Fish in a 5 gal?

[Red and Bob]

What kind and how many fish can I keep in a 5 gallon tank with a male delta tail betta?

My aunt is giving me her betta that she got 5 months ago. I will be receiving him later today.

[Oldfishlady]

IMO a 5gal is not big enough for any other fish besides an adult Betta....shrimp and snails are nice and will work...also live plants are aways good....

Congrats on your new tank and Betta...look forward to pic.....

[Red and Bob]

Okay, I may upgrade to a 10 gal in the new year, or sooner. I know there's a 10 gal at walmart I want. hehe Is a 10 gal big enough for more fishies?

[Oldfishlady]

Yes, a few more choices for a 10gal tank and if planted you have even more choices....you want dwarf species especially if you want cory cats as well as smooth type substrate and they do best in groups of 5 or more...same with most of your smaller species of tetra, barbs....etc.....social fish that do best in larger groups and you see more of the natural behaviors........go to the fish shop and look at the fish you like-write down the name and go look them up......or do web search and find what you like...a lot of fish shops will special order some species for you that are not normally sold or kept in the shop......happy hunting.....that is one of the fun parts IMO/E......

[Red and Bob]

Is smooth type substrate like sand? I didn't know you could use sand?

I will have search for ones I like and do lots of research on them. What kind of plants should I get?

[Oldfishlady]

I use playsand to cap my soil based planted tanks and lots of folks use sand alone with and without plants

Good low light plants are most stem plants like naja grass, ludwigia, rotala, hygrophila, water wiateria, moneywort, anacharis...other low light plants-java fern, java moss, anubias all need to be tied to something-sags, val, swords, crypts all good low light easy care type plants and the list goes on.......

With plants you need at least 1.5wpg and 2-2.5wpg even better and can give you more choices without needing any CO2

[danifacetastic]

In the 5 gallon you could try an African Dwarf Frog or two.

[baylee767]

Or you could divide with 1 other male Betta, but than you'd be 100% stocked.

[Waterbottle2]

10gal at petsmart with hood light and filter for 19.99 sale. get em before its gone (near where i live anyway)

[wallywestisthebest333]

D: I have to go shopping today so I might as well try to go to petsmart to check on that sale..... >;]