Is a 3 gallon tank even worth keeping?

[Yemeyana]

To cut a long story short, it was my first fish tank. After a very, very short time on the internet I discovered it was unsuitable for any fish.

And so now I'm wondering - is there ANY animal that could live in it?

It is 12" long, 7" wide, and 9" deep. It's made of acrylic, not glass.

My only thoughts are:
Are there any insects or arthropods that would be comfortable?
and
Can I convert it upwards (change the 9" into 24" or more) to a suitable size and use it to house a very arboreal species? And if so which?

I'm asking sooner rather than later so that I can both start work on it (if possible) or throw it away (which seems more likely).

[beckdg]

i think you're on the right track.

a holding cell for feeders until they're consumed.
a QT for treating sick critters.
a transport cell for new additions to the clan.
a nice little critter keeper for non-demanding insects where space is concerned. you should be able to keep an arboreal tarantula in there once the height is extended (i think).

but, if you want to toss it there's nothing wrong with that either.

[Yemeyana]

Can you suggest any specific species? Unfortunately I think a tarantula might be beyond my persuasive powers (I live wth parents...) though I'd still be curious what's available.

Thanks!

[beckdg]

sorry, but...

Originally Posted by beckdg

(i think).

there are folks on the boards here that would know. probably better getting their attention in the spider section.

[Yemeyana]

I've seen some nice small arboreal tarantulas from looking around, and I might ask in the other forum tomorrow.

I have one more idea - could it be used as a viewable swimming area? I was thinking of something like this, it would give a unique view of an amphibian or swimmer, if you know of any that can swim in 3 gallons of water.



(or is this another question for a specific forum? I made the thread in this one because it isn't specific... )

[leuc11]

I would convert it into a vertical make a clay background and put one brom and a few vines moss and leaf litter in it and put like a little thumbnail dart frog in it or treefrog It would make a good desktop tank

[beckdg]

IMO that would be a fantastic setup for a colony of hermit crabs, given the right parameters. not amphibs, but the first thing that comes to mind.

[Pavel]

I'd keep it personally -- for all the reasons Beck mentioned.

Btw, there are terrestrial T's that would be fine in there -- the dimensions you quoted are just barely smaller than the KritterKeeper my Chilean Rosehair calls home. I've had her for about 15 or more years now.

Other arthropod options: Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches would be fine. Millipedes (including the giant), centipedes, scorpions, and many species of true spiders also come to mind as options.

As far as fish go, I have never done fish, but that is a far bigger tank than most folks keep betas in. Would it work for such? Or for a few guppies?

With that in mind, could it be used for the water section of a paludarium?

Additional uses:

an area to raise mosses or other moisture loving plants you wish to grow out a bit perhaps, before subjecting same to the wear and tear an animal might commit

a small terrarium for carnivorous plants

a soaking pool for a medium sized snake (useful around molting time).

[beckdg]

for fish, i would suggest bigger for optimum living conditions and to avoid constant (daily) maintenance. a couple of freshwater shrimp or freshwater snails could work out well, though.

other than that, i'd have to completely agree with pavel.

[highvoltagerob]

I think a small piece of driftwood with some baby tears growing on it and some cherry shrimp!! That would look great and be quite low maintenance.