What fish to get for 10 gal tank

[naiku]

We have a 10 gallon tank, which did house 2 small goldfish. However they have both died, along with a 3rd that we bought to replace the first 2 with. I am pretty sure that our water is just not right for goldfish.............we have cycled the tank, carried out partial water changes, and all the goldfish died in much the same way.

When I test the water I have 0 nitrate/nitrite, but GH, KH and pH are all low (which when I check are about the opposite of what goldfish prefer). So we are now pretty reluctant to buy more goldfish, only to watch them suffer the same fate.

What do people recommend we could get to go in a 10 gallon tank? We don't need a whole bunch of fish in there (and realize size limits what we could get) but would like at least 2 fish (same species is fine)............... we have been looking at neon tetras (how many could we get in a 10 gal tank?) but are there any other small fish that we could get? or are the neons the best bet for our size tank and water type?

Thanks.

[Sasquatch]

If your tank is heated, that could be the cause of the problems for the goldfish, they're coldwater species.

As for a 10g, Neons are a great choice. You can get 5-6 with no problems and still have room for small algae eater like otto cats.

Other good choices are guppies, platies, danios, other small tetras. All are pretty hardy and good beginner fish.

Good luck.

[cocoa_pleco]

if you have good filtration, you can go with one of the following-

10 neon tetras

5 platys

a dwarf gourami and something else small

and theres plenty more. you can also do a mixed tank, with something like 2 platys, 5 neons, and a otto cat

[naiku]

Thanks for the replies, our tank was not heated. But we found out from the local petshop that it was ammonia that killed our goldfish (the test kit we had did not test for ammonia, so we took a water sample to local shop). We had cycled (at least we thought we had) the tank before getting any fish, but it looks like we did not do it as well as we had hoped :(

I plan on picking up a heater today, and we are going to try with some tetra's instead (after making sure we have 0 ammonia!!). Not sure on whether to get a community tank, or go with all one species.

[Chrona]

Thanks for the replies, our tank was not heated. But we found out from the local petshop that it was ammonia that killed our goldfish (the test kit we had did not test for ammonia, so we took a water sample to local shop). We had cycled (at least we thought we had) the tank before getting any fish, but it looks like we did not do it as well as we had hoped :(

I plan on picking up a heater today, and we are going to try with some tetra's instead (after making sure we have 0 ammonia!!). Not sure on whether to get a community tank, or go with all one species.

The problem with an unheated tank is that it takes forever to cycle, since bacteria really only gets going at tropical temperatures. I was wondering why you had no nitrates, heh.

I would recommend reading up about fishless cycling, as that is generally the easier and quicker way to go (plus, when done right, you can add all the fish at once)

[naiku]

I would recommend reading up about fishless cycling, as that is generally the easier and quicker way to go (plus, when done right, you can add all the fish at once)

Exactly what we now plan to do, the tank is currently at home empty, but with filter/air pump running. I am off to pick up a 50W heater in a few minutes, and hopefully in a few days we can add some fish.

Never realized how much choice there was just for our small tank, the problem was being at the petstore yesterday some of the bigger tanks were calling to me.......... I think I am leaning more towards a community tank, just need to figure out what the max number of fish we could get in there would be with the most variety.

[Rue]

A 10g is very limiting...

I've been running my 25g off and on for years...it's a fairly versatile size...and a 29-33g would be even better...

But if I had to do it all over again...from scratch...I think I'd start with a 55g...many more options...and more fiddling around that can be done which I think helps keep your interest in the tank going moreso than a smaller one...

[*Sarah*]

I love my 10 gallon. It's planted, and right now it's just a fry tank, but I was thinking about putting some guppies in it, about 7 or so of them. Maybe some kind of cleaner fish. You could do Tetras, Rasboras, Barbs...Endlers Livebearers...

[naiku]

Thanks again for the replies.......... I picked up a 50w heater about an hour ago and will install it when I get home. Would the following work in my tank:

1 (or 2 if possible) x Cory catfish (something like a Panda Cory)
6 x either Neon Tetra or Glow Light Tetra (or similar small tetra)

And one (possibly) final question, at the moment in the tank we just have one artificial plant and a small ornament.......... with the fish above should I look at adding another artificial plant? or is what I have enough?

[Rue]

Single corys don't do well, since they're a schooling fish...

...recommendations for any schooling fish are 6...but try at least 3 in a 10g.

Up to you about the plants...but have something for the corys to hang out around...

[bettaboy691]

cories are shoaling fish, like rue explained, atleast 3+ in a 10g. the cories will need a cave of some sort, 2 is better, more plants will help too.
the tetras will be fine tho, 6 is a godd number.

[Drumachine09]

Panda corys are expensive, and grow fairly large. I would stick to 4 or so albino corys. They dont get too big, and are extremely active.

[naiku]

I think my tank is done cycling :hmm3grin2orange: I am now barely reading any ammonia, 0 nitrites and a reading of 20 on my nitrate scale!!

Now to try and decide what fish to put in there!

One last question.......... other than any recommendations on a number/type of good colorful fish to put in a 10G............ when I carry out water changes, say 50% the water coming out of my tap is likely to be considerably less than the 80F my tank is heated too, how do I heat the new water to the same temperature? surely its not going to reach 80F sitting in a bucket overnight?

[cocoa_pleco]

try to get it as close to the tank temp as possible

[Chrona]

I think my tank is done cycling :hmm3grin2orange: I am now barely reading any ammonia, 0 nitrites and a reading of 20 on my nitrate scale!!

Now to try and decide what fish to put in there!

One last question.......... other than any recommendations on a number/type of good colorful fish to put in a 10G............ when I carry out water changes, say 50% the water coming out of my tap is likely to be considerably less than the 80F my tank is heated too, how do I heat the new water to the same temperature? surely its not going to reach 80F sitting in a bucket overnight?

