Fish for a ten gallon tank
- Thread starter Platyperson461
- Start date
Welcome!
That's a pretty ambitious list IMO. Too much for a 10gal. Corys need to be in groups to exhibit normal behavior. I wouldn't do any platys or mollies in a 10gal as much as I like both breeds.
IMO, I'd do a colorful centerpiece fish like a dwarf gourami or male betta along with 3-5 small danios or tetras. You can also add 2 or so awesome mystery snails and some ghost or cherry shrimp. Wait a minute.. it's starting to sound like my 10gal?!? Good times!!!
That's a pretty ambitious list IMO. Too much for a 10gal. Corys need to be in groups to exhibit normal behavior. I wouldn't do any platys or mollies in a 10gal as much as I like both breeds.
IMO, I'd do a colorful centerpiece fish like a dwarf gourami or male betta along with 3-5 small danios or tetras. You can also add 2 or so awesome mystery snails and some ghost or cherry shrimp. Wait a minute.. it's starting to sound like my 10gal?!? Good times!!!
I agree with Freshy about the mollies, but I do think you could put 3 or 4 platies in there - they come in all different colors. Another fish that I personally like are serpaes. They are very colorful and active.(I particularly like the long fin ones) If they are the only fish in the tank I believe you could put five in there. Or another idea would be two platies and one betta.
I always hesitate to mention them because to many people consider them atrocious fin nippers but I have had them in two tanks for three years and haven't had a problem - the angels still have all their fins! I like them because they are so colorful and active. Its nice to have at least 4 or 5 because it appears to me that they play together at times. I paid a $1 apiece when they were on sale.
platys are fine, mollys not so much cory should be keept in groups so go for two, consider guppies: tons of colors and kinds to choose from and are great for begginers. danios tend to nip ... maybe a german ram just make sure you buy a pair or so. the rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish per one gallon of water eventually you will go bigger we ALL DO 
plecos are helpful as well
plecos are helpful as wellno not all at once of coarse, i was just trying to name a few good ones that are good for a starter. plecos do grow fast when feed right but if you get a small one and go easy with food (plecos food can ruin your water quality) it will be just fine i think shrimp would be a good idea as a little cleaner if you dont want a pleco.
Well, I talked to a person at the local Petco and they told me to let it run for a night then come back to get fish...I wasn't exactly sure this was correct but when i returned the next day i talked to another 'specialist' and they suggested i get a small number of fish to put in, and they suggested platys. So I got the number they suggested (3, 1 bumblebee platy, 1 panda platy, and 1 sunset fire platy.) they seem to be doing fine, my water clouded up yesterday but this morning it was less cloudy then before.
Ugh..
That's a recipe for disaster many of us have been through before. You have no beneficial bacteria established in that tank and unless you do daily water changes, those fish won't make it long. They'll die from ammonia and/or nitrite poisoning.
If you want to stick with the hobby, you should invest in a ~$29 API master test kit that you can get at Petco or Petsmart to measure for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. The test kit also includes chemicals for testing pH, but that's not as important as the other three.
That's a recipe for disaster many of us have been through before. You have no beneficial bacteria established in that tank and unless you do daily water changes, those fish won't make it long. They'll die from ammonia and/or nitrite poisoning.
If you want to stick with the hobby, you should invest in a ~$29 API master test kit that you can get at Petco or Petsmart to measure for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. The test kit also includes chemicals for testing pH, but that's not as important as the other three.
OK the information was wrong - many LFS do not understand cycling. Now that you have the fish you really need that test kit. I mention this because what you do is check the ammonia and nitrite level of the water daily and also replace about 30% of the water daily - more if you show any ammonia or nitrite at all. - Don't let any LFS tell you the water is fine, tell them you need numbers. (This is the very reason you need that test kit.) This may not be the ideal way to do it, but it will work if you are religious about it. In about 3-4 weeks you will start testing for nitrates, too and your goal is zero ammonia and nitrite and about 10 - 20 ppm nitrates. BTW did you dechlorinate your water or are you on a well?
LOL!
If only we could have beaten Platyperson461 to the store.
PP461, don't panic at this point. You will get through it if you do what Thyra suggested. There are other (I think.. less expensive) test kits available. At a minimum, you could get test strips for ammonia and nitrite for now, and like Thyra says, 4 weeks or so down the road, get something to measure for nitrates.
I believe they also sell little cards that you sucn cup to the inside of the tank to indicate for ammonia, etc.
The main thing for now will be those daily ~30% water changes with dechlorinated water.
If only we could have beaten Platyperson461 to the store.
PP461, don't panic at this point. You will get through it if you do what Thyra suggested. There are other (I think.. less expensive) test kits available. At a minimum, you could get test strips for ammonia and nitrite for now, and like Thyra says, 4 weeks or so down the road, get something to measure for nitrates.
I believe they also sell little cards that you sucn cup to the inside of the tank to indicate for ammonia, etc.
The main thing for now will be those daily ~30% water changes with dechlorinated water.
