Stocking help

[MissNothing]

Hi there

I kept fish about 10 years ago however haven’t kept them since and thought I’d ask for help here! Things might have changed and I’m considering myself a newbie again! We are looking at getting an aquarium for our kitchen and was wondering if the following stock would be OK? Currently deciding between the 5 gallon Fluval Chi and the 12 gallon Fluval Edge for Coldwater fish.

Fluval Chi:
3 Endlers Guppy
3 Clown Killifish
10 Cherry Shrimp
2 Zebra snail

Or

1 Betta
10 Cherry Shrimp (I have concerns these may be eaten by the betta!)
2 Zebra Snail

Fluval Edge:
5 Endlers Guppy
5 Clown Killifish
5 Gold Cloud Mountain Minnows
10 Cherry Shrimp
Small group of dwarf catfish (either Asian Stone Catfish or Dwarf Cory’s)
2 Zebra Snails

Is there any other option for me with these Coldwater tanks? I love bristlenose plecs, would they be an option for the 12 gallon?

Also if anyone has any experience with these tanks I’d be really grateful for any info on what they’re like - the 12 gallon worries me as it only has a small opening at the top for access.

Thank you!

All of the fish you mentioned aren't coldwater, either sub-tropical or tropical (especially the Betta). A tank without a heater isn't technically coldwater, it's room temperature and will fluctuate accordingly. A heater provides stability.

With stocking, the Chi I would look at the Betta option, but with a heater. Yes the shrimp are at risk, but with good decor and plants they may be able to hide and I would make sure they're established BEFORE the Betta, otherwise they'll be dropped in and the Betta will think you're adding some snacks.

The 12 gallon is still very small and I would only consider one group of fish in there rather than the three groups. The minnows prefer a longer tank with a strong current. Remember the Endlers will breed if you have females also, smaller Endlers or Endler Guppy hybrids don't eat their fry as much as regular Guppies.

The Pleco still gets a very chonky 5" and I wouldn't consider one for less than 20 gallons with excellent filtration.

Thank you - yes I’d be looking at ‘temperate’ rather than staunch cold water. Our house is warm so I’m not too worried about the temperature dropping too far down. I’m reluctant to get a heater as the reason I stopped fishkeeping last time was because the heater malfunctioned overnight and cooked my fish. Was traumatised!

I’d get a male only group of endlers to avoid breeding - would these be no good in the chi?

Thanks so much for your reply!

Sorry this came up in active and I misread it as "Fishnet Stocking Help" 🤣🤦‍♀️
Maybe my snafu will bump it for you though.

@BiscuitsandPuffin Haha, that made me actually laugh out loud!

I was totally puzzled by having a board and thread titled fishnet stocking.

I am glad people with a higher reading age than I have have managed to help you

You're not the only one and I was so curious. Took me back to my punk days! And then I saw it was about fish, and I thought, you're catching fish with stockings?! How very avant garde. And then the penny dropped ... duh.

Hope you get it sorted, @MissNothing.

I really should have thought through this title more carefully. It never occurred to me that this part of Mumsnet was called Fishnet 🤦🏼‍♀️

A group of males would be fine, but I would go for a larger tank. I did use to keep Endlers (the purebred kind from an Endler breeder) in 30 litre tanks back in the day, but they were much happier when I upgraded them to 65 litre (17 gallon). I kept them as tropical fish.

I wouldn't keep a Betta in a unheated tank. I lost my last Betta years ago when our power went out mid-winter, poor thing got too cold and died :(