• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

Coldwater nano fish

tiger15 said:
The reason shrimp failed to multiply in my nano bowl may have nothing to do with the size but instability.
Click to expand...

Thats a straight contradiction, the instability is directly attributable to the tiny size?

tiger15 said:
The diurnal temp fluctuation in the bowl can range between 16 to 30C in winter, and pH 7.2 to 8.8 due to direct sunlight photosynthesis. Paradise is one of the few fish that can handle the harsh environment as temp in stagnant rice paddy can fluctuate substantially.
Click to expand...

So because an animal is capable of withstanding a "harsh environment" you think its acceptable to wilfully subject them to that environment on a continuous and ongoing basis?

tiger15 said:
The bowl is for the plants, and the fish or shrimp in it is just supporting and I can do without.
Click to expand...

Then just keep plants in it man - that's what it was made for, not animals. As a miniature planted ornament its a nice and unusual concept, with a mis-treated animal crammed inside it, its diabolical!

tiger15 said:
I don’t advocate keeping fish in small container,
Click to expand...

Then why do it? You're obviously an experienced fish keeper, you must have had a sense that it was a bad idea as soon as you wedged those fish in there - surely even well before?

tiger15 said:
but fish in a large container can stress out too from overcrowding and having the wrong company.
Click to expand...

Indeed, that is why our duty of care as fish keepers starts before we even get to the LFS. We do our research and ensure we are able to appropriately house and look after the fish we buy, long before we get the wallet out.
 
I don't know if I've seen a fish kept in less water than it was probably brought home from the shop in before.

Taking out the emotion or personal bias it just seems very at odds with your other tanks, do you honestly think that looks good? (Genuine question)
 
The tiny size of the container doesn’t make the parameters unstable, the lack of heater and circulation does. You can place a zero tech big tank by the window and the parameters will fluctuate just as much. My planted bowls are equivalent to house plants on the window sill. I used to have shrimp in them for 3+ years that live to old age but don’t multiply. Although I don’t advocate keeping fish in small space, Paradise is the exception as it thrives in harsh environment throughout temperate to subtropical Asia, and is adapted to thrive in stagnant water. In contrast to sedentary shrimp, my Paradise is active, interactive, and more interesting to me. I am a big tank and big cichlid keeper for a long time and can read when a fish is happy or not.
 
I know we should let it go now but putting a large volume of water in the same conditions (ie against a window) will not create the same daily fluctuations. The bigger the tank, the slower any fluctuations will happen in because it takes longer to effect larger volumes. It's why bringing it back to topic a little, if you want a temperate tank to cope with the summer heat, try and go bigger as it buys you more time.

"Paradise is active", I don't know why but I instantly imagined Steve mcqueen taking his ball into the cooler.
 
Last edited:
I had white cloud juvies in a nano for a bit. They were just keeping the tank cycled for me until the permanent residents made it through quarantine, but man they were tiny and cute. I would have left it that way forever if I could have, but you know what they say. Babies don't keep. The adults have a 3' tank and have way too much heterosexual drama for much less.
 
Keeping fish in small containers such as wine goblets, vases, small bowls etc, is a subject that comes up occasionally. I know many members, including myself, find seeing any animal confined like this very distressing. I’m sure most don’t mean to deliberately harm their pets, but there isn’t really any justification for it.

1. Arguing that a course of action is morally justified because others have done similar or worse, doesn't make any sense.
2. If shrimp aren’t happy confined in such a small space, surely fish won”t be either.
3. I'm sure some fish in small containers are interactive. But it's probably a survival instinct; something akin to Stockholm Syndrome
4. The fact that conspecific aggression happens in small containers reveals a lot about why fish shouldn't be kept in small containers.
5. The likes of Bettas, and Paradise fish may be happy to be kept alone, but that doesn’t mean they should be kept in small containers.
6. Fish may display certain innate behaviours but it doesn't necessarily mean they are happy. Either way the probability remains they would be much happier in a more appropriately sized aquarium.
7. New research has proven fish are intelligent and sentient capable of experiencing pain and suffering.

Fishes have feelings too: diving into fish myths and setting the record straight - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk

Fishes have feelings too: diving into fish myths and setting the record straight
www.rspca.org.uk www.rspca.org.uk
8. Seriously Fish pretty much sets the gold standard when it comes to guidelines for minimum aquarium dimensions for various fish species. For instance, Paradise Fish require an aquarium with base dimensions measuring 80x30cm or equivalent, minimum, for a single pair.
9. Further, keeping fish in small containers is not inline with UKAPS policy on animal welfare; #5 of the Forum Rules and Guidelines.
Click to expand...
I totally agree, fish should never be kept in small bowls, or wine glasses, or vases, especially something like a paradise fish. my thinking is if you can put it in a bigger tank, do it. and if you cant afford a tank big enough for it, don't get it.

This thread has derailed quite a bit.

This imo, is a valuable topic with heating and space becoming more expensive, nano temperate fish recommendations could/would be great.
Click to expand...
it has derailed, but i have got a few good bits of information about Nano Coldwater aquaria, and thanks for everyone's suggestions on this very interesting subject. i will post a list in the next few days on this thread or on a different thread, but I will link it in here. again, big thanks, and see you soon.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top