Decisions on Stocking a 10g

[Rhaethe]

Allrighty!

As mentioned in a previous thread, I managed to find room in the apartment for a 10g.

Now, the FIRST thing that came to mind was to do a dwarf cichlid or multi tank. However, as I watched Gus start poking and pecking and snarking on the plants I just planted yesterday .... that he previously left alone, mind you ... It occurred to me that Gus really needs to be in the new 10g as opposed to staying in the 5g. Sid can stay in the 5g, and I'll perhaps get him some other sparkler buddies. Or some galaxies. Maybe.

So! That brings up back to the 10g. Gus will go in there, and I'll make it more of a rockscape tank with maybe some java moss to decrease the amount of plant slaughter that occurs. I'll be using the black sand that I have leftover from the 20lb bag that I purchased.

The age-old decision then becomes -- what else to put in there? I'm not terribly fond of schooling fish other than galaxies. But I'm putting those in the 5g.

Thoughts on what would look nice and do-able?

[Rhaethe]

I've been doing some reading on dwarf cichlids. Specifically the apistos and maybe kribs ... have no clue if they'd be compatible.

I know that Gus chased and pecked cardinals and danios mercilessly. Sid, just as small as a cardinal, he flared at once. Sid flared back, they stared down, and that was it. They've been peaceful buds ever since.

Gus will chase anything that flees from him. If it refuses to flee, he'll back off and forevermore ignore it.

Thus, why I thought small cichlids might be decent to place in a tank with him. The other option are other anabantids ... but the potential for actual fights would be too great there, I think.

[Sharkman]

A dwarf cichlid should not be in a 10g tank. 20 gallons would be as small as I would go. I'm just guessing Gus is a betta. If he is, maybe you can try a molly with him? Some say they are not compatible, but each betta is different in temperment. Then again, some will say a molly gets too large for a 10 gallon also. It's a crap shoot as to what will work with your fish.

[Irish2539]

yup 10g is a bit to small for cichlids... u could get away with a pair of dwarfs nothing else with it.. but they wud deff prefer a bigger tank n i wudnt suggest doin it.

erm.. if guss is a beta?.. Well why not add some shrimp (shrimp might get eaten) or dwarf frogs... Molly wud get to big.. n they r happier in group. Some kulli loaches maybe.. personally id just get a bottom dweller. Or if not get some endlers, lovely fish

[Rhaethe]

Gus isn't a betta. He's a dwarf gourami. ;)

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=59395

It's not that he goes out of his way to chase, the few times I have tried tetras ... It's that he is *very* protective of what he considers *his* feeding area at the top of the tank.

:hmm3grin2orange:

[Rhaethe]

As an aside, I don't plan (or want to, really) on breeding anything.

[Zilla]

I agree that dwarf cichlids shouldn't go in a 10. I was thinking about drawf Rainbows, but they like long tanks so I don't think they would work well either.

I'm not a fan of barbs due to their nipping habits, but how about some tetras like Black skirts?

My Gouramis are not aggressive or have food issues, so I really don't know.

Shrimp would work and would do well with janitorial duties.

[Taurus]

Cherry Barbs would do well and are not nippy. Dwarf corys is another option. If you want to try shrimp, you'd need a fairly thick growth of Java Moss established so the shrimp have places to hide.

Cherry Barbs are quite active, they don't form a tight shoal or school, and are quite attractive.

[Rhaethe]

Yeah, I've been steering away from the cichlids today. For some reason, when I picture them all together, even if in a larger tank, something doesn't look right.

To be fair to Gus, it is entirely possible he was squirrelly with the tetras and danios I had tried because they were all crammed in a 5g when I didn't know better. Certainly, he has no aggression whatsoever with the sparkling gourami in with him now in the 5. But, there's a lot less fish in the 5g now, too.

Fish that I am possibly thinking of now to place in there are Dario Dario, galaxy rasbora, pearl gourami (no clue how big they get).

I guess I am steering more towards a asian / southeast asian setup :ssmile:

Edited to add: I don't mind schooling fish ... I think I just mind overly active schooling fish. LOL

[toddnbecka]

Most of the smaller rasbora species sold for nano tanks would be good. If you like livebearers some smaller ones (not sailfin mollies) would fit in a 10, at least until they breed excessively. Pearl gourami's grow to about twice the size of dwarfs; not enough space for 2 territorial fish in a 10. Cherry shrimp are also an option for a 10.

[Taurus]

Edited to add: I don't mind schooling fish ... I think I just mind overly active schooling fish. LOL


Are you always this hard to please? :sconfused:

[troy]

Pygmy corydoras. A group of six would work in your 10g.

[Rhaethe]

Are you always this hard to please? :sconfused:

HAH!

Touche`!

Not all the time. Although I am told by a certain guy very near and dear that I am terribly hard to please one week out of the month. Of which this is that week.

That being said, I took a trip to my LFS, and he does have, in addition to galaxy rasboras that I intend to get, really nice looking green-blue neon tetras. Really very attractive, and nothing like the "Jumbo Neon Tetras" you usually see for sale at the PetSmart. And they don't dart around like the PetSmart ones do, as if they are on crack.

Like, they actually have this attractive sheen.

So, the fish list I'm looking at now includes:

Galaxy rasboras
Green neon tetras
Dario dario

Gus will go in the 10, with Sid staying in the 5. Although it occurs to me that I *could* put a dario dario in the 5 with some galaxies, and then put Gus, Sid, and the neons in the 10.

The LFS also has pygmy cories. I'll take a closer look next time I'm there.

[Rhaethe]

More research as given me a new option!

Blue axelrodi rasboras

[Taurus]

HAH!
Touche`!

Not all the time. Although I am told by a certain guy very near and dear that I am terribly hard to please one week out of the month. Of which this is that week.



Ahhh...that explains a lot of things. Just be sure that you don't overstock either your 5g or the 10g and have adequate filtration for both. It's difficult for me to follow all of the threads that you have going. I suggest you start a journal for each thank or both tanks and post your thoughts on stocking to the journal thread. It would be much easier for all of us to provide you with advice. I know you have a thread around here somewhere for a 20 gallon tank?? Oui vay, get'em all in one spot so we can better help you if you so need it. :ssmile:

[Rhaethe]

Yeppers. Actually, that thread was just me going "yay I have room!". Enough room for a 10g standard or a 20g high (if the 20g high was 20 inches long).

I think I've settled on just doing the 10g standard, though. It will be small, but it's within my current comfort level.

The 5g I have now isn't getting anything new until the 10g is purchased and cycled properly. Then I'll play "musical tanks" :ssmile: