Help me stock my 10 gallon tank!

[mrhelton]

Hi

I'm currently cycling my second tank, a 10 gallon FW tank. I planned to use it to breed cherry shrimp, but I don't really have anything to do with all the babies, and it would be cruel to let them die, so I decided to have a second fishtank instead.

My 29 gallon has zebra danio, rainbowfish, black skirts, bloodfins, dalmation mollies, and a pleco (which will be moved to my 120 once I get it). I prefer to try a different kind of fish.

Any suggestions for a stock list of cool fish that aren't too hard to care for? This is only my second "real" tank (my other 2 before these were complete failures that I didn't maintain or research).

For substrate I have white pool filter sand and plan to heavily plant the tank as well as add a small piece of driftwood. (I'm using the old 20w 6700k light from my 29 gallon that I just upgraded to 48w)

I don't have a heater at the moment, so the tank sits around 71, but I will probably get a 50 watt heater if not having one greatly limits my options.

EDIT: I didn't use any kind of fertilizer under the sand. Do I need to use root tabs or is flourish enough to make the plants thrive? I'm not planning to use CO2.

 

[Greenturtle]

Hi

I'm currently cycling my second tank, a 10 gallon FW tank. I planned to use it to breed cherry shrimp, but I don't really have anything to do with all the babies, and it would be cruel to let them die, so I decided to have a second fishtank instead.

My 29 gallon has zebra danio, rainbowfish, black skirts, bloodfins, dalmation mollies, and a pleco (which will be moved to my 120 once I get it). I prefer to try a different kind of fish.

Any suggestions for a stock list of cool fish that aren't too hard to care for? This is only my second "real" tank (my other 2 before these were complete failures that I didn't maintain or research).

For substrate I have white pool filter sand and plan to heavily plant the tank as well as add a small piece of driftwood. (I'm using the old 20w 6700k light from my 29 gallon that I just upgraded to 48w)

I don't have a heater at the moment, so the tank sits around 71, but I will probably get a 50 watt heater if not having one greatly limits my options.

EDIT: I didn't use any kind of fertilizer under the sand. Do I need to use root tabs or is flourish enough to make the plants thrive? I'm not planning to use CO2.

I would get the heater. IMO a must buy for a 71 degree tank. 50 watts would be great.

Glad you are researching tanks now! So many people rely on the LFS for info.

I'm not really a plant expert. Sorry

You could go with a dwarf gourami, some neon tetras, a few guppies, platies, or ADFs. Just brainstorming. Not all of those in one tank, they would just be compatible

 

[Galligak]

Killifish would be an interesting fish to have in there! There are some other shrimp that'd do good in there without a heater! Such as crs, tiger shrimp, and a bunch others. Also there are CPOs that are dwarf orange crayfish that'd be sweet! For some fish just give me a minute I'll get a few links for you!

 

[jetajockey]

Check out least killies and pygmy killies. Both are small enough to keep a substantial population in a small tank without much issue.

 

[mrhelton]

You know what? I actually think I would like to try a Betta. I've always thought they were pretty lame, but suddenly they seem so interesting and cool looking. I've only barely started researching them, but it seems 10 gallons is enough for a single betta. Can I put anything else in there with her? Possibly a mystery snail or something like that?

I'll probably buy it at Petsmart. How will I know if I have a female, or should I get a male? I've read that males are pretty aggressive, but if they're a lot cooler then I can always keep him in there alone.

Tell me about Bettas!

 

[Galligak]

You know what? I actually think I would like to try a Betta. I've always thought they were pretty lame, but suddenly they seem so interesting and cool looking. I've only barely started researching them, but it seems 10 gallons is enough for a single betta. Can I put anything else in there with her? Possibly a mystery snail or something like that?

I'll probably buy it at Petsmart. How will I know if I have a female, or should I get a male? I've read that males are pretty aggressive, but if they're a lot cooler then I can always keep him in there alone.

Tell me about Bettas!

Females have much smaller fins and can be much nicer than males. I have 2 bettas currently one is in a 5 gallon by himself and the other is in a 13 gallon community with 3 endlers, 1 platy, 4 peppered cories (soon to be moved to 55 gallon) and one apple snail. It all really depends on the one that you get. I love my betta that is friendly but my other one is mean, and flares at me ALL the time! I would get another one if I had an extra tank. I love them and they have some really cool colors too!

 

[redsea]

Also if the tank isn't too small, I hear females can be kept together. There will probably still be a little bit of aggression, but not like it would be with male bettas.

 

[mrhelton]

Nice I think I'm gonna head out to the pet store and get a little heater and a few plants to get the tank started. I'll look at all the Bettas and see if I can find one I like so I'll know what to get when the tank is ready. I'll probably just get a male and maybe a snail.

 

[aqua_chem]

You should only keep female bettas in groups of 6 or so to spread out aggression, making a 10g unfeasible. Also, bettas with shrimp are hit and miss. Some will hunt your shrimp, some will let them be.

 

[Galligak]

Nice I think I'm gonna head out to the pet store and get a little heater and a few plants to get the tank started. I'll look at all the Bettas and see if I can find one I like so I'll know what to get when the tank is ready. I'll probably just get a male and maybe a snail.

Cool! My betta in my community tank loves the plants I have. Good luck! And post pictures

 

[brittanykluss]

1 bolivian ram and a small school of something, tetras would probably be best ( not neon tetras because they arent as hardy )

 

[redsea]

Yep, definitely post pictures! what kind if Betta were you thinking of getting?

 

[mrhelton]

I'm not really sure what kinds are available, but I did a little bit of topic searching and I like the blue ones and the white ones best. I'll definitely post some pictures once I get the tank up and running!

 

[redsea]

I'm not really sure what kinds are available, but I did a little bit of topic searching and I like the blue ones and the white ones best. I'll definitely post some pictures once I get the tank up and running!

Cool! There are many different fin varietys.... Crowntails, Halfmoons, Double Tail Halfmoons, Kings, and veiled.

 

[Coursair]

This is my Betta in one of my 10g


View attachment 52110

His closeup flaring at himself



View attachment 52111

He lives with a little Guppy. He ate the other fry and she was the only survivor. I tried RCS but after a couple of days he ate all the shrimp.

 

[NoFishingAllowed]

I LOVED my beta. He is what started my fish obsession! I had a halfmoon, orange. His name was bevo!

 

[mrhelton]

How big do they get? Will he eventually grow out of the 10 gallon? I don't see myself dedicating any larger of a tank to a single fish.

 

[jetajockey]

No, bettas don't get very big at all, they can comfortably live in a 5g tank their entire lives.

 

[mrhelton]

Nice. I really can't wait to get one. I'm gonna visit Petsmart and my lfs and see which one has the coolest looking one, then will see if I can get them to hold it for me (petsmart probably won't, but I know my lfs will)

 

[Morgie]

Petco has actually had some really cool bettas recently!
And you could put a school of pygmy cories in with the betta if you wanted to.