Zebra fish tankmates

Question
Hi, I currently have a 1.5 gallon tank with three zebrafisha and I'm hoping to add some more into there to create some more interest. However, I don't want to max out my tank space either. I was just wondering what other fish would make good additions.


Answer
Good evening Sandra, thank you for your question.

Your zebra danios will each grow to be 2 inches. That's eventually 6" of fish in 1.5 gallons! These tanks are a real challenge, they are not beginner tanks at all - more like the ultimate "trial" for an advanced aquarist. I'm afraid I can't really recommend that you add any more fish, as you are full to capacity as it is. Perhaps a single otoclinus if you need a biological cleaner. Keep in mind you'll need a religious water change schedule and fastidious maintenance.

Make sure that you have an air pump or filter to break the surface tension of the water. Here's a little anecdote for you. When I was little, my girlfriend next door had a goldfish bowl with a goldfish in it. When he would start to get lethargic, she would blow bubbles into the water through a tube (like the kind you use for snorkeling) and he would perk up again! In retrospect, this was awful fishkeeping, but it does show the importance of agitation and/or aeration for sustaining aquatic life. The exception is with bettas and other anabantoids, equipped with a labyrinth organ that allows them to take oxygen in directly from the air.

Instead of adding more fish, how about some plants? A clump of hornwort would do nicely, but the possibilities are endless. I just suggested hornwort because it doesn't need to be rooted in the subtrate and it also grows rapidly. Fast growing plants such as hornwort absorb higher amounts of nitrates than slow growing ones. Plants would be of enormous benefit to your wee tank, a natural purifier and aerator.

Resurrection fern grows on the trunk and limbs of oak trees. It dries out and then rehydrates after a rainfall. Oak trees shed pieces of it when their branches and bark become too heavy with fern and moss. It's really a terrestrial air plant, but it tolerates being submerged. It stains your water brown (due to tannins being released) which you may or may not like. I find it to be very pleasing aesthetically. I have a clump of it in my 12 gallon tank right now.

Take a look at this little tank for ideas:
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hills/2637/1gallon.html

If you ever upgrade to, say, a 10 gallon, and you wish to keep this one going, I would try 3 guppies or 3 neon tetras instead. Zebra danios swim back and forth and are generally very "hyper" ...which is why they much prefer (one might even say need) a much longer tank to thrive.

Good luck, Sandra, feel free to write back if you need more clarification or advice. Do a Google search on pico tank and start there, there's lots to read! Also, ratemyfishtank.com allows you to view fish tanks by size - it has been a source of aquascaping inspiration for me many times over.

Nicole