My Tank

[ninjaboy]

Alright, so here is the thing. In the beginnging of June, I got a 10 Gallon tank, Hood, and Light. Gravel, Filter, and fish. I got alot of fish for my 10 Gallon. I have 2 Dwarf Gouramis, 4 Tetras, 1 Bloodfin Tetra, 2 Clown Loaches (they were small when I got them, about 1-2 inches), I had 3 tiger barbs, gave two away and kept the smallest one as to minimize fin nipping (which worked cause now he just chills all day with the clown loaches...thinking hes one of them =)), and I have 1 gold fish and 1 female betta. Now thats 10 fish and I've been reading that there is enough room in a 20 gallon for two small fish. Is it luck that my tank hasn't yet fallen apart? Or is it common that they will live together until they all outgrow the tank?

I forgot my Upside Down Catfish! he's really cool!

Two gold fishes live in their bowls.

 

[JackDemp528]

Can I just say wow? You need to do something very soon to fix your tank. A goldfish can't be in with those fish, and I wouldn't put a female betta in there either. Clown Loaches grow up to a foot and need a 55 gallon tank minimum.

And goldfishes don't belong in bowls, they need a 10 gallon minimum, and I don't mean a 10 gallon with a ton of other fish in it either.
If I were you I'd find them new homes, and maybe get a couple cories, and some tetras, and possibly the dwarfs.

 

[FishFun]

Well, probably what is happening is that you fish are not mature yet. In a tropical fish tank the general rule of thumb is to have 1 inch of fish for 1 gallon of water.

Tallying up your fish, you have:

1 Female Betta = 2" = 2 Gall
Dwarf Gourami = 2" x 2 fish = 4 Gall
Tetras (assuming neon's) = 1.5" x 4 = 6 Gall
Bloodfin Teta = 2.5" = 2.5 Gallons
Clown Loaches = 8" x 2 = 16 Gallons
Upside down catfish = 3.5" = 3.5 Gall

For a Grand Tropical Total of 34 Gall

1 Goldfish = 6" These guys are a whole other ball of wax. They guys are messy and should be kept in a minimum 30 gallon tank. They are also a cold water variety while all your other fish are tropical (meaning they like warm water - high 70 degree range)

So to answer your question, yes, so far you have been lucky. What will happen is that as the fish get older, they will get bigger, then they will produce more waste (euphamism for URINE). When the amount of waste they produce is too high for the biological filter to handle your fish will slowly (or not so slowly) suffocate to death. They are basically swimming in their own urine which is full of ammonia so it burns their gills, eyes and skin.

My suggestion is to do lots of water changes and test your ph constantly until you can find another aquarium to put some of these guys in. The clown loaches are going to get big and the optimal size aquarium for them is around 50 gallons.

Good luck! Hope you can find something that will work, maybe you can give some of the fish back to the lfs? Explain your problem, sometimes they can help you out or help you with an alternative.

 

[ninjaboy]

I wont be returning the fish to the pet store, but I probably will be getting a new aquarium(s).

And yes, I did realize how big they were going to get.

 

[colen]

Just give it time...

I cant even imagine that combo of fish in any tank let alone a 10 gallon.

 

[Synirr]

You'd need at least two more larger tanks to house all of those fish properly, and fast. It is a disaster waiting to happen. Either buy the tanks very, very soon or rehome some of the fish. Rehoming fish can be difficult once you've gotten attached to them, but it can absolutely be the best thing for them, and it's their wellbeing you should be thinking of.... or at least think of all the money you'll have wasted once they start dying off.

 

[Inchworm]

Is it luck that my tank hasn't yet fallen apart? Or is it common that they will live together until they all outgrow the tank?

Sure, many kinds of fish will live together while they are still young and small and do just fine. But, to give them their best chance for having happy and healthy lives, please plan to move them up to a larger tank BEFORE they outgrow your little tank.

For young fish to grow and prosper they need lots of clean and fresh water and room to swim. In this regard they are just like human children; they can live in cramped spaces, but it takes more to grow them up healthy, strong and fully developed.

 

[@ombomb]

And yes, I did realize how big they were going to get.

Then buying them was either stupidy or just completely irresponsible IMO.

You have about the same stocking level (apart from my plecs) as I have in my 50, which I consider full.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Well, let's put it this way:

All the fish forums I have visited have threads like yours: I/my mate/somebody my boss knows has a 10 gallon bowl with bala sharks/plecos/clown loaches etc and they are all perfectly happy.

And all the fish forums in their emergency section have threads of: Oh help, my tank just crashed, why are all my fish dead/killing each other, I've had the tank for ages and never had a problem.

Go figure.

Or better still read up on old tank syndrome.

 

[ninjaboy]

And yes, I did realize how big they were going to get.

Then buying them was either stupidy or just completely irresponsible IMO.

You have about the same stocking level (apart from my plecs) as I have in my 50, which I consider full.

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Actually, I had been looking for other aquariums to house my fish since I got them. Its just room has been tight around here and I am a little low on cash. Please, refrain from trying to be insulting next time.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Why buy the fish if you provide completely inadequate housing? Goldfish in bowls is one of the absolute worst things you can do. You also have clown loaches which you shouldn't get unless you have enough space for a massive tank, and you have low amounts of space. Yes, they grow slow, but surely its better and less stressfull for the fish and far cheaper and easier for you if you just get the right sized tank?

 

[FishFun]

Not sure about tropical fish, but with goldfish, if you put them in a tank that is too small for them, it can stunt their growth thereby shortening their life span.

 

[Inchworm]

Actually, I had been looking for other aquariums to house my fish since I got them. Its just room has been tight around here and I am a little low on cash.

I think ninjaboy has gotten the point you are all trying to make. It would probably be more helpful to him AND to his fish if the discussion would turn to ways he can go about finding a bigger tank on a small budget. It's not easy but not impossible either. I know I've done it!


There are many people who have bought nice set ups without bothering to research the hobby first. Basements and garages all over have them and many folks would just as soon sell them for a few dollars or even give them away to someone who could us them.

Let's help him out by suggesting ways for him to find them.

 

[ninjaboy]

Actually, I had been looking for other aquariums to house my fish since I got them. Its just room has been tight around here and I am a little low on cash.

I think ninjaboy has gotten the point you are all trying to make. It would probably be more helpful to him AND to his fish if the discussion would turn to ways he can go about finding a bigger tank on a small budget. It's not easy but not impossible either. I know I've done it!


There are many people who have bought nice set ups without bothering to research the hobby first. Basements and garages all over have them and many folks would just as soon sell them for a few dollars or even give them away to someone who could us them.

Let's help him out by suggesting ways for him to find them.

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Any thing with what you're talking about would be awesome to find!! My little bro has gotten a 10 gallon tank, and when I see him, I think I will give him a some of my fishes.

About the goldfish. I didn't know it could stunt their growth, so I need to try and find a bigger tank for them.

Thanks for the info Inchworm!

 

[ninjaboy]

All the fish forums I have visited have threads like yours: I/my mate/somebody my boss knows has a 10 gallon bowl with bala sharks/plecos/clown loaches etc and they are all perfectly happy.

And all the fish forums in their emergency section have threads of: Oh help, my tank just crashed, why are all my fish dead/killing each other, I've had the tank for ages and never had a problem.

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Thats why I am posting it up here. To avoid all my fishes from dying. But since I have posted this, I have gotten 2 or 3 helpful remarks.

Edit:

And yes, I am a newbie to this hobby.