I have recently purchased a 2.5 gallon tank.
How mant tropicals should I put in?

The only thing i would suggest for that tank would be a single betta.

A betta...thats really about all that size tank would be usable for. Most tropicals are schooling fish and need several of their species to be happy...a 2.5 gallon tank isn't large enough for the 5-6 fish needed to make most tropicals happy as even fish as small as neon tetras need at least a gallon per inch of fish. I can't really think of anything other than a betta that would be able to survive in a tank that small....even with just a betta you'll have to do water changes every couple of days. I have a betta in a five gallon and I have to do at least two water changes a week or else he starts having problems....I'd say a complete water change every other day for a 2.5 gal would be needed.

Does it have a filter?

It came with a filter, yeah

If you do a fishless cycle before adding anything, you could have a few ghost shrimp, an apple snail, or if you are up for something more challenging, an african dwarf frog. The frogs need to be fed live or frozen foods and also need a heater.

I decided to return my 2.5 gallon tank and I am considering buying a 5 gal. tank

Thanx for Da Help!

you still wouldn't be able to have much in a five gallon though I am afraid. You'd probably be limited to the same kind of fish. If you can do it get a ten gallon, even better a 20 gallon. It would increase your options quite a lot.

By the way, one piece of advice... whatever tank you decide to go for, plan it first. Consider what fish you want and find out their needs before you buy a tank, so you make sure you get the right equipment. Also make sure you factor in all your expenses. I've wasted a lot of money by not knowing exactly what I was buying and what I would need. You need to consider costs of the tank, lights, heater, filter, filter media. Also test kits, gravel vac, gravel, ornaments, plants, net etc...
You mentioned in another post that you are quite young so I am assuming money will be a factor. You might be able to pick up something second-hand though. People often sell tanks with all the equipment.

here's a link to stocking a ten gallon tank, it might give you an idea of what fish you could have if you opt for that size tank...

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=116208

lak, do you think that I could House a couple guppies in a 5 gal. tank?

My main focus is guppies.
Thanks for the help
J (Jonathan)

I had 3 guppies in a 5 gallon, but soon had to move them to a 10 gallon when they went from 3 to 66.

You can see what I have now in my signature down there
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So you think I could house 2-4 guppies in a 5 gal. tank?

I wouldn't get guppies at all unless you're planning to buy a 10-20 gallon tank within 28 days.

You could get some tetras or danios. They would do fine. Or get 5 MALE guppies and no females.

So I can House 5 male guppies in a 5 Gal. tank?

Most danios get to 2", different types of tetras can get that size or bigger. Your bioload would be overstocked. They wouldn't have enough room to swim freely in a five gallon. The overcrowding would cause undue stress, which would lead to a weakened immune system and your fish would not be able to fight off disease. And finally, most tropicals perfer to be kept in groups, which you just don't have room for in a five.

You could possibly squeeze five male guppies in a five gallon, but four would be better. And make sure you get all males (you know how to identify them yourself right?)

Another option might be,,, I'm assuming your getting a 5 gallon kit, you may want to look at the 7 gallon kit, I don't think the prices are that different. If you did some shopping around, you might even be able to find a ten gallon kit even cheaper! Look around. A five gallon makes it harder to keep your water parameters in line.

I can only get a kit at nnnnnn because I have a $30 gift card and no other money of my own, and nnnnnn doesn't have a 7 gallon kit.

I dont know why but it says nnnnnnnnn where I wanted it to say
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forget about this it's bogus, O.K.?

nnnnnn
petsmart
target
petco
shopko
animart

hmm, that's odd. they let me say petsmart, but they dont let me say
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Because Wally World gets bashed all the time for their bad fish-keeping skills.

A 10 gallon tank at Wal*Mart is only $10. If you have some spare cash saved as well, you could get the 10 gallon starter kit with all the supplies in it except the gravel and whatnot for like $30-35.

The 10 Gal. tank set is $50 and doesnt come with a heater, Or air pump.
That's the way all kits are. So my 5 Gal. kit is $35 plus an air pump and air pump accesories is $44 plus a heater is $57. If it was 10 Gal. it would be around $80.
(I'm stickin' with 5 Gallons)

J


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