neon tetra question

[mollymama]

I'm looking into getting some neon tetras to (re)stock my daughter's 10 gallon tank. (We just lost our molly.) I have read 6 is a good number as they are schooling fish, and with a 10 gallon I don't think I should add more than that. Thoughts? Would a 10 gallon be ok for 6 of these fish? And should I add 2-3 at a time in the beginning? Also, I have food left over from our mollies. Can I use that with tetras?

Sorry for all the questions. But I've learned not to ask the pet store folks ANYTHING. I just want to go in and buy the fish...no talking beyond that.

 

[Gboy66]

Yes 6 is good but id go 7. Also, maybe some shrimp? Also, add maybe 3 in the beginning, and 4 more a werk later if the firat 3 are all alive. I think that food would be good, is it flakes?

 

[mollymama]

Thanks!
It's flakes...multi-colored stuff that doesn't say it's specified for any particular fish type.

 

[Gboy66]

Ya than your great. Are you going to add shrimp?

 

[mollymama]

I hadn't thought about that...would the shrimp be for show or are they beneficial to the tank with tetras in it?

 

[Gboy66]

Nice little cleaners. Also they look good, breed easily, and take up almost no bioload. I must warn you though, with say 7 tetras, they wont really school in a 10 g by them selves. Theyll probably explore the tank individually

 

[absolutangel04]

You would be fine with 6 neons. Shrimp are good too and lot of fun.

 

[Sharkbait54]

I agree with neons they are great and shrimp are easy would work great for a 10g and would clean up un eaten food!

 

[bruinsbro1997]

Six neons could easily squeeze in a ten gallon tank plus a centerpiece. If you wanted to max it out I'd try eight.

 

[jwh0818]

You would be fine with 6 neons. Shrimp are good too and lot of fun.

You can have 8 in a 10g with 10 ghost shrimp

 

[mollymama]

Now you guys have me thinking about shrimp...lol. I'm hijacking my daughter's tank!

Another question...we got 3 neons today (cute little buggers!). Of course while we were at the store, we started looking at other fish. Can I mix tetras? There were some blackskirts and bloodfins that we liked. The blackskirts look quite a bit bigger, though, but the bloodfins seemed comparable in size to the neons. Could I add 3 of either of these types to the 10 gallon?

 

[absolutangel04]

Nope. Black skirts need a much bigger tank. They get sort of big as far as tetras go. IMO, bloodfins should be in at least a 20 gallon tank. Also, you should get at least of 4 of any schooling fish, but with neons (and most other tetras) I would recommend 6-7.