10 THINGS I Wish I Knew BEFORE Choosing Nano Fish!

[@gigi3242]

All the research I had done said that Endlers could live with neo shrimp; well, the Endlers lived, the shrimp became snacks. I now have a shrimp only tank, and the Endlers live with the White Clouds. The biggest thing, I think, is pay attention to your tanks, make adjustments if needed. Great video, thanks. Be well

[@PipkinXIV]

Sorry to hear that. :( Maybe Amano shrimp do well with Endlers? I've noticed a lot of people saying different shrimp will live with shrimp-hungry fish because Amano Shrimp tend to do well for their color and size. People see that the tank parameters are similar between Amanos and NeoCs and so they'll recommend the neos, too, and it's a disaster.

[@aqualungs77]

You want to stick with male endlers only with shrimp. Females are much bigger

[@gigi3242]

@@aqualungs77 I keep all males only, because I don't want a tank full of babies, lol Be well.

[@PaulZyCZ]

I kept Endlers with shrimp. They are about as friendly to Endlers as male Betta. There are better fish to keep with shrimp like Ember Tetra, Dwarf Rasbora, Blue (Green) Neon Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Pygmy/Hastatus/Habrosus Cory...). Sometimes it depends on exact fish. It may depend on food (artemia, mysis). Lazy well-fed Betta won't pursuit. One would ignore them, other would go at least after fries. The key with shrimp and not exactly friendly fish is heavilly planted tank. Even a carpet of dwarf hairgrass and some "bushes" of stem plants could be enough or densely packed crypts, Java moss. Natural shrimp are harder to spot than cherries or yellows. Once I bought Amano shrimp, but all LFS around had just tiny ones, about a half an inch. So I risked it... They all survived, eventually, but there was a lot of jumping (on the lid) and hiding in the plants. I could never catch all the shrimp alive without having to redo the tank. I have a pair of Ram cichlids with cherries a 20 gallon tank (84 l), but 1. cherries got there with plants 2. Rams eat tiny snails, attack other fish when protecting eggs (even bigger then themselves), but they have stable colony.

[@SierraPrecursora]

I grew a HUGE colony of neocaridina (cherry) shrimp with guppies and endlers, and started with 7 shrimp. The thing is, the shrimp have a large moss-tree in which to to refuge... The shrimp colony is so large I call them tank fleas!

[@Toeski]

"The cutest little fish I ever saw... once" 🤣🤣

[@Eden_Rivers]

You know this is true because there was no footage of that little fish. 😁

[@cherylbelott]

Good points! Before I knew better, I set up a very basic scape with a thin layer of gravel for substrate. Knowing what I know now, thicker works so much better for plants and the overall balance of the tank. Also, endlers make me feel like a successful fish breeder. 🤣 When starting out I never thought I’d be the crazy fish lady, boy do they multiply!! If I knew then what I know now, I’d be careful with mixing male and female. Btw, awesome little rock at 1:06 by the pea puffer! 😊

[@midwestmasocist]

Me too! My first tank had the most shallow layer of petco sand 😂

[@Khaeris]

I saw on a video recently that thicker substrate helps maintain temperature better, so I immediately added more substrate to my tanks. I'm worried about power going off this winter so trying to do what I can to help keep temps stable if it does.

[@PaulZyCZ]

Lifebearers always reach sort of an equilibrium in their population. On paper they are overstocked, in reality it's fine with the regular maintenance and not overfeeding. A deep bed of soft gravel or coarse sand is the best choice (esp. with nutrient base layer). I like to use advanced substrates like aquasoil or baked clay, but they have their disadvantages. Aquasoil works best as an upper nutrient layer when starting a dirted aquarium or a competition high-tech high-maintenance piece. Plants root well in a baked clay substrate, but it's a challenge to plant them in the first place (without tweezers). Also no slopes with it, it falls flat. Baked clay is just too light.

[@melaniedc_]

I have a nano fish 75 gallon in my home office. I have embers, dwarf neon rainbow, spotted rasboro, and hill stream loaches. Love it.

[@hummingbird3771]

Sounds gorgeous!!

[@IndoorEcosystem]

Nano fish have become my absolute favourites. So much less work. They are peaceful for the most part and have tiny bioloads that work in smaller tanks.

