... dwarf puffers, betta, dwarf crayfish, micro species, Thai micro crabs, shrimp, all plants, et cetera.
I want to optimize the tank, but consider the fact that twice a year, it will have to come home with me (a 7-hour drive that could be stressful for any picky fish) and survive week-long breaks where a friend will come in and do basic maintenance.
- I'm leaning away from pea puffers, despite them being my top choice, because I worry the movement will be too stressful for one of them, and they don't take well to dry foods (which a stranger caretaker would have an easier time with). Thoughts?
- I'm not really a betta person - kept a few and liked them, but never fell in love. But they seem like the obvious choice.
- I've never kept a dwarf crayfish, but catching one to move home for the summer sounds easy. I'm not sure 5 gallons is big enough. I would avoid the larger species, like the Mexican dwarf, but have read that a Least Dwarf crayfish would be ok. I've had a hard time finding information on them, though.
- What sounds most appealing right now is a micro-species tank. 5 Thai micro crabs and maybe some shrimp. This is where I feel the fish nerd in me dancing a dangerous line - I'd love to add some ember tetras or a small group of chili rasboras to this tank, but that sounds like too much in too little. Thoughts?
Any ideas? Advice or your own five-gallon stocking would be more than welcome!! Regardless of what goes in this tank, I know it will be heavily planted, well filtrated, and I have a few good heaters I could use. It's a standard rimmed 5.
(I do know some people believe that 5 gallons aren't fit for any fish at all. Which may be reason to stick to shrimp or tiny crabs. I go back and forth on it myself but do find that a heavily planted tank can happily sustain micro species or certain betta species without issue. Pea puffers are pushing it, but with monitoring the water quality and changing the scape consistently, I'm not convinced it's impossible. This is the only tank I'm able to have in college, going from 8 to 1 means this little guy will be getting LOTS of attention lolz)
As for stocking, have you considered any of the wild betta species? Some (not all) of them are quite durable and willing to travel.
