Hello, just purchased a 2.5 gallon tank (not a mini bow kit). I have a small wisper filter that is good for up to 3 gallons and a heater. I'm looking for suggestions on what to put in the tank. I'd like something active, colorful and low low maintenance. I've thought about guppies and a betta but would prefer something different. Any suggestions

I got two little platies and a mini school of 4 neon tetras for my SO's desk in a tank that size, and he seems to like them (he requested something cute and schooling and colorful).

That sounds cool. Thanks

Okay, here's some advice.... DO NOT under any circumstance put guppies in with a betta!!! -Unless, you are wanting to be cruel and like to watch a larger fish ripping to shreds smaller fish. Betta's will attack any other fish with nice flowy tails, that's what excites their territorial behaviour, also, in such a small amount of water, if you put anything else in there with the betta it'll be stressed out. A betta by itself is a much better idea, you could plant it with some nice plants to give the betta a nice environment to live in... -If you want more one fish, perhaps get a couple of male guppies. (avoid putting females with males as your tank's not large enough to cope with lots and lots of progeny)..

Terribly sorry, when i said "guppies and a betta," i ment guppies or a betta. I really would prefer something other than guppies or a betta thought.

What about neon tetras or maybe even tiger barbs? I think mollies or platties would look good as well. Let us know what you decide.

Good luck!

What I do when I need to know what to put in a tank, I go to the pet store and look at the names of the fish and write them down and then go home and research them and then come here and get your guys's input on it and then if you guys like it then I go and buy them, but I always look first.

Any schooling fish (tetras, barbs, etc) is not suitable for a tank that small because they are very active and must be in a group of at least 6 of their own kind. This rules out even the smallest schoolers because they need 10 gallons plus to swim around in, and 2.5 gallons would be too crowded with that many of them. An important thing to remember is that even though you have a filter, it can not handle much since it is a small tank.

I recomend 2-3 guppies of the same sex, 1 betta, 1-2 african dwarf frogs, a bumblebee goby or an apple snail.

However, all of those fish have some sort of special need except the guppies and betta. African Dwarf Frogs do best on a frozen or live diet, and pellets or freeze dried foods can be harmful to their sensitive tummies. Make sure you do not buy african clawed frogs by mistake! Bumblebee gobies are cool fish, but they are brackish, meaning they need salt in their water. Snails require a high pH and hard water.

Thanks Kissy for letting me know that. I didnt know they needed to be in schools of 6 or more. Thanks, I am going to remember that when I go to stock my 10 gallon becuase I have a 10 gallon completely empty and a 10 gallon that has a cherry barb in it.

You're welcome A 10 gallon is perfect for a school of cherry barbs, that would be very pretty.

I keep hearing about Bumblebee Gobies, what are they exactly?

I did a little more research and found that they should be in a tank at least 5 gallons. I saw that someone had 2 plus another fish in a 5 gallon and so I just assumed that one would do okay in a 2.5 gallon. Sorry!

Anyways, they are 1.5" long and look like this: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/GobioidPIX/FWBR...anthozonaAQ.jpg They should also be fed live or frozen foods.

Shrimp! Shrimp! Shrimp! They are the most interesting creatures. I prefer them over fish. Its so much fun to watch them scuttle around and use their little claws to pick at algae.

http://www.franksaquarium.com/nanofish.htm
Great place to buy tiny fish fish. I've been thinking about ordering sparrow rasboras.

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to the pet store this weekend to check out the fish.
I'll tell you all what i get after saturday. I have the tank already set up and it has been running for about a month. I must say though that i am leaning towards some beautiful red guppies that my lfs recently got in.