Stocking 10 gallon

[labrakitty]

I have a 10 gallon bow front tank that I am restocking.

Filter: Eheim Aquaball-I’m not sure the size name but it’s the second biggest
Water Changes: fortnightly
Ph: 6.8
Plants/Décor: heavily planted with bogwood

Fish:
-1 peppermint bristle nose (small)
-2 otocinclus

I was thinking of adding some rummy-nose tetras, would they be suitable? Any other ideas welcome!

Thanks

 

[richiestang_78]

Well 10gals is too small for your bristle nose and same with the otos. I have a few rummy noses and like them. Could try a Betta or Dwarf Gourami.

 

[labrakitty]

The Peppermint bristle nose (the variety is smaller than a regular bristlenose) is going to be moved when it grows to big to a much larger tank, but at the moment it is very small and it wouldn't get any food in the larger tank. Don't otos only grow to 4-5cm? I thought that would be ok for a 10 gallon as there are only two of them.

 

[richiestang_78]

Doesn't matter about the size to which a fish gets theres a little more to it then that, most books and articles suggest a minimum of 30gals for otos.

 

[labrakitty]

I know about all the other things that matter. I have a book that says 2-3 otos would be ok in a 10 gallon and my lfs also said that would be ok.

 

[WaterPond]

I beg to differ, but otos can definately live in a 10gal.. jeez, i have had a few in my 5gal, and they did amazingly.

The bristlenose could be comfortably kept in a 10gal its whole life, they only get about 3.5"

 

[bs6749]

I also think that 2 ottos would be okay in a ten gallon tank. I have 2 in my 55 gallon tank and they stay in the same general area every day. They moved a lot at first but now are pretty much settled in to their little home. I think a BN would be okay as well in a ten gallon tank but it would probably be more comfortable in a 20 or larger.

 

[labrakitty]

Thanks everyone! That's what I thought. I have the bigger tank as a back up plan incase the bristle nose is unhappy, but the fish seem to be fine in there.

Do you think it would be alright to add a small school of tetras or harlequins?

 

[WaterPond]

sure thing! How about

1 BN pleco
3 otos
6 neon tetras/ harle. rasboras

If you keep up the water changes, it will work. Plecos ar poop machines, just keep that in mind.

 

[fish 'n' fries]

Just another 2 cents on the otos. My understanding with why you might need a larger tank is only if you are hoping to feed them solely on algae. A 10 gallon may not provide enough algae, but many/most people supplement them with wafers, veggies etc. That seems to decrease the tank recommendations to what seems reasonable for a 4 cm fish.

 

[labrakitty]

Thanks for the idea waterpond, that sounds really good! Now I just have to decide what type of tetra/harlequin.

1 PBN
2 otos (should I add 1 more?)-i feed them lettuce, zuccini, algae wafers
6 rummy nose?

what tetra would look the best?

 

[bs6749]

Rummy nose would probably be too big for a 10 gallon.

 

[labrakitty]

What tetras would be ok then?

 

[rich311k]

Rummys max out at two inches. They will do fine in a ten gallon tank.

 

[coldmachineUK]

I'd probably opt to move the BN plec out now since it's not a great sized home for him, and then I'd go with 2 otos and 4-6 neon tetra or something
I personally wouldn't go for for putting six 2" fish (rummynose) in there.

 

[WaterPond]

i would go with neons... they have very low bioloads, and with them, you could probably still have the BN pleco and the two otos.

 

[cee219]

I'm currently stocking a 10 gallon as well once it's done cycling. I right now have five african dwarf frogs in my big tank that I'm going to move into it along with something simple - like guppies. The frogs are fantastic and are great for a smaller tank. As long as you have some peaceful other fish in it everything is good.

 

[bs6749]

As suggested above, neon tetras would be okay and so would cardinal tetras. You may also go with glo light tetras or a smaller specie of tetra. I wouldn't put rummy nose in a ten gallon (not 6) because I don't think there would be enough room for them to swim. After all, they are a schooling fish and they need room to move. They should be kept with at least 6 for a group so that would rule them out of a ten gallon tank IMO.

 

[labrakitty]

Ok thanks, would black neons be alright (because they are a bit larger than normal neons)?

 

[newfound77951]

Black neons should be fine, or regular neons. I have a school of pristella tetras in a small tank and I really like them.