Fish for a 10 gal tank?

[Clays]

I have recently set up a 10 gal tank for my baby's nursery. I'm looking for a natural type look to match the forest theme of the nursery. I have the tank set up with a log decoration and 3 plants. Now I'm looking into getting some fish. For this tank I'm looking for fish that are natural looking with pops of color, I'm not looking for Mollies, Platys, or Guppies.

I'm currently looking at 3 Cherry Barbs, a Green Cory Catfish or 2, and 3 tetras...I was thinking maybe the Cardinal or Black Phantom...My only concern is that the Cherry Barbs might nip the fins of the phantom since they wouldn't be in a school of 5. My other concern is that the tank would be overstocked with that many fish.

However, I'm thinking I also want a Mystery (Apple) Snail. The last tank