Neon Terta Tank (5 gallons) - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

amcclure · 10-13-2008, 03:49 PM

The other day I bought a small hexagon 5 gallon tank to sit on my desk. I want to make it a neon tetra tank only.

What should I buy for the perfect neon tetra environment?? What special requirements do they have, if any?

unwritten law · 10-13-2008, 04:44 PM

floating plants... you don't want to cover the entire surface but some plants to break up the light would help.

Meghan · 10-13-2008, 04:50 PM

You may find that they won't school very well in just a 5g... I don't know, but a 5g isn't all that big to try and do a school of neons so you may not get the effect you are going for.

The bigger the tank you have, the bigger the school you could get. And, the bigger the school, the more interesting they are to watch.

I think I remember reading that neons aren't very hardy fish. You should read up on cycling, if you haven't already. Neons may not live through the cycle, so you should look into doing a fishless cycle. There are sticky's here in the beginners section that tell you everything you need to know about cycling your tank. Then, if you have any questions, just ask!... Welcome to The Tank!

unwritten law · 10-13-2008, 04:53 PM

i think a betta might be able to handle the 5 gallon though

amcclure · 10-13-2008, 04:56 PM

After I posted that question I did some research on Neon Tetras and found out like you said that 5 gallons isn't a good tank size for Neon Tetras as they are schooling fish.

Do you have suggestions of non schooling fish that would do well in 5 gallon tank? I don't plan on putting any fish in my tanks for a while, just deciding on possible fish while waiting for the cycles to complete. I made the mistake of adding fish before the cycles were complete before and don't plan on doing that again....hehe!

unwritten law · 10-13-2008, 04:59 PM

like i said, maybe a betta or some shrimp

Meghan · 10-13-2008, 05:02 PM

If you go to a fish store, as opposed to Walmart, they usually have different species and lots of colors of bettas to choose from. I love bettas and I think a betta would make a great coworker.

amcclure · 10-13-2008, 05:04 PM

Sorry I hadn't read your suggestion until after I had posted by last comment.
I have never had shrimp before so that might be interesting! At the moment I'm taking a break from Betta's, I have had a lot of them in the past.

punkrockfish · 10-13-2008, 05:15 PM

you could do a really cool shrimp tank, or try a dwarf puffer.

amcclure · 10-13-2008, 05:48 PM

I really like the idea of a dwarf puffer, very cute!! I will have to do some research!!
Thank everyone for the suggestions!

I recently got back into my fish obsession, I have two 20 gallon tanks that I want to start up again but they have been missing since I moved....so hopefully I can find them because I don't want to buy them again!!