Cories or a new small cichlid?

[Lake’sFishyThoughts]

I have a 10 gallon tank with 3 Buenos Aires tetras(+ a nerite snail) at the moment. My German Blue Ram died about a month or two ago, and he used to eat a good amount of the fallen food from the tetras, who are(from my observation, at least) top to middle feeders. With my GBR gone, pellets that fall the the floor just rot, and I don’t know whether I should get a few Corydoras or another small cichlid(perhaps another GBR?). Corydoras would do a better cleaning job, but due to my tank size, I wouldn’t be able to get enough of them for their schooling nature. Another cichlid wouldn’t be as good at cleaning(plus they have a tendency to be JERKS sometimes), but they don’t need a school and I might be able to add another tetra or two to help out their school. Thoughts?

 

[Lake’sFishyThoughts]

Some photos of my tank, I can add or remove a plant or two as needed

 

[Byron]

The first issue that should be addressed is the Buenos Aires Tetras themselves. This fish, Hyphessobrycon anisitsi, attains close to 3 inches (7 cm), some suggest 3.5 inches. And it should have a group of eight, or it can decide to turn fin nippy. The 10g is not sufficient space for this fish to be at its best.

Until that is resolved, I would not add any more fish. And cichlids are not advisable with a tetra that may decide to fin nip...and regardless of what behaviour they may have previously shown, things can change overnight when fish are stressed, as these likely are from insufficient numbers.

Snails are the best scavengers, no fish really do this. And feed less; manufacturers always say to feed way more than fish require.

 

[Lake’sFishyThoughts]

The first issue that should be addressed is the Buenos Aires Tetras themselves. This fish, Hyphessobrycon anisitsi, attains close to 3 inches (7 cm), some suggest 3.5 inches. And it should have a group of eight, or it can decide to turn fin nippy. The 10g is not sufficient space for this fish to be at its best.

Until that is resolved, I would not add any more fish. And cichlids are not advisable with a tetra that may decide to fin nip...and regardless of what behaviour they may have previously shown, things can change overnight when fish are stressed, as these likely are from insufficient numbers.

Snails are the best scavengers, no fish really do this. And feed less; manufacturers always say to feed way more than fish require.

Unfortunately, I am unable to get a larger tank for them right now. However, they have not grown to that size, they have stayed around the 2-2.5 inch mark except for one, who is around 3 inches.

I will definitely try to feed less, though.