What You Need To Know Before Buying A Low Maintenance Fish For 5 Gallon Tank

Low maintenance fish is an excellent option for people who don’t want to spend too much time on their tanks or have common maintenance pets in the home that need just as much attention!

Fish like goldfish and bettas can be low maintenance if you set up an environment they’re comfortable with.

These types of fish might not require water changes as often because they produce less waste than other more active breeds.

However, some low maintenance plants will do well in a low light setting, so make sure you research which type is best for your needs.

1) Betta Fish.

Betta fish are low maintenance as long as you keep the water clean and have a low flow filter to prevent all waste from getting too concentrated.

Betta fish don’t do well with sudden temperature changes, so be careful when setting up your tank if it will be near a window that allows sunlight or heat into the room.

Also, low maintenance plants for low light levels would work best in a low tech or low flow filter environment.

2) Guppies.

Guppies need low temperatures and low amounts of waste to thrive, but they can be playful pets.

Guppies are deficient maintenance as long as you keep the water clean and take care not to get too many at once because their numbers will rapidly increase if you do!  

If you want to breed low maintenance fish for a 5-gallon tank, guppy babies are easy to raise with their parents.

3) Cherry Shrimp.

Cherry shrimp are low maintenance because they don’t need a filter and low temperature (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit).

Cherry shrimp usually live longer than regular sized shrimps, though the most common reason for mortality is low water quality.

Just make sure you vacuum your substrate regularly and change any water that becomes dirty with waste buildup.  

Feed cherry shrimp low protein options like algae wafers or flakes to prevent excess waste from accumulating in your tank!

4) Mollies.

Mollies are low maintenance, but you have to be careful with low temperatures because they can’t handle cold water or low oxygen levels well.

You should also keep a low-flow filter or low tech option if you want low maintenance fish for a tank of mollies, so they don’t produce too much waste.  

You may also need low light plants like Java Moss to prevent algae buildup and control ammonia levels in the water!

5) Pygmy Corydoras.

Pygmy corydoras are the smallest catfish globally and are very hardy if you keep low levels of waste in your tank.

Pygmy corydoras do best at temperatures around 75 degrees Fahrenheit, but they can survive cold water as well as long as their oxygen levels stay up.  

You’ll need some algae wafers or flakes to feed them with this type of low maintenance fish environment!

6) Neon Tetras.

Neon tetras are great for a 5-gallon tank if you keep low-maintenance fish because they don’t grow more than two inches long.

Low light plants like Java Moss would work well in a low flow filter environment, but make sure you don’t overfeed your fish with food that can foul the water!

7) Harlequin Rasbora.

Harlequin Rasbora are very hardy and easy to keep in a 5-gallon tank environment.

They can be kept with other fish breeds as long as they’re not too big, but make sure you have a low flow filter or low tech option to prevent the water from becoming too dirty!

Harlequin rasbora do best at temperatures around 72 degrees Fahrenheit, so you might need some warming lights if your room is cooler than that!  

You’ll also want to feed these fish flakes and algae wafers instead of high protein options.

Conclusion

We can all appreciate some low maintenance fish.

With a 5 gallon tank, you don’t have much room for large or messy creatures that require more than basic care and watering.

You want to make sure your little friends are happy and healthy, too! 7 of the most popular choices for small tanks with less than 1-inch water depth (5 gallons).

They come in different shapes, sizes, colours and habitats, so there is something here for everyone, no matter what aquarium they prefer.

Which one will you choose?