[@thesmallscape]

I do love the peaceful fish so much more. No aquarium drama. ☺️

[@austrelforgefeu5888]

They are my favorite too. They have amazing behavior ❤️

[@butkusfan23]

Yup! That, and even if you only have a ten gallon tank, or sometimes even smaller, you can still get a large enough school to see them exhibit their natural behavior. That and they’re naturally more confident and outgoing in the larger group. I had 25 chili rasboras in a planted 10 gallon, and it looked amazing.

[@juliaheinritz3264]

Nice job Joanna! So many good points relative to all tanks not just nano size. When I was setting up my 75 gallon I thought for sure I wanted Roseline sharks. Then I saw them once in a fish store and they were CRAZY fast and active. I like a more 'chill' tank setup so decided on a different schooling fish. I think you really covered it all in this video. Great video!

[@annemorfee2305]

I've had a 350ltr nano fish planted tank for 4 years and my 2 favourite fish are the Explanation Point and Kubotai Rasboras. The Ex point send lots of the time in and out of the pants and the bright emerald Kubotai school all the time in open water. Both have done better for me than any of the other dwarf Rasboras.

[@Whips_World]

Outside the box thinking. If your fish scatter and hide when you approach the tank, but you have a chair or couch in the room where, if you sit there long enough, they come back out... binoculars next to said chair or couch will be your friend. Just a little tip from your ole Uncle Whip

[@briacarter723]

I had a grand plan for my 5 gallon with shrimp and chili rasbora. But live realized that they are so small and so far away from a good viewing spot that you do really notice that anything is going on in the tank from far away. So I think I'm going to move them to my 10 gallon and put a nice bright colorful betta in there.

[@lewashcliffe]

My very favorite fish in my 29 gal. tank are my 5 albino cory cats. Originally got them just as bottom cleaners. But, they are so cute and lively, especially around the time I feed them in the evenings. Little acrobats!

[@Eden_Rivers]

The distance you're viewing the fish from is so important. My fish room is the dining room and I often check on the fish as I walk up the stairs to the second floor, and having bright bold bettas swimming around is so beautiful. And easy to spot.

[@thesmallscape]

Agree! ☺️

[@ana007]

Nice video! We need more this type of content 😀 My favourite nano fish is Exclamation Point Rasbora. They have nice shape, beautiful stripe as if made of dark blue glitter 🥰They don't interrupt with a hardscape, they are great choice for those who like nice schooling fish and are color/stimulus sensitive. Then I bought Green Neons. They are beautifull! green, blue and purple, they have nice schooling behavoiur. But you see nothing but Neons when you look at the tank 😅 And then I bought Celestial Pearl Danios... and my tank become a mess... They are everywhere all the time chasing each other all day long. They interfere with neons swimming in the shoal. I have to put them in another tank 🤷‍♀😂

[@Khaeris]

I didn't know that about CPDs. If I ever get some I think I'll plan to make it a single species tank.

[@PaulZyCZ]

One of my favourite nano fish too! I have 2 second-generation Exclamation Point Rasboras with Chillies and Cherry shrimp in my paludarium (aquaterrarium with 12 gallon of water). Both rasboras are nice interesting little fish and very similar (chillies are more red with more dots).

[@audrameyer9558]

Great tips, Joanna. Stopping to research is must when fishkeeping. I see such cool fish that I "must have" at my LFS all the time and bust out the old Google machine to see if they will work for the tanks I currently have. Patience is hard as MTS is a thing 🤣

[@pelhamsaquatics]

You know Joanna, you are converting this cichlid guy to nano fish?! Yup it’s true! And in fact I plan to try breeding nano fish as well🙂 I’ve been researching the heck out of a few species. Great video with a lot of viewspoints to ponder about what types and what set ups to do! Thanks so much💯⭐️

[@thesmallscape]

🙌👈 woohoo!!

[@dianakatzeva947]

I just got my first 10 gallon tank with 6 Priscilla glofish and two mystery snails! I also have a blue betta in a 5 gallon tank! I love watching them swim!

