The Best Pet Fish for Small Tanks

Many people find setting up a large tropical fish tank or aquarium a daunting task. It can be expensive and time consuming. Children often ask their parents for a fish tank of their own but a 25 to 100 gallon tank is often too big for an apartment or too costly to be considered. The ideal solution for people who would like to own pet fish but don't have the space for a large aquarium is to consider a small fish tank of 5 or 6 gallons.

A five gallon tropical fish tank is perfect for the countertop or desktop. A child can set the aquarium up in a small corner of the bedroom or on a nightstand. These small ecosystems include everything needed to have a thriving fish tank. Small aquariums are not like the pet goldfish most people had years ago and put in a round bowl. The pet fish were lucky if they lived for a week.

Today, small fish tanks are equipped with pumps, filters, stones, and even decorations. A five gallon tank easily accommodates five or six tropical fish. When choosing fish for the tank, be sure to choose community fish that get along with each other. An aggressive fish will consider any non-aggressive fish as a delectable meal! Another thing to keep in mind is the size of the fish. Choose fish that will not grow to more than an inch or two. Any fish that is bigger than this when full grown will be uncomfortable in such a small fish tank.

The best fish for a small aquarium are:

Tetras - Black Neon Tetras and Cardinal Tetras are ideal fish for a small tank. They remain small and are wonderful schooling fish. They don't grow to any more than an inch and are non-aggressive.

Zebra Danio - The Zebrafish has five stripes extending from the head to the tail. they are very attractive and friendly fish, making them perfect for a small aquarium.

Peaceful Betta - This Betta is similar in appearance to the zebra danio. It is a friendly fish and doesn't grow too large. Be careful when choosing a Betta because there are many different types and some will grow up to four inches.

White Cloud Mountain Fish - The White Cloud Mountain fish is actually a minnow. It is similar in size to the neons and has a colorful red face with a silver body.

Goldfish - Goldfish are also a good choice for a small fish tank. They do not require much care and are very hardy fish. Goldfish do grow to be very large, so keep this in mind if you choose one for your tank. One or two goldfish would be fine for a small tank but they need to be moved to a larger aquarium as they grow.

Resource: Sharp, Rob, Country Living, Sept. 2009

Fish Profiles