10 gallon help!

[Gabriel 50]

Hello, I have read multiple threads on this forum regarding 10G tanks. However, I would like to create my own thread because I have some specific questions.
I have cared for a 40G breeder stocked with exotic fish, that tank is very Successful.
However, I would like to start a 10-gallon tank and keep this tank in my room. So my question is what fish and creatures to stock?

I would like to avoid some of the regular beginner options and go with something more "wow" in the tank. The only more similar ideas I have had are:
1. a beautiful betta with some tetras and shrimp as a cleanup crew.
2. A tank with an interesting school fish (Please name a few) I have considered danios, tetras, etc. What are some other exotic school fish that can live in the 10g tank?

Thanks for reading,

 

[Colin_T]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Is there any chance you can get a bigger tank than a 10 gallon?
The more water in the tank and the bigger the surface area (length x width), the more choice you have for fish.

---------------------
What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply?
This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

 

[Geordie Paul]

You could go with a single blue ram their color is amazing especially under an LED. They like that 84 degree range though. But If you are looking for a school, check out dwarf golden barbs their black and yellowish tint shows up nice. Or celestial pearl danios or some neon or cardinal tetras. Maybe a trio of Oto's as well.

 

[itiwhetu]

The best tank of that size I ever had. I stocked with Clown Killi's and pygmy Cats. It was really cool both of them spawned and it was lots of fun and interesting

 

[Fish4dawin]

I think that you might be able to do Pygmy corys regarding your water parameters. I have a powder blue dwarf gourami in a 12 gallon right now and he’s doing amazing. He’s super blue and earring extremely well. I did have a pair but unfortunately he got stuck in an ornament and damaged his head. I later removed the ornament but I think you could probably have a pair of dwarf gouramis with some otocinclus or Pygmy corys as the bottom feeders

 

[Fish4dawin]

I meant to say eating not earring lol

 

[ClownLurch]

Dependent on dimensions and hardness?
scarlet badis? Dario Dario? Otos? Microdevario kubotai? Pygmy Corys?

Im not sure if exotic in Hertfordshire is the same as exotic in British Columbia? Their ancestors come from the SE states of the US would that count? My eight Heterandria Formosa are waiting to move from a 120L to a second hand 10g of their own around Xmas time. Due to lockdown scheduling difficulties. They’re not the most colourful fish and a bit timid around the guppies n LFWCMMs theyre sharing with atm but when they do come out from the plants it’s a buzz.

“Exotic In Hertfordshire” could be a cheap Brit remake of Sleepless In Seattle. Shame I don’t live in Ealing anymore. Was “East Of Ealing” ever used as a film title? But I digress...as ever. Sorry.

Anyway those are my off the cuff suggestions as i prepare for a tank clean and plant n ornament reshuffle prior to moving WCMMs from QT tank to make way for a new fish delivery sometime before 1pm.

If I think of others I’ll post em once parameters are established. Exotic.....hmmmm.

 

[thuctoanvietnamese]

Red cherry shrimp in a planted tank

 

[Gabriel 50]

WOW, thank you all for the great replies. As for water qualities, I will check. I have a testing kit. Any suggestions on mixing different fish species? I can only work with a 10 gallon this will be going into my reptile room and I just want something vibrant and different to make the place POP. As for setup, what would you recommend for the fish suggested in this thread. By setup I mean, heater, filter, soil, co2, etc. For substate can I do bare bottom? If not I would like to use either black or white sand. Let me know what you guys think!

 

[mcordelia]

If black and white are your only color choices I would go black hands down. It will make your fish pop and a white sand may stress the fish out due to reflected light. I can't wait to see pictures of this project

 

[Essjay]

For substate can I do bare bottom?

The substrate contains countless micro-organisms that help to keep a tank healthy. A substrate of sand or gravel is preferable to no substrate.

 

[Gabriel 50]

thank you for all the suggestions. I now have a fluval flux 9 gallon running preparing to house fish. I have tropical aquarium soil for my substrate. I have bonsai driftwood inside. I am planning to go with wild bettas. Inside of the tank is also leaf litter and driftwood to color the water naturally. The wild bettas are just what I am looking for, something different not your everyday fish that you see. What tank mates would you guys suggest with these wild bettas? A type of shrimp or tetra?

eventually I will be adding CO2

 

[Gabriel 50]

The fish tank is set up in my reptile room currently. I also purchased a mini complete tank and put it in my bedroom as I will no longer have animals in my room, I would like something to display. I know a lot of people are against any type of living creature inside of the mini complete tank, but what you suggest? I would like to add a few crystal shrimp if I can manage to keep the PH low enough. If I am to add anything to the mini tank, I will be added it at the end of December.

 

[hansgruber7]

I would keep a wild betta without tank mates personally. They are likely to eat shrimp and tetras could stress bettas out.

 

[Gabriel 50]

ok, I did some research and I have purchased Wild bettas as a pair, I will probably not keep anything with the bettas.