10 Gallon Tank Suggestions?

[bernermad]

My daughter has a 10 gallon tank in her room for a nightlight (she's 2 years old). We have always kept a single fantail in there but our LFS said goldfish need 20 gallons atleast so we're going to put her fantail in our 30 gallon tank in our room (it's currently cycling with no fish). What else can I do with this 10 gallon tank that isn't cruel to the fish? It has a filter and a heater (currently the heater is not running because there's only the fantail).

I would like to stay away from livebearers just because we originally started out with guppies and they bred and the population got out of control.

Could anyone suggest a small schooling fish that we could maybe keep 4-5 and a cory catfish maybe as well (I've always loved the cories)? Do cories need to be together or would just one be ok?

 

[*Fishkies*]

It's best to try and keep cories in a group of 6.

Some other fish ideas would be neons, i haven't had much luck breeding swortails so they could be a possibility. Umm here is a LINK on some recomendations from TFF.

 

[Tessla]

In addition to the fish mentioned in that link, bettas (siamese fighting fish) do well in tanks of that size, though males often have issues when kept with other fish. Males can usually be kept successfully with bottom feeders like corys, but not many mid to top dwelling fish. A single male or three females would do well in that size tank, if you went for three females you would want to make sure that there are plenty of hiding places in the tank.

Kuhli loaches would also do well in your tank so long as your substrate is sand, they are very shy and like to hide a lot but are quite entertaining while out and about. Should be kept in a group of at least three.

Several species of algae shrimps are great for small tanks. The most common are the red cherry shrimp and the amano shrimp, petshrimp.com has some species info and care guidelines.

I have a ten gallon myself, stocked with a single male betta who happens to get along with two neons (used to have more) and doesn't bother my single amano shrimp, though I wouldn't normally keep a betta with either of these as most would have issues. I've also got four kuhli loaches and don't plan on stocking my tank further. Hopefully that gives you some idea of a stocking level for whatever fish you end up choosing.

 

[paul_219]

Best thing to get is a betta with some ottos to clean the tank up. Ottos should in group of 6. Or some laties or mollies.

 

[LisaLQ]

Cories will be fine in groups over 3. The more the better, but 3 together is perfectly acceptable.

I'd go for 10 dwarf rasbora and 3 pygmy cories. Or 5 harlequin rasbora and 3-5 pygmy cories. Make sure there's some plants in there as that's a little bit over stocked but not a huge amount.

Swordtails get far too big for a 10g.

 

[Fate2006]

you could do what I've done for my 10gallon, 5 black skrit tetras, 3 cory cats and a dwarf gourami... mind you my tank is overstocked, but I'm diligent with water changes and have 35 gallons of filtration on it...

With adiquate filtration and diligant water changes, you should be okay doing what I did... if not, the 5 black skirts alone would be nice

 

[Miss Wiggle]

sorry but i wouldn't put any of the larger tetra's like black skirts in a 10g tank, these guys like swimming space. yes filtration and maintenance is important but it's not the be all and end all.

wouldn't put a DG in either.

to my mind in a 10g unless you have a single specimin fish like a betta you shouldn't have anything that gets over an inch.

in mine i've 5 microrasbora and will hopefully be getting 5 pygmy cories.

 

[LisaLQ]

Hmmm Miss W is right, perhaps my suggestion of 10 dwarf rasbora was a bit OTT. Knock it down to 5-7.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Hmmm Miss W is right, perhaps my suggestion of 10 dwarf rasbora was a bit OTT. Knock it down to 5-7.

you could probably 'get away with' 10 microrasbora and 3 pgymy cories. although i would agree and knock it down a little just from my personal preference for sparsley stocked tanks.

but the bio load from a microrasbora is less than a pgymy cory even though they get to the same size so if you want to push the stocking then do it with the microrasbora not the cories.

 

[smmetz]

I see Sylvia's post abotu 10 gallon suggestions finally got pinned. It's a good read, even if you have already decided what to put in your 10 gallon tank.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=116208&hl=

Also, a quick search of my fish database got 22 hits for fish that should be OK in 10 gallon tanks. You can sort the results by any column by clicking on the column title. (like size, hardiness, temperament, etc) Click again to sort in the reverse order.

http/www.aquariumdatabase.com/fishdb_lis...mp;SearchFor=10

Most of the hits are catfish or livebearers, but there are some others.

As always, if someone strongly disagrees wtih any info in my database, just let me know and I'll research it further to confirm the problem and correct it.

 

[n3ont3tra]

In my 10g I have a DG, 3 otocinclus, about 10 shrimp, and 6 Marbled Hatchetfish, I do 25% waterchanges every Tuesday and my ammonia is 0, nitrites is 0, and nitrates stay below 20. All the fish have plenty of room to swim and don't bother each other. The tank is heavily planted.

For a 2 year old, I would suggest a betta, because they are colorful and hardy. The last thing you want is the fish to die. I also think that one slightly larger/prettier fish will be of more interest to a child than many fish.

 

[Fate2006]

good point neon

 

[bernermad]

Thanks for the replies! I think we have decided to go with a betta and maybe some panda cories. We're still waiting for the 30 gallon to be ready so probably within the next the next 2 weeks it'll be ready than I'll work on getting the 10 gallon ready for the betta and then add the cories. Or would adding the cories first be better? I'll probably get about 4 cories, if that would work. If they don't have enough room then I can always put them in the 30 with the goldfish, or try them in our 75 gallon.

 

[n3ont3tra]

You should add the betta first, then the cories. Once you take the goldfish out, just do a 100% water change and add the betta that day.
Also, you shouldn't put panda cories in with goldfish because cories are tropical and goldies are coldwater.

 

[GoldfishAttentionSpan]

Sounds like you have a plan, but I thought I would share my 10 gallon stocking anyway. I have a male betta, 3 cories, and 3 white cloud mountain minnows (and another betta in a breeding net who is only visiting, and a bristlenose pleco who will move to my 30 gallon as soon as it is set up).