Stocking a 2 Gallon Fish Tank

Image by flag75* via Flickr

Many people who are interested in getting a first fish tank think that the smaller t tank they get, the easier it will be to keep. Not only is this assumption false — it is harder to maintain stable water chemistry parameters in a small tank — but having something as small as a 2 gallon fish tank can make it almost impossible to stock correctly.

One of the most common errors that new aquarium owners commit is overstocking their tank. Faced with the wide variety of colorful tropical fish at the neighborhood pet store, they are become like a kid in a candy store and want to buy a few of these, few of those and a few more of the other. A 2 gallon fish tank cannot handle a few of anything for the most part.

There are only a few types of fish that will be happy and healthy in 2 gallon fish tank. One of the most interesting, and most colorful, is the betta fish. These fancy-finned fish are usually offered for sale in tiny plastic cups of blue water. A 2 gallon fish tank would be a much better home for one of them, as long as you add a plant or two. (more…)