Quoth "Mary" on Tue, 16 Mar 2004
23:06:22 -0500,

I want to go out this weekend and buy some fish. More than one. Preferably
adding something interesting like, I don't know - a snail or frog of some
type?? I have a 3 yr old son who would love something like this. And I'd
like an algae eater - maybe an oto cat?

Otos are so tempting, but I have heard that they're rather delicate.
Most snails will eat algae off the sides of the tank, so maybe that
would be a better choice.

It all depends on what you and your son consider "interesting," doesn't
it? Me, I am fascinted by the roaming herds of corydoras catfish in the
stores. Some of them stay quite small and you ought to be able to get a
nice group (they are happier in groups, and I think more fun to watch)
into a smaller tank. Male bettas are dramatic, more traditionally
"pretty," and can be quite personable.

I don't know too much about frogs and such. If these interest you and
your son, maybe a non-fish setup would be appropriate. One or more frogs
that will stay quite small; are there any newts that remain small enough
for this tank? Perhaps some crustaceans, like freshwater shrimp and
crawfish (e.g. the blue "lobster"). I invite comment on this, I really
don't know what non-fish filtration needs are nor which non-fish will
get along with each other. And I'm pretty sure you don't want a
Gladiator Tank, whose occupants take turns killing each other, so
compatibility will be important!


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Only know that there is no spork.