[@rockyandmiles9889]

I have a half dozen stone catfish, well, I “think” I do 🤔? Haven’t seen em since the bag they were brought in from the store lol 😂 The obvious clue should’ve been that the LFS employee had to pick up all the rocks to fish them out. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I hope they’re happy? 😅

[@thesmallscape]

Oh yes, those are little stinkers and that’s a great tip - see how they act/hide in the store.

[@catfishcave379]

Lots of great tips! My latest “nano” build is a 40B. 30 Ember tetras, 8 Kuhli loaches, 3 male guppies and 4 cobalt blue gobies. Tank has LOTS of wood and Java Fern, moss, anubias. Will be adding Phoenix rasboras (look like chili but not as aggressive) and Kubotai rasboras. Probably a few more guppies and some longfin panda cories… or maybe some Amano shrimp. I think I threw in a baby calico red pleco… he’ll be the tank giant eventually. Oh… lots of ramshorns… Two more 40B builds after that, and then 3 20L. Thinking of cory tanks and more tetras I haven’t had in 40 years… or never had. Not nano, but maybe some platies…

[@johnjwedrall4290]

I love the schooling fish 🐟 too. Good helpful stuff in this video 👍

[@kdr1048]

I love the green neons too! So awesome! 🙂

[@glennk.7348]

7:36 that is a nice background on this tank … looks like deep water in the back that goes on and on. What was used for this?

[@johnlasco894]

These are many of the same questions I asked myself. All good ideas and thank you for validating my thinking.

[@chriscyr4982]

another great production !!! Lovin' it

[@thesmallscape]

Thanks for stopping by, Chris ☺️

[@diannesorrell6801]

Feeding compatibility: will one species get to the food first and leave the other(s) hungry? I learned the hard way and lost a beautiful betta that couldn't compete. I ended up overfeeding him to make sure he got some, and lost him to bloat.

[@Fishfriend001]

One of my bettas has a hard time finding food, I feed him with a little mini baster to make sure he’s eating enough, but not too much.

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

I hope the Professor has shown you the five gallon Chilli Rasbora tank! I call it the it’s all Farmer Jo’s fault tank! Asked him but he didn’t know so I’ll ask the brains of the show! For the tank I made a DYI co2 tank using an air stone to break up the co2,should I bury the air stone in the gravel to farther break up the co2??

[@aussiejjdude3066]

If you have a power filter, position the CO2 output near the input/output of the filter. The input allows the bubbles to be 'diced' by the filter pump, so is commonly encouraged... but can also cause a gas pocket in some filter types - like canisters - so may work better to position at the output or consider an inline diffuser.

[@wendihamlett105]

Good points! Learned the hard way about backgrounds and substrates !

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Great tutorial, Joanna. Very interesting thoughts.

[@alexandermomchilov3996]

Thank you for the beautiful video! It really helped me understand how to make a great 30g tank full of nano fish. 😍🥰

[@thesmallscape]

How kind! I’m so happy to hear it 😊

[@joek5205]

I've set up my new 20 gal nano tank and accidentally but I'll claim intentionally😄, have a good contrast between the dozen harlequin rasbora who swim fast in a tighter school in the upper level, with the black phantom tetra (nice purple tint) who school at a slower pace near the substrate. Seems in the middle level are the tiny blue neons though I need to add more to see how they'll school.

[@michellebarnhill5130]

Thank you The Small Scape

[@thesmallscape]

☺️

[@brianp6637]

Thanks for the tips. Keep up the good work.

[@lynnbonica4342]

As usual... great tips, very informative. Thanks Joanna.

[@xSilverFernx]

Thank you for sharing this! I think my biggest mistakes (other than the ones you listed) were related to aquarium flow. I like crystal-clear, well-filtered water for reasons related to both aesthetics AND for the health of the fish (clearer water means less of dissolved organic matter and less bacteria). I love bettas for their beauty and interactive behaviors but it was a huge challenge to keep the filtration in my longfin male betta's tank low enough to not stress him out. The tank always looked more dull/grimy than I liked even though I fed very carefully and cleaned his tank with a turkey baster almost every meal time.

