newbie

lee1nonly

Small Fish
Jan 5, 2006
11
0
0
#1
im getting a fish tank for my kids bath room. only a 5 to 7 gal. will fit what kind of fish can i get ? how many
 

Shaunna

Large Fish
Oct 6, 2005
845
0
0
42
Ohio
#2
I would get a betta and a snail. How old are your children? Are you positive of the gallons? Will you be taking care of the fish or your children?
 

#3
i agree with above ^ Finding out if you or your kids will take care of them would help, but if there younger then 10 ¬¬; most likly you will be the care takers. I watched my niese move off of taking care of the fish after awhile and I had to tell her mom and she ended up being the parent to the fish. But a snail is questionable.. if it's pregnant you'll end up needing to get rid of a whole tank load of em.. My mom had to stop taking care of fish cause her tank was emptied from all of them and the fish, and then the fish where put back in and the Snail eggs that we couldint see. Hatched! so a week laiter we threw the whole tank away.. it was a real waist and and being a kid myself at the time it destroyed me for 12 years form fishie lovin'.

It can fit alot of fish O_O! From a few guppies to at least three female bettas.. But not together of cource ^^; hm... Well I know for sure that you can fit 7 guppies or 5-7 tetras,3 female bettas, a mix of Tetras guppies and algie eaters ( about 6-7 fish.

Like many people say"

" One gallon of water to every one inch of fish"
But for Bettas I like to see females in threes at a friends house, and she has a 6 gallon. so that kinda helps in solving them. But it sounds like you could get a little more exotic for you kids =3 and knowing them they would love this one..

How about, Two algie eaters,three swordies and a goldie? Kids normaly go for gold fish inless there super informed on other fish, and if I was a kid I would have had Bettas gallor when my mom had her 50 gal XD. Sometimes it's always best to ask the kids what they want =3 take them to a store or show them a web site with all sorts of fresh waters, or salt if your willing to take car of the expenses. Then see what catch their intrests and be sure to tell them that they can pick two fishies each=3 that way when they end up picking a fish that needs a school of it's own kind like guppy or tetra, you can get more then a few of them. And if they pick different Tetra or Guppie species, you can get alot of them ^_^.

but it all depends, researching on your own favorite fish would help out, but you could possably also show them fish you like and see if they also like it. Many times kids like what they dont have. So if you show them a bunch of fish you like. They will most likly love it! ^^ hope this helps. Just be sure that if it is a 5 gallon, get five fish small fish or 3 medium fish or one big fish, if it's a 7 gallon get 7 three small fish and let the kids watch them breed for expeariance and fun to you and them as the babies mature. or just 7 small fish or 3 medium fish or one big and one medium. And also when your just starting with a big tank like 5-7 gals.. =3 getting a small algie eater is a must ^^; thats alot stuff for a 7 gal so having a acomplis like a algie eater to help in keeping it clean with the filter would be a great match. And the kids will go crasy when the thing sucks onto the side of the aquarium and shows it's "fangies" lol XD I loved my moms algie eater!! And I was only 5.
 

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Pure

Elite Fish
Nov 1, 2005
3,216
7
0
Jacksonville, FL
#6
Welcome to the tank! For a tank that size you are limited to having small fish. A school of neons, maybe some otos for algae control. A single Betta and a snail is often a nice set up for kids.

A goldfish is not a fish that is well suited to a 5 gal. They are carp and as carp they get large. The fat round bodied ones (orandas) can get to be the size of a grapefruit if not a little bigger and need at least a 20 gal preferably no less than a 55 gal. The torpedo shaped ones often sold as feeders (comets) can get well over a foot long, and deserve nothing less than a pond.

Also with them being in the bathroom you want to use caution when messing with cleaning chemicals. You don't want anything to ever get in the tank's water. Make sure the room is well ventilated as well. Certain cleaning chemical vapors can be harmful if they are in high enough concentrations.
 

cybersymes

Large Fish
Nov 3, 2005
426
0
0
'serendipity' tank
#7
hey there...
i'm a noob too...but in my humble opinion...
a school of tetras or 'neons'...
'one inch per gallon' as a guide...
one little algae eater...and regular water changes...

tetras/neons are colourful and fun to watch...
cool for kids and adults alike...
if you get a small algae muncher...
check that it won't grow massive...as some do...

good luck with your new tank...have funn ... :)
 

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Nov 27, 2005
112
0
0
#10
For my 4 year olds 1st tank (5 gallon) I added an african dwarf frog. You just have to be careful at the lfs that they don't give you an african clawed frog because they grow large. The adf is fun to watch swimming around. And the one we have cleans the tank of sunken food.

My son really enjoys her. I know shes a girl due to the research I've done. Its pretty easy to tell between male and female.
 

Dec 19, 2005
23
0
0
#12
With a tank around 5gal. I agree either a small school of neons or a betta both are rather flashy fish that will interest the kids for quite a while. I would also let the kids pick some decorations for the tank.
 

lordroad

Large Fish
Sep 2, 2004
989
7
0
43
Shelby, NC
www.joshday.com
#13
White cloud minnows could work if you don't use a heater.

I've mixed a female betta in with white clouds in a 2 gallon tank. A pretty female betta would be a nice show piece fish for a small tank, with 3-4 white clouds in a little school.
 

FroggyFox

Forum Manager
Moderator
May 16, 2003
8,589
10
38
42
Colorado
#14
I think white clouds are too active for such a small tank. Personally I like the idea of a school of small fish (say 5 cardinals or harlequin rasboras) and an apple snail (which wont be pregnant and wont lay eggs if there's only one of them). The snail will help keep any leftover food cleaned up and they're a lot more interesting than I ever thought a snail could be heh