Looking for a small predator

[Sasquatch]

I have a 10g aquarium which will have 6 platys in it (1 male, 5 females). Since platys breed pretty fast, I'm hoping to add a small predatory fish to the aquarium to keep the population down.

Now since the aquarium is already pretty stocked with fish, I don't want something that will get too large or requires a large school. It should have an appetite for meat and if I can find something that also eats snails, all the better. (We had some uninvited guests when we bought some plants.)

Some possibilities that had crossed my mind were:
- Small cichlids
- Small catfish
- Small sharks

At the moment the tank is cycled, planted with a few rocks and a hidey hole. The water is slightly salty (1 tsp/gallon) has a hardness around 140/90 (GH/KH) with a pH around 8.0.

I'm personally leaning towards a cichlid, but am open to any suggestions.

Thanks ahead of time.

[Drumachine09]

I used to have a pictus catfish, and he used to eat my 1-3 week old guppy fry. The only problem is he will eventualy get to 6 inches like mine did, so i donated him.

[Fishguy2727]

Pictus are too big for a 10. Bumblebee catfish hit about 3" and are exactly what you are looking for. There are a couple species out there that go as bumblebee cats though, so make sure you get the right one. The one that you need are the more common species and have wider tan lines on the dark brown background, the other species has VERY thin tan lines on the same dark brown background. The 'Bumblebee Catfish' at the Petsmart by me are the right species.

[Fishguy2727]

]This ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.) is the species that should work for your needs.

[Drumachine09]

I didnt know bumblebees were omnivourous. I guess i learn somthing new every day.

[Sasquatch]

Thanks for the replies.

The bumblebee catfish could fit the bill nicely. I've seen a bullhead's appetite and they'll eat anything that fits in their mouths. Darn thing grew from 2" to 6" in less than 8 months!

Any other suggestions?

[kimmers318]

Unless you provide plenty of cover for the babies they aren't likely to survive...the platy will eat them. Just about any fish will eat up the babies for that matter. In 10 months I only had 1 fry that survived to adulthood when kept in tanks with fish......other platy, clown/kuhli loaches, cory, tetras etc. If I don't keep an eye out and scoop em up for the fry tank they don't make it.

[Sasquatch]

In total we'll have 5 platies in the 10 gallon to eat up the fry. But they'll have a lot of cover, we have 4 Java fern stands, another fern, two plastic hornworts and a cave.

They should have no problems finding places to hide. So I'm looking to something a little more "pro-active" to go and get them. Any other suggestions?

We had initially though of dwarf puffer fish, but after some reading we came to the conclusion that it would be a risky proposition for the adults as well as the babies. They usually have to kept apart from other fish right?

[Drumachine09]

If you want something active, nix the bumblebee. They hide........FOREVER! I dont know what your next best bet would be.

[kimmers318]

Yes, dwarf puffers don't usually do well with other fish and will nip the fins right down to nubbs on them. My one female platty suffered that fate before I knew better and learned that Missy needed her own home!

[Piker]

Larger Killies would fit the bill.

[YaYgoldFish]

small cichlids could be a problem..they all mostly get to 5' and up, i have a 10g too and i have 2 barracudas but im hurrying to get a WAY bigger aquarium as their already 5'..

[Fishguy2727]

What get up to 5'?

[jeffs99dime]

i've never heard of a cichlid getting to be 5 feet.

[Chrona]

I think he meant 5" ;)

[cocoa_pleco]

5 inches, okay. I thought 5 feet is wayyy too big

[YaYgoldFish]

lol my bad, yes i meant 5'' +