The best method is if you can get a digital thermometer, but my organic thermometer (aka my hand) is usually good enough to get the water temp in the bucket the same as the temp in the tank.

[hungryhound]

The best method is if you can get a digital thermometer, but my organic thermometer (aka my hand) is usually good enough to get the water temp in the bucket the same as the temp in the tank.

It is amazing how accurate your hand becomes after a few water changes. After my marathon of five 50% water changes in 3 days, I feel that i can pretty accurately judge the water coming out of the tank. I guess filling roughly 40 buckets will do that.

[Chrona]

It is amazing how accurate your hand becomes after a few water changes. After my marathon of five 50% water changes in 3 days, I feel that i can pretty accurately judge the water coming out of the tank. I guess filling roughly 40 buckets will do that.

The only thing you have to be careful about is that the "calibration" of your hand changes depending on what temperature it's at lol. Thus, I always dip my hand in both the tank and the bucket a few times

[naiku]

Ok, so this morning I am p***ed............ we picked up 8 neon's last night from the LFS, got home, floated them in the water for about half an hour, then added some tank water to the bag, let them float for probably about another half an hour before adding them to the tank.......... this was about 6pm that they went into the actual tank. They were pretty still for a while, but soon started zipping around the tank.........

About 10pm I notice one of them acting weird, the same way our goldfish did before they died........ this morning I get up and find 2 of the neons dead. I have no idea why, or what killed them......... I had checked the water yesterday morning as I wanted to be sure before I added any fish. I also feel fairly certain its not the water as they had only been in there for approx 4 hours before the one started acting weird (floating around, acting weak) and this morning the remaining 6 are zipping around fine.

I checked the water again this morning and the results are:
GH = 30
KH = 240
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 20
pH = 7.5
Ammonia = somewhere between 0 and 0.25

The water is heated to about 80F and has an airstone..........any idea's what could have killed the 2 neons? their color was good, and for the first couple hours they appeared happy zooming around their new home. Could it be that the stress from travelling and the new tank killed them? I am feeling pretty dissapointed as we did not want to have any more fish die in our possesion :(

[Sasquatch]

It could be the stress.

But check your water chemistry. Your nitrates are on the high side and your ammonia "somewhere between 0 and 0.25" means that it's present and adds stress to the fish.

With the fish in there, check your ammonia daily and if it starts to rise, do a water change. Your cycle may not be as finished as you thought it was.

[Chrona]

It's very possible they were weak to start with. There's been so much inbreeding of neons that they have gone from a very hardy species to one that is known to die for no apparent reason.

[naiku]

It's very possible they were weak to start with. There's been so much inbreeding of neons that they have gone from a very hardy species to one that is known to die for no apparent reason.

I am beginning to think that's what it was........... I got home from work today and the remaining 6 are still fine. Hopefully no more fish death!

[naiku]

OK so now I am down to 2 remaining neons, and I have no idea if they will survive............ my wife has named our tank the death tank :(

I did a 50% water change yesterday, ammonia is now 0, nitrates are lower and nitrites are 0............ 2 of the neons died after the water change over night. Last night 4 were all good, zipping around the tank, this morning 2 of them dead. All died the same way ........... randomly floating around the tank, lethargic and apparent slow death. Any symptoms of neon disease? I am about ready to give up if these last 2 die

[cocoa_pleco]

was their neon band on their side fading away? were they pale?

[naiku]

was their neon band on their side fading away? were they pale?

Nope, color was still bright........both the blue and red/orange colors. It's something I had been trying to watch as a sign that something could be wrong.

Down to 1 neon now

[cocoa_pleco]

weird.........

[tetra11]

I just got a 10g and right now its currently house 2 black neon tetras, 3 silver tipped tetra, 1 opaline gourami, 3 male guppies, 1 zebra danio, 1 pleco, and 2 african dwarf frogs.

[Chrona]

I just got a 10g and right now its currently house 2 black neon tetras, 3 silver tipped tetra, 1 opaline gourami, 3 male guppies, 1 zebra danio, 1 pleco, and 2 african dwarf frogs.

That's really way too much...the opaline gourami gets to 6 inches and the pleco (even if it is a smaller variety) won't really fit in the 10g.

[cocoa_pleco]

The pleco is gonna need a 75g fullgrown

[tetra11]

yeah I know Im looking to get at least a 75 gallon tank asap.

[roulfi004]

I found the coolest fish to watch are a school of rasboras. After watching 6 of them for a while, i really believe they are the most active and spectacular schooling fish ive seen live so far...

6-8 Rasbora, and 1 or 2 other small colorful and peaceful fish in a 10 gallon would be a nice combination

[johnicd]

I have wondered about the rasboras. They seemed like interesting fish. I guess I will have to pick up a few. Right now I have two neon tetras, two buenos aires tetras and two sucker fish. They arent plecos, they are a smaller species. All in a 10 gallon tank. The fish seem to be doing just fine. I plan to add 4 more plastic plants and some more gravel but I am guna wait a week to do so. How often should I do water changes? And how many more neons could I add and how many rasboras could I add. I dont want to go over the bioload but I want some good schooling fish in there. They seem to be the most interesting to watch.

[Drumachine09]

I have wondered about the rasboras. They seemed like interesting fish. I guess I will have to pick up a few. Right now I have two neon tetras, two buenos aires tetras and two sucker fish. They arent plecos, they are a smaller species. All in a 10 gallon tank. The fish seem to be doing just fine. I plan to add 4 more plastic plants and some more gravel but I am guna wait a week to so. How often should I do water changes?



Make a new thread for questions. But water changes should be 25-50% every week

[johnicd]

Yeah didnt mean to highjack the thread. Just kinda got carried away.