fresh water fish question

[solarwrx]

i am wanting to put a small 3-6 gallon tank at my desk at work, i would like to do salt water but it might be too much up keep at work , so i was thinking a freshwater tank easy to maintaine

i was wanting to get a black ghost knife fish i always liked them, would this be ok in a dedicated 3-6 gallon small tank, if he is the only fish,?


im open to input

 

[cristhiam]

Guppies please don't put a black ghost in there grows too big.

 

[solarwrx]

grrrr ok =< hmm any other cool fish, maybe i can do a super small salt water tank fish only maybe one clown fish,

 

[InLimbo87]

I've got an eclipse six gallon with a betta and two neon tetras.

 

[dugg]

The ghost knife gets way to big for that tank. My favorite freshwater fish is brichardis. They are pretty fish, and they are mouth brooders, so they are really fun to keep. If you want them to breed, just use crushed coral for substrate, and pile up some rocks. I use old live rock, and mine breed like rabbits. Most pet stores will buy the babies for about a buck a piece.
http://www.baileys-fish.com/videos/neolamprologus_brichardi_01.avi

 

[mfp4073]

aquatic plant tank!

 

[solarwrx]

mfp thats a idea also,

what do you guys think abought a desktop mini salt water tank ? maybe 1 clown fish and maybe a pompom crab?

 

[mfp4073]

for something like that I think you are right going freshwater. no concern about being away for a long weekend, no salt creep (or need to mix saltwater for waterchanges), no issue with evaporation, not as many issues with temp fluctuation, less flow needs. The plants will provide you with more than just a "fish in water" freshwater experience. You will need lights, substraight and such. Much easier than salt, but still some of the additional needs and attention!

 

[solarwrx]

that is true, any one here running a small office desk fish tank, something less then 10 gallons

what abought brackish maybe ? puffers ? hmm i think you have to feed them live food

 

[cschweitzer]

You could always put a betta pair in a plant tank...that's always cool and people love to look at bettas...

A mantis shrimp would be a perfect at work saltwater tank. They will live through anything you put them through. You would just need to bring a 12 oz water bottle to work for topoff and bring 1G of saltwater every week for water change. Wouldn't be that difficult...it's just remembering a few extra things in the morning. You can be sure there won't be power outages, so just keep your filter clean and keep up on topoff and a saltwater tank should be easier at work than at home.

Fish will be fine without food for two or three days without worry. Temp and evap are the only major concerns.

 

[waterfaller1]

I keep a betta in my office. Very easy to care for, and if you don't use a heater they live longer.. I have had them live for 6 years! I keep a red sea nano filter on it with a small piece of pura pad. Every week or so I do a gal wc. I can give you some cool snails that only eat algae, in case you decide to put live plants in. They are from madagascar, and come in with shipments as hitchikers. All you need is two and soon you have an army of them. They really help keep it clean. Ordinary snails eat the plants..these don't.You don't want to keep bettas together...even male/fem.

 

[titus164]

I have someone at my office that keeps a fresh tank and Id definitely say if you plan on getting anything done, dont get a reef tank. You know how us reefers are constantly tweeking or watching or doing something. Hers is still a pain in the ***, and since she doesnt know how to tank care of it its riddled with disease and death . I try to help but she knows everything, so the fish suffer...

 

[InLimbo87]

Betta pair? You mean male/female pair. They're only supposed to be put together with caution for breeding purposes. I've never heard of anyone keeping them together long term, have you had success with it cschweitzer?

 

[hexedagain]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10397713#post10397713 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cschweitzer
You could always put a betta pair in a plant tank...that's always cool and people love to look at bettas...

A mantis shrimp would be a perfect at work saltwater tank. They will live through anything you put them through. You would just need to bring a 12 oz water bottle to work for topoff and bring 1G of saltwater every week for water change. Wouldn't be that difficult...it's just remembering a few extra things in the morning. You can be sure there won't be power outages, so just keep your filter clean and keep up on topoff and a saltwater tank should be easier at work than at home.

Fish will be fine without food for two or three days without worry. Temp and evap are the only major concerns.

IME, You shouldn't pair Bettas up, unless you plan on breading them. They do not get along being male and female. The male tends to think the female is a juvenile male. And I think we all know what happens when to males get together.
I hope this helps.
I LEARNED EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT BETTAS FROM JOEY DON
LINO. :eek1:

EDIT: I type too slow, inlimbo beat me to it. LOL.

 

[InLimbo87]

beat ya too it, shane :lol:

 

[waterfaller1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10397759#post10397759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by waterfaller1
You don't want to keep bettas together...even male/fem.

I beat you both..

 

[InLimbo87]

Didn't even see it in your post. Thats what I get for not reading the whole thread. Guess me and hexedagain just weren't fast enough for you, huh Carole?

 

[cschweitzer]

No, I've never kept bettas. I've just heard of people who have paired them up successfully in the past. So, scratch that and put in single in its place...

 

[chantweaver]

Ok lets try this one more time.

For a small freshwater tank get some Killi Fish they are the most amazing colored freshwater fish I have ever layed my eyes on. They can live in a very small not beta small but almost 2gish tank. They can survive the crappiest water you can imagine so I have read. Check out Ameican Killifish Association http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/img/Aphyosemion_australe_1.jpg for more info. O and you won't find very many true Killi fish in LFS maybe the Florida Flag cousin but not true Killi. o and they would love a small amount of planted life but don't have to have it. Carefull they are easly breed.

Here is a pic of one variety of Killi Fish

 

[chantweaver]

Here is a little more freindly site on killi Fish.

http://www.sheneskillies.com/

Look at phote section