Thank you both -- we were told to go with a goldfish to start with so we didn't have to run the filter for 2-3 weeks before she gets her other fish. We would have a filter and possibly buy one of those feces eating fish to help. She wants Betas and/or Mollies ultimately I think. I guess we just wanted a small goldfish to dirty up the super clean water -- but if they are that filthy we could just buy the equipment and run it for the recommended time. I thought that was waaay too much water for such a little fish (I am hoping to get fish that stay small (< 3 inches) because we want a lot in a small space for the "screen saver" affect in her room. She has such a hard time going to sleep and reads about 50-100 pgs a night (and she's only 11). Can you tell we have no idea what we're doing? *unsure* Edit -- Tetra was the other fish she wanted in there (perfect size for a 5 gal I think!) ~ Mimi ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ~ Mimi's Ménagerie ~ http://www.neopets.com/browseshop.phtml?owner=temps_bons&misc

I had goldfish before and found that if they are placed in smaller aquariums, they wont grow to their full size. So they will pretty much stay at the same size you bought them at (with the exception of the microscopic baby ones which will grow to "regular" size and stop) But they'll still be larger than most tropical fish and lol @ feces machine. That is so true LOL.

Goldfish are disgusting. *shudder* I had a fresh water 20 gallon tank for a long time, real plants and everything. My favorite fish were my Gourami. They are very, very pretty, extremely hardy, and friendly to boot. I had a few of those and some tetras for "filler". Plus a couple Otocinclus Cats (Otos) for the algae. I tried a snail for the algae, but I think I managed to get some eggs or something, because within a couple weeks, I had so many snails I couldn't get rid of them. It was very annoying. Otherwise, I really liked my big snail. *lol* Right now, I have 5 dogs, 5 cats and 19 chickens. I used to have ferrets, 8 at one point. I love animals, and I've had at least one pet all the time since I was 11. Even when I was in college, but I lived in my own apartment with my boyfriend so it wasn't like having to live in a dorm with one. -- spooneh! Only the spoon knows what is stirring in the pot. ~Italian Proverb

So wait... your boyfriend was your pet when you were in college? :P

lol.. Should I reallllly go there? Nah, I'll pass. ;) -- spooneh! Only the spoon knows what is stirring in the pot. ~Italian Proverb

I had two dwarf hamsters a few years ago. They were so freakin' adorable, but they were both a bit mean. The girl was sometimes a little bitchy. lol. After they passed on, I had a Golden hamster (I think thats what it was called) and a Teddy Bear hamster. My cat killed the Golden hamster a couple years ago, and the Teddy Bear hamster died about a month and a half ago. :( I live in an apartment now, so really, I'm not even allowed to have hamsters. I smuggled him in. 0:-)

Poor betas get treated horribly in small little bowls. They really need so much more than anyone knows. They need at least 10 gallons, a heater, and a quiet low-currant filter. We have 1 with 2 small fish, as if there are any big or pretty fish in the tank with them, they will kill. So I have 2 small, ugly little things that get chased like nobody's business =D Also, they love to swim in plants, but plastic plants can rip their delicate fins, so you must get live or silk plants... We have little toys for him to run through and he likes to hide and then sneak attack the other fish...haha.. I rescue betas from Meijer all the time...The love thinks I am insane =D They are also very delicate when it comes to transferring them into a tank..it has to be filtered right and a good temp. first, otherwise they will suffocate and die...Which is extremely sad! So, yes...I like to read up on upkeep on them :*

yeah problem with betas is... the dudes dont like other dudes so you're pretty much stuck with 1 fish a tank. i remember messing around when i had one. it involved a mirror (a) this was 12 years ago though so that behavior must be excused! :p

lol the dudes don't like any, but as I said, you can have small other fish in there =D and sometimes they just learn to co-operate, and I have had 8 other fish with one :D and a mirror! Dmitri! Horrible... =(

I once had a goldfish that lived 4 years. I didnt know they could live that long. All the rest of them died within a few months. I always liked having guppies better. They were smaller and they have a bunch of babies. I always got the fat ones so as soon as we got them a few weeks later we would have more! lol