Is A 10 Gallon Tank Too Small?

[IloveGouramis]

Hi, i just joined these forums because i love fish (especially gouramis)

anyways, i just bought a 10 gallon tank and decided that i want to keep dwarf gouramis. But is the tank too small to support two males?

If it is, i can buy a male and a two female and try to breed them, ive had some experience in that when i breeded guppies.

My main question is: Is a 10 gallon tank is too small for two males to live?

thanks for any replies

 

[Chri$]

A 10 gallon is to small for two males.

There wouldn't be enough room for each to establish a territory. Ideally you would need a 30g+ to keep to males.

 

[IloveGouramis]

Is a 10 gallon tank too small two females and one male though?

 

[sylvia]

Yes - it's far too small. If you want dwarfs (Colisa lalia), you have room only for one male.

However, get honeys instead - then you can keep a trio (1 male, 2 females). Note, BTW, I don't mean the honey color morph of the dwarf gourami - I mean the actual honey gourami (Colisa chuna/sota). Make sure you know the scientific name and don't confuse them.

Also, make sure you fishless cycle beforehand. Neither of these gourami species can cycle a tank - they'll die.

 

[IloveGouramis]

oh ok thanks, but is breeding honeys the same as breeding dwarfs?

Wait, what is fishless cycle?

 

[blackbat]

why do you want to breed them? where would you put the females after breeding and the male after the fry are a few days old? what will you do with the fry when they are grown?

why not just enjoy the fish you have as it seems a lot already.

 

[sylvia]

Yes, they are bred the same as dwarfs and are much hardier. However, I agree - you need to be aware of what you're getting into if you plan to breed. You need a seperate breeding tank and a larger grow-out tank. A single 10 gallon is no good for breeding gouramies of any type. Also, ahve you cosndiered what you're going to feed the fry? They won't take flake. They need live foods and they need to be tiny (check out the pinned articles in the betta forum BTW).

For info. on fishless cycling, read through the links in my signature. The very fact that you don't know what this is, means you are not ready for breeding gouramies.

 

[blackbat]

well said

 

[IloveGouramis]

ok so i won't breed them.

i think ill just keep one gourami and maybe 5 neon tetras or is that still too crowded?

 

[sylvia]

If that's all you're going to keep, then that's fine but increase the number of neons to about 7 - they do better the larger the group and your tank would be just big enough. Having said that, you still need to do a fishless cycle - neons are even worse for cycling tanks than dwarf gouramies are!

 

[IloveGouramis]

what kind of gourami should i keep?

because i want one thats not to big but gentle, my friend had a dwarf gourami bit the fish in his communtiy tank so much that he had to separate it...


Edit: Btw, i read the hyperlink about the fishless cycle in your sig about 3 times and it helped me understand a lot thanks. But, where can i find ammonia? and is it ok if i finish the cycle and dont add fish in the tank for maybe 1 or 2 weeks? thanks again for helping me sylvia

 

[BiffMalawi]

Most grocery stores sell ammonia ion the cleaning section. Make sur vyou read the ingredients, you need pure ammonia no additives. You can keep the tank empty for awhile after the cycle is complete by continuing to add ammonia.

 

[sylvia]

Yes, as long as you continue adding ammonia, the tank will be fine until you want to add fish - even once the cycle is complete. The ammonia just acts as a substitute for fish Do a large water change a couple of hours before you'll be adding the fish though to make sure the nitrate levels aren't too high. (And make sure you sue dechlorinated tap water for water changes or yourtank will un-cycle!)

I thought you'd settled for the one dwarf gourami? I know your friend said his/her fish was aggressive but I'd be quite willing to bet on this being his/her fault and little to do with the fish. Virtualy all species of fish will become aggressive if kept in the wrong environment.

Having said that, the honey gourami suggestion still stands (either a single male or a trio if you preffer - that is 1 male and 2 females but make sure there are hiding places available for the girls).

Unfortunately, most of the other common gourami species are too large or not as brightly-colored as these two species. Some small but blander species are the croaking gouramies and sparkling gouramies. I say 'bland' but they are still very pretty. Sparklers (Trichopsis pumilus) are probably more appropriate as they stay smaller (barely 1"). The bigger the group you keep, the higher your chances of maintaining a peaceful tank You see, they are unfortunately tricky to sex (especialy when juveniles) - otherwise, a male with 2-3 females would be an ideal number.

All of these still work with a small school of 5-6 neons.

Have you considered bettas BTW? Males are highly antisocial but females can be kept in a group. The group needs to consist of at least 4 individuals to spread out aggression 5 in a 10 gallon would just about do). Unfortunately, bettas don't often do well with little tetras or anything likely to get picked on or that can nip. However, female bettas mroe than make up for this with the wide variety of colors and fin types available.

Provided you don't end up with anything that'll eat them, also consider shrimp as a bottom-dwelling option for a small tank. Check out this site: http/www.petshrimp.com for info. on care and available species. Ghost/amano shrimp and cherry shrimp are probably the most common and suitable. Don't be fooled by their appearance - shrimp are extremely active and can 'swim' very quickly. They are just as entertaining to watch as fish - and in the brightly-colored species, equaly conspicuous and vibrant.

 

[IloveGouramis]

cool, thanks for the link Sylvia

I like the amano and cherry shrimp but can you keep them together? or are they terretorial

I also hope my gourami wont try to bite them

I just hope i can find one of those shrimps in my lfs...

 

[sylvia]

Yep, you can keep both species together and in groups. Dwarf gouramies will usualy ignore them. You'll find the shrimp are very adept at getting away and hiding anyway. Do avoid getting very small (mouthful-sized ) ones though Fish will eat anything they can fit in their mouths.