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[piatotsini]

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[Fishy Mishy]

I'm planning on getting pygmy rasboras and red cherry shrimp for my 10 US gallon tank (38 liters). The tank is in the process of planting, but it will be fully planted when I'm done.

Here's my problem...The online store that sells the pygmy rasbora will only sell no less than 10 of them at a time. Will my tank be overstocked? (Say, I get 10 pygmy rasboras and 5 cherry shrimps, nothing else).

If it's not overstocked (yet), what's the max number of rasboras can I get? I worry about deaths during shipping, so I'd like to get a good number of them, and still have enough even if some of them die.

Also! I'm planning on setting up a holding tank for each "batch" while waiting for the bacteria in my main tank to acclimate to the new ammonia levels from the fish. I only have a couple of 1 gallon goldfishbowls with oxygen at the moment to possibly hold 3-4 fish each.

Can the bowls cycle just from the water and plants from the established tank alone? I really cant put the filter in there because it's an HOB, I can't hang it on a bowl.

Suggestions?

Please??

Anyone???



EDIT: pygmy rasboras max out at 1 inch (2.5 cm), but that's the absolute max length, not the average length. The store I'm buying them from says the average adult size of their stock is 3/4 inch (2 cm).

Hi, firstly I would be careful about buying from an online store - if you can go and see the fish you buy and the conditions they are kept in it will be better. General rule of thumb is 1 gallon to 1 inch of fish so you would be overstocked.

 

[diademhill]

I understand that having a 10 gallon tank gives me a limited number of fish to choose from. My first choice was neon tetras, as they were small in size and produce little bioload. However, a lot of members have told me not to get them unless my tank is at least 4 months mature.

A few members suggested pygmy rasboras instead. I've found that they were actually smaller than neon tetras. But they're really, really and I mean, REALLY hard to find, hence I had to order online.

By the way, aren't small shrimps not included in the bioload?

Pygmy rasboras are no hardier than neons so you still need to get the tank matured. Do you know anyone with a healty tank who can give you some livebearer fry to grow on once your tank is cycled.
Alternatively, male endlers are pretty tough.
Small shrimps aren't counted - unless the tank is small & the stocking is high when they can just tip the balance.