Small species tank -- please help me pick a species!!

[kindafishy]

I have a 17 gallon (64 liter) cube tank.

I would like to get 3 dwarf puffers, but feeding only live might be a problem : I live in a very rural area (access to pet shops limited) and I travel a lot, with a hubby who doesn't seem thrilled at the idea of the worms, etc. for when I am away. So, unfortunately, I am looking into alternatives.

What might be an alternative fish, knowing that I want :

1) a species tank
2) small species (obviously!)
3) a heavily planted tank (I have a green thumb and want to showcase the plants as well)
4) something with a BIG personality <=== very important criteria for me !
5) can accept flakes / pellets, etc if needed

The dwarf puffer meets all but the last criteria.

As for my water supply, I live in the Vichy region of France, so it is very good quality soft water with a neutral pH (6.5 - 7 ish)

Any ideas ideas would be greatly appreciated !

 

[New]

.....well, u can do a betta and some sort of non-nippy school of something, it doesn't fit the first criteria but would look nice IMO

 

[Retired_AF]

A spotted leaf fish might fit your description. They love to swim amongst the greenery looking for food. Plus, it is a little different than what most people keep.

Another option would be a couple rainbow fish. They are active, colorful, and interesting to watch.

Let us know what you decide.

 

[Terrance]

Its very easy to grow food for puffers. Snails are the top choice. My dwarf are the least of my concerns because I can get my wife to throw in a snail from my snail population salad bowl. Each snail is super tiny.. and takes less than a min to throw in enough snail to feed dwarfs.

 

[Bubble_B0y]

I want to own and keep pufferfish

sadly, they are illegal in australia!

 

[kindafishy]

Everyone !

New -- I like the idea of a betta, but I am trying to stay away from a school of anything as my tank is a cube and given the shape I don't think that would be ideal.

I have read that bettas actually prefer being alone (?), so if it comes to that I might consider a rescue of one of those sad creatures in their tiny bowls at the shop.

However, I really would prefer a type of fish where I could have a few, or even a m/f couple. Although, if bettas have larger than life personalities, I could be convinced...

Retired_AF : don't spotted leaf fish get quite big? I only have 17g ! Hard to find any info on these, if you know of a source...

Terrance : Growing snails...hmmm, does seem practical but yuk! where do you keep them and the salad bowl? I guess I'd consider it, but would need to keep it somewhere hidden (again, potential source of hubby freak-out), and would need to know more about it in general. I have to admit that I might be a little to squeemish for that, but could be convinced. What can I say, I'm a bit of a girl that way....

Bubble_B0y: what a shame! Are you sure that even the dwarf ones are illegal?

 

[kindafishy]

What about dwarf gouramis?

...or even multifasciatus cichilds ? (or would a planted tank not be compatible?)

 

[absolutangel04]

Everyone !

New -- I like the idea of a betta, but I am trying to stay away from a school of anything as my tank is a cube and given the shape I don't think that would be ideal.

I have read that bettas actually prefer being alone (?), so if it comes to that I might consider a rescue of one of those sad creatures in their tiny bowls at the shop.

However, I really would prefer a type of fish where I could have a few, or even a m/f couple. Although, if bettas have larger than life personalities, I could be convinced...

Retired_AF : don't spotted leaf fish get quite big? I only have 17g ! Hard to find any info on these, if you know of a source...

Terrance : Growing snails...hmmm, does seem practical but yuk! where do you keep them and the salad bowl? I guess I'd consider it, but would need to keep it somewhere hidden (again, potential source of hubby freak-out), and would need to know more about it in general. I have to admit that I might be a little to squeemish for that, but could be convinced. What can I say, I'm a bit of a girl that way....

Bubble_B0y: what a shame! Are you sure that even the dwarf ones are illegal?

Bettas do have big personalities, but if I was you I would raise the snails for the puffers. Its not so bad since they mostly go in their shells when you go to do anything to them anyhow.

 

[Bubble_B0y]

yes, all freshwater puffer fish are illegal to Australia.
Apparently they are a threat and pest to our natural wildlife.

only saltwater puffer fish are permitted.

 

[Greenturtle]

yes, all freshwater puffer fish are illegal to Australia.
Apparently they are a threat and pest to our natural wildlife.

only saltwater puffer fish are permitted.

Kinda like how GloFish are not permitted in California, right?

And that really stinks. But I guess it wouldn't be good if a few puffers got out and started a population in Australia kinda like the hippos in columbia.

 

[absolutangel04]

Kinda like how GloFish are not permitted in California, right?

And that really stinks. But I guess it wouldn't be good if a few puffers got out and started a population in Australia kinda like the hippos in columbia.

Yeah, and they neutered a hippo, but you sure can't neuter a fish!

 

[Bubble_B0y]

i didn't know hippos were a problem in the wild!

thanks for the info.

 

[Greenturtle]

In Colombia some drug dealer had like 5 pet hippos (not neutered, I believe) and they escaped into the colombian wilderness/jungle. Now there is a hippo epidemic and anyone that sees one is required to kill one on sight.

 

[brittanykluss]

Everyone !

New -- I like the idea of a betta, but I am trying to stay away from a school of anything as my tank is a cube and given the shape I don't think that would be ideal.

I have read that bettas actually prefer being alone (?), so if it comes to that I might consider a rescue of one of those sad creatures in their tiny bowls at the shop.

However, I really would prefer a type of fish where I could have a few, or even a m/f couple. Although, if bettas have larger than life personalities, I could be convinced...

Retired_AF : don't spotted leaf fish get quite big? I only have 17g ! Hard to find any info on these, if you know of a source...

Terrance : Growing snails...hmmm, does seem practical but yuk! where do you keep them and the salad bowl? I guess I'd consider it, but would need to keep it somewhere hidden (again, potential source of hubby freak-out), and would need to know more about it in general. I have to admit that I might be a little to squeemish for that, but could be convinced. What can I say, I'm a bit of a girl that way....

Bubble_B0y: what a shame! Are you sure that even the dwarf ones are illegal?

What about a german blue ram, or 2 dwarf gouramis?

 

[New]

wat about a school of tetras?

 

[kindafishy]

Tetras : my tank is a cube so I want to stay away from schooling fish

Also, I should mention that my tank has no lid. I have been reading up on dwarf gouramis -- they jump, right?

I just looked up the German blue ram -- I like the look of it. What I just read, however, said that I would need 20 gallons for 1 (I have 17) and 40 gallons for 2 (I would prefer to keep at least two of a species...)

Decisions, decisions ... this is proving more difficult than I thought!

Maybe I should just get me a big ol' hippo and be done with it!

 

[bobcatken]

Recently I saw a well-planted species tank of Endler's livebearers at the LFS. Perhaps this species doesn't meet the "big personality" requirement, but it was an attractive tank.

 

[kdpuffer]

From my research it is 20 gallons for a pair of rams. I actually just got some and they are nice, they like heavy plant cover which is right up your alley. Although it's recommended to have a schooling fish with them to make them more comfortable and draw them out more. Blue ram with cardinal tetras is what I have and the colors look great together.

 

[kindafishy]

From my research it is 20 gallons for a pair of rams. I actually just got some and they are nice, they like heavy plant cover which is right up your alley. Although it's recommended to have a schooling fish with them to make them more comfortable and draw them out more. Blue ram with cardinal tetras is what I have and the colors look great together.

So I guess then that my 17 gallon would be a little too small for a pair? Or could I get away with it?

And blue rams / cardinal tetras does sound really cool! If I had the space, I'd steal your idea!

 

[kdpuffer]

What are the dimensions of your tank?