[@troylow7900]

indeed to keep a mixed species community tank can be a challenge. sometimes for some baffling reasons, some fishes seems to thrive in one tank and yet when you moved them to another, they struggle. i have two three feet tanks. in one i have a mix of lemon tetras, cherry barbs, five sterbai cories and four siamese algae eaters. on the other tank, i have a mix of pencilfish, rummy nose tetras, a few serpae tetras and an albino bristlenose pleco. while these thrives in my second tank, for some reasons unknown, i can't seems to make otocinclus, danios or cories survive in my second tank.

[@diedine2241]

Thank you for your Video. Can i put Clown Killifish in a 5 Gallon Tank?

[@emmeleppan]

I was bad at keeping up with maintenance on my first 20gal tank, sometimes letting it evaporate to 50% water in the tank before adding water and maybe doing a water change afterwards. No ammonias nor nitrates but high nitrates. I had 5 harlequin rasboras and those things are hardy AF. I still have them and I got my first tank about 3 years ago. They get a special spot on my list of recommended fish.

[@FinnegansFish]

When doing water changes with nano fish, if you are not going into a bucket, make sure they can not get sucked into the syphon and go straight out the back door or down the drain!

[@SS3paranormal]

I paint all the back of my tanks black. I find the colours show better and it gives depth when planting. Out of my 6 tanks have lids. 2 of my bettas don't on there's, they don't jump. I've started putting plants on the top of the tank so roots just in the water and the plant grows out. So far, spider plant and a fern. I love chilli rasboras, have them in a tank with some harlequin rasbora and 2 pea puffers. My guppies keep the males and females in separate tanks and take them to a breeding tank to breed so have selected ones and lines. I tend to use aqua soil capped with sand for all bar one tank which just has aqua soil. Not made any mistakes but I've always thoroughly researched any fish before purchasing them.

[@plushpossum]

Awesome info!!!!! Tempting me to buy another tank.....

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

awesome video

[@glennk.7348]

Have you done a video on recommended numbers to keep of popular fish types? (Eg alone, 2, 3, 6…)

[@Batmancontingencyplans]

This is just the ray of sunshine i needed today.

[@feralon9570]

In our house, it's only a nano fish if it doesn't eat shrimp. lol 💚💚 Our bp's outgrew the 65 gallon and I'm turning it into a big nano tank. We are thinking about trying out some green neon's in there.

[@Whips_World]

Research. Research. Research. Then, when you think you've done enough research, do a little more. Most every fish keeper out there in Fish Keeping Land has a smartphone these days. Use them. They can actually do far more than just watch tiktok videos and post on Facebook. I literally can't shout that from the rooftops loud enough. I say that not to be rude or mean. I don't say it to point fingers. I have failed at doing this myself. It happens. I shouldn't, but it does. For example, while I did do some research, I can honestly say I didn't do enough while entertaining my desire to keep a Silver Arowana. The first answer I saw was the one I wanted to see and ran with it. In my case, the overall expected size they're capable of reaching. The first site I went to said six feet. I said "great" and ran with that. Now I have an Arowana set up in an aquarium that's far too small for her. Had I dug a little deeper, every other site out there says 3ft... some say 4. It's bad for me. It's bad for the fish. It sets a bad example for my channel and the content I create. Do. Your. Research.

[@karru1813]

LOVE your videos!!! ❤

[@thesmallscape]

Thank you so much! ☺️

[@CarolynnMc01]

I'm finally catching up with your videos! Thank you for all your hard work. I do have a question, and if you have time for a reply, please let me know. I have a 29 gal with cory cats who don't bother anyone, a pair of furcata rainbows and two dwarf honey gourami. The honey's are only about an inch right now. I was wondering if it would be a bad idea to add chili rasbora to the tank too. I have some in another tank. I'm not sure if the honeys would think they are lunch after they become adults. Have you ever tried that combination? Thank you bunches.

[@GregorMima]

Hey thank you! Just setting up my 1st 55l tank (right now doing my drystart) with water flow/external filter for these little green kobetai to fake their natural habitat aka river streams. What kind of tiny fish also likes that kind of moving water? Ricefish? Any Cories that don't mind my small tank? Cheers!😊

[@Parula06]

Clown plecos, LOL. I had a 45 gal community tank that I put a clown pleco in. Didn't see it for about 4 years (tons of wood in there), figured it had bit the dust and got another. Never saw that one again either. Fast forward to about 7 years later, and I was moving house so I tore down the tank. And yep, found BOTH plecos. That was 5 years ago. I *still* have both fish, now in two different tanks. Still fat, sassy, and determined to be as invisible as possible..

