Around xmas time I will hopefully be upgrading to a 20 gallon tank (minimally 10, but more likely 20). This means I will have 3 gallon sitting around.

Just kidding, the 3 gallon will be going to my sister who owned a beta fish for about a year and due to a snowstorm in October that knocked our power out for three days, it sadly died due to cold water.

She wants another fish in the 3 gallon and I suggested a beta, but she said that she wants a different type of fish.

I was thinking zebra danio or glofish, I am definitely open to recommendations. I know the size of the tank is a limiting factor, work with me on this one .

Oh this is her xmas present btw.

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Danios and glofish (also a type of Danio) are schooling/shoaling fish and need to be in groups of 6+.

You could get her a Betta and add a snail or two, that would give some more life to the tank. You could also add some live plants - it can look really fantastic with live plants, a Betta and snails. You maaaay be able to get away with a Ghost or Amano Shrimp, but more than likely the Betta will kill it. You'll need a light for the plants - I know a member on here named Kehy has a 1.5g with a Betta, snails and live plants.... you could ask what light she uses... I know you can use regular bulbs in a desk lamp even, as long as they are daylight bulbs and in a certain Kelvin range...65000K I think... you could ask about that in another post if you decide to go that way. Oh, the lid would have to be see through for the light to get through too.

Bottom line, I really don't think anything other than a Betta and some snails should be put in the tank.... it's not fair to a schooling fish to be kept alone, and there aren't really many small fish that can live singly in a small tank.

I'm assuming you have a heater? (Since the cold killed the fish during the power out...) Betta's like heat in the 80's, so be sure to keep that heater going if you have one. If it happens again, try wrapping a towel around the tank to keep the heat in until the power comes back on... it could work.

Congrats on your new tank - you must be excited for Christmas!

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Yes I am very excited for xmas.

Live plants aren't really an option for the 3 gallon Marineland® 3-Gallon Crescent Aquarium System - Gift Shop - Fish - PetSmart

I can't switch out the bulbs or anything, and I can't really buy a light fixture.

I do have a heater although it's a poopy one and is preset to 78 and I can't change it, so if I got a beta for the tank I would get a different heater for the tank as well.

One of the reasons I was thinking the zebra danio/glofish (I did know it was a type of danio ) is because I read on this and a couple of other random forums that you can keep them by themselves, but I did know they were a schooling fish

I did recommend a beta to her because I knew it would be the best option, which is why I came here for possible advice on alternatives.

Maybe I can try to convince her to get a snail and some ghost shrimp and forgo getting "fish".

As a matter of fact the only reason I have 2 white clouds in the 3 gallon is because the fish store guy recommended it, knowing what I do now, I would not have recommended that, but it was successful for me.

Knowing what I do now, I am much more cautious in my choosing of fish, maybe I can convince her to get a 10 gallon or something so she can at least get a school and then I can keep the 3 gallon for a small shrimp tank.

Also my mom thought that I should add more fish to my 3 gallon, I explained to her the nitrogen cycle and basic fish care, she still thought it could use more fish. My dad understood it a bit more.

Anywho I will talk to her about possibly doing a snail/shrimp or snail/beta tank and see how it goes and ill get back to you guys about what she says. Logic seems to fail with people in my family however.

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Lol, "poopy" heater! XD

A shrimp and snail tank would be really cool. Drop in an algae wafer a few times a week, a few bottom feeder pellets, and you're golden. They are cute critters too. The shrimp don't have a big bio load, but snails poo a LOT, lol, so she'd need to still do water changes and little vacuumings. Check your pH and hardness - shrimp and snails need hard water for shell development - they will die if there's not enough calcium in the water. If the water's not hard enough, you can add a piece of cuttle bone to the tank and the critters will nom on it. Also, small pieces of calcium rich veggies will be appreciated by the snails and shrimp as it will supply the plant matter they enjoy nomming. A little bit of crushed coral in the filter also raises the pH.

Snails and shrimp do appreciate plants to graze algae off of, but I'm sure if you put fake ones in and some rocks, they will still love the algae they find there. FYI... shrimp and snails tend to wander - so make sure the lid has no holes! (Seriously, they will take walks!)

I'm not sure if Danios can be alone... I've always read they need to be in a shoal... I could be wrong - so if anyone knows different, please correct me. I love learning new stuff about his hobby!

You'll have to post pics of both tanks when you get them up and running!

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I agree with Holly that the danios should be kept in groups. Maybe she could do a couple of fancy guppies...but even then would be limited to two or three at best, and they would have to be the same sex because there will be babies otherwise and a tank that small just isnt going to handle it.

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"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

I posted on her fb wall (she goes to UMass: Amherst and that is like 2 1/2 hrs away from me) and I will see with what she says. Basically I said beta fish or snail/shrimp tank.

Would red cherry shrimp be good for the tank? I looked at them and they seem like a possibility.

I did a bit more research on the guppy idea and it seems like you are spot on Summer, at most three could be kept in there and I wouldn't feel comfortable with three in there. I would say two female if she was up to the care needed and even then I would still suggest the beta or snail/shrimp tank.

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You could put some Red Cherries in there. They do breed fast, so she can see/trade in the babies for stuff at the fish store (food, plants, etc...) Just don't cram it full, since they are prolific breeders. Shrimp like moss - you can just toss some in - they hide in it and pick stuff off of it. And little caves to hide in for when they moult.

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Well she responded to the fb wall post and it looks like she wants to go with a male beta fish. So wallah.

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Nice.

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