I Know It's Been Done A Million Times, But Inspire Me Please

[MermaidMel]

I'd strongly recommend against keeping guppies in a 10-gallon tank. Females are way too big, and in groups the males will harass the females without mercy. Males can bully one another too. Just not worth it.

I'm not a big fan of trying to wedge community tank species into 10-gallon tanks. Instead see these small tanks for what they are: specialist tanks, for projects such as rearing baby fish or quarantining new livestock. This isn't to say you can't have fun with small tanks, you can; but think carefully. Gobies and gudgeons (such as Tateurndina ocellicauda) can be a lot of fun, as can certain very small catfish that wouldn't work well in community tanks for one reason or another. Banjo catfish for example, or dwarf Aspidoras.

Cheers, Neale

Thanks for those Neale, I have a huge book on my shelf of various species, I will look through and see if I can be more original than just cramming guppies into a small space. When you put it the way you have, there is actually more I could do with the tank and probably get better rewarded for it.

 

[nmonks]

Precisely so. I've got some pictures of my "freshwater reef tank" on my web site. The tank is not quite 10 gallons in size, but utterly absorbing to watch. Instead of cramming lots of fish in there, there are a few carefully chosen species plus lots of invertebrates and plants. The result is something very different to a standard community system. In big tanks, snails and shrimps get overlooked, but in a small tank you can look for baby shrimps, watch the predatory snails hunt, observe the gobies guarding their eggs, and more.

Cheers, Neale

When you put it the way you have, there is actually more I could do with the tank and probably get better rewarded for it.

 

[LauraFrog]

My favourites for small tanks are small natives (Australian species) which I have a major soft spot for. They are delicate but get along with anything that leaves them alone, like dwarf corys, otos or just about any small, peaceful bottom dweller you like.

Pseudomugil signifer is the least delicate. It prefers a lightly brackish tank and makes great tank mates for bumblebee gobies or other small and inoffensive bottom dwellers. (Pacific blue-eye)
Pseuodmugil furcatus doesn't mind brackish or fresh water. It is more colourful than P. signifer but may be harder to get. (Forktail blue eye)
Pseudomugil gertrudae is the other Psuedo often sold overseas. It's the prettiest of its genus in my opinion except for P. mellus which has never been exported to my knowledge. It's smaller and more delicate than the others, at about an inch, and it is a freshwater fish. (Spotted blue eye)

Then there's Iriatherina werneri, which is a real gem with its great long fins, but they obviously preclude it from being kept with tetras etc which will treat them as snacks. Anotehr small and delightful species. It's known as the Threadfin or Filament rainbowfish.

If you did go with tetras embers are good for small tanks, they are so tiny you can put loads in there for a very nice display.
For something a bit unusual not many people get around to keeping celestial pearl danio (galaxy rasbora) but be careful where your stock comes from because overcollection has almost caused the extinction of this species in the wild - please choose captive bred!
Then there are other tiny little beauties like Boraras brigittae (can't remember the common name sorry!)

 

[MermaidMel]

Thanks Laura. I really love Neale's idea of a small community of oddments, I will look into your suggestions (all those Latin names baffle me!!) but it's down to what the store have really. I will let you know what I decide to stock it with in the end.

 

[Hayleamorgan]

Thanks Laura. I really love Neale's idea of a small community of oddments, I will look into your suggestions (all those Latin names baffle me!!) but it's down to what the store have really. I will let you know what I decide to stock it with in the end.

Hey mel
Dont think that because you only have 2 puffers in a tank that it will be boring. Puffers have so much personality they will keep you entertained for hours watching them
Kind Regds

 

[MermaidMel]

Thanks Laura. I really love Neale's idea of a small community of oddments, I will look into your suggestions (all those Latin names baffle me!!) but it's down to what the store have really. I will let you know what I decide to stock it with in the end.

Hey mel
Dont think that because you only have 2 puffers in a tank that it will be boring. Puffers have so much personality they will keep you entertained for hours watching them
Kind Regds

Definitely a possibility hun, looking into that plus other ideas, I am liking Neale's idea of an oddball miniature aquarium too x

 

[NottsFishy]

I would deffo go with Neales idea that imo would look great