[@juli8vdberg562]

Thank you so much for being the Geeky Aqua Girl for all of us other aqua geeky girls ☺️

[@wheelbite9]

Switching to nano fish was the best! They have given me a lot of happiness with much less maintenance. The smallest tank in the house gets all of the compliments. :)

[@MargrietvanDijk]

Nice video, @The Small Scape! A few days ago I bought 8 Corydoras pygmeus. Water quality is well, I've tested. They were playing, racing though the aquarium and one was swimming along with the black neons who started imitiating the behaviour of the cory's, with swimming in a fast pace through the tank. That was beautiful to watch. Now, I only see four of them. They are still playing, but much more quiet. I'm a bit worried. They seemed to do well with my red sakura shrimp, but I saw a young guppy chasing them. I also have helbertina helena snails. Perhaps they are the causes. Or: the pet shop received the fish the same day I bought them: it could be stress of two transports in one day. Or the stones on the bottom of the aquarium. I don't know the cause and I'm a bit worried. They could also be lying behind the wood etc. My aquarium is sized 60x30x30 cm. I've got about 15 small red sakura shrimp, 5 black neons, still two adult guppys left (I'' ve startedwith 1 male and 4 female), a lot of young guppy's, and an ancistrus.

[@mtm6326]

Very good list of consideration

[@saintsdustaquariums]

Nice aquarium very clear. Good info

[@Chatlesjett]

Thanks for the info

[@sudiprajspace]

Great job. Informative.👏👏🙂🙂

[@jimmycole2725]

Please help me. I want to set up a tank with Geophagus. What type or brand of black sand do u recommend? Thank you

[@droeksonfishkeeping]

Watch those tiny fish when you are doing maintenance and moving stuff around in the tank, especially if it is a small tank! I once injured a CPD by moving a filter in my 7 gallon cube, accidentally wedging it against the glass. My Betta jumped on it and ate the injured fish and that was that.

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

I am really loving the chili raboras! Gina Hetlage

[@firstsecond3126]

I agree that placement of the tank is hugely important especially a small one. Mine is on the side of my couch 🛋 ❤

[@amymandeville8342]

O wish I had known before I got my Multis that they reproduce worse than rabbits. My seven were over 100 in less than three months.

[@thesmallscape]

🤭 oh yes. Prolific for sure!

[@johncameron4194]

Good video

[@LushSaltyAquariums]

Another good point to add to your great list: Do you have the right foods for such tiny mouth's? (Nothing more annoying than watching your pellets fall to the bottom, untouched, like rocks :(

[@thomasfarrow7053]

I have very hard water - aside from live bearers - e there schooling fish that tolerate such conditions?

[@austrelforgefeu5888]

I have made change in my tank, i had grow it and put a background... well. My guppy (my last survivor) disapear in it. 1.5cm almost no color, like silverish. It wasnt the best choice 😅 he have new friend, he dont hide anymore, it's relieving lol

[@Catalion100]

What is the best minimum numbers for corydoras to keep?

[@jeffereyhopkins750]

Found out that neon tetras and angelfish do not mix real well if you don't want the neons to live food for the angelfish.

[@bobstranzenbach4700]

#2. A chill tank.

[@mikefisher4834]

My favorite school of fish I’ve ever had was a school of black neon tetras and regular neon tetras that schooled together as one species💯🌱🐠💙🔥

[@thesmallscape]

Wow. That sounds BEE-utiful!!

[@damiangrouse4564]

Bought 10 chilis but they didn’t last long in a planted 32g tank with neons, h rasboras plus snails, shrimp. They hid all the time and disappeared one by one…never saw any attacks.

[@bradleyburdett5361]

My seachem tidal 35 filter was killing my Chili Rasboras

[@trilliance]

pay special attention to what you're taking home. ive inspected them carefully at petco, but made the mistake thinking my lfs with its pristine water, filter for each tank, very nice people store knew what they were doing (at least at that moment) and have just said ok thanks, bye. then i got home and had female cherry barbs instead of chili rasboras or vice versa or something. ended up in an uncomfy convo with the ex-lfs owner when i thought/was trying to/paid for emerald eyed rasboras and he gave me tiny green neons. i totally would've noticed if i were a lil more skeptical of everyone around me, but he just stuck em in a bag, then stuck em in a black bag, stuck em on the desk while i paid and bob's your uncle. until i got home and bob, who is not my uncle, but my husband, said 'hey these are not the right fish,' and since i assume he knows nothing about fish, i was like ok w/e, i'll come down and check later. and then, sadface. and then, sadface that ex-lfs owner gaslighted me into thing that maybe, after all, i'd bought something else. OMG I HAVE WRITTEN TOo MUCH JUST TO SAY DONT TRUST ANY HUMANS!

[@RobertMaz]

Hello, I am in the Philadelphia area, are you aware of any good club/communities in this area? Mostly surrounded by Walmart and Petco....Sometimes I run into an employee that actually participates in the hobby, but mostly have to travel 30mins before talking to hobbyists

[@888fluffy]

Here's something no one told me. I got celestial pearl danios who are very chill. I got sold some rosy loaches along with them because they exist together in the wild. Big mistake. They are so fast. And the even chase the danios. They just bother everyone. Wouldn't recommend rosy loaches

[@ngarci8040]

1000% agree the Green neon tetra BEST FISH IN THE WORLD…!

[@thesmallscape]

💚💚💚💚💚🙌🤗😌

[@metalhead9849]

I thought you made an excellent point regarding 'active fish vs. calm fish'. I can't deal with spastic fish. Siamese algae eaters are one example I've had of a extremely active critter that can give you motion sickness. (at least in my 10g. ) That was a mistake and probably for the best it didn't last more than 2 weeks. White clouds, Embers, Neon's, Blood Fin Glass tetras, all work well together. Nice and calm. Relaxing to watch.

[@thesmallscape]

Yes, relaxing to watch is huge for me as well ☺️

[@VonHoff6]

Endlers reproduce like crazy- I had to buy another tank to separate the boys from the girls

[@robertmcdaris7591]

Guppies and cherry shrimp are a big no-no. I am planning the next tank with the shrimp in mind.

[@fishbreedingkeptsimple.]

always coronene i had over 20 nano fish in a 40 gallon and rare and over 10$ each and I added 1 from petco and all my fish died and shrimp.

[@jamesparadigm]

💚💚💙💙

[@monaangela4667]

🙏👌👌🤗

[@rickbooher8224]

It is an addictive hobby and realization that muti tank syndrome will soon be your down fall. That leads to larger tanks. You become an aquarium junky that need a fix of new fish meaning another new aquarium.

[@adamworley196]

Been saying Bettas are gateway drugs for years. 😅

[@theanimanga1744]

im sorry but this is just the something over and over, gave it a chance due to liking your main channel.

[@superweeniehutjrs3896]

Have you ever seen the movie Misery? Do you listen to Depeche Mode? Have you ever gotten bit by a squirrel? Do you steal the scooters littered throughout downtown and throw them in the river?

[@bradleyburdett5361]

Seachem Tidal 35 filters eat baby Chilli Rasbora

[@AussieAquatic]

Bala/Silver Sharks are NOT Nano Fish :)

[@No_Boxing_No_Life25]

I learned how expensive it is to maintain a fish tank. 🤦‍♂️

[@thesmallscape]

True. Certainly can be.

[@MeanOldLady]

My mistake was buying CPDs. Every time I'd look at them, I swear one would die... Now I have 1 lone CPD in the shrimp tank.

[@thesmallscape]

@@MeanOldLady aw nuts, that’s a bummer. I hope you have the lone survivor a really epic name. ☺️

[@lewashcliffe]

My very favorite fish in my 29 gal. tank are my 5 albino cory cats. Originally got them just as bottom cleaners. But, they are so cute and lively, especially around the time I feed them in the evenings. Little acrobats!

[@Finkeldinken]

Corys are my favourite fish, no matter the species. They have such a variety of fun behaviours and every single one is cuteness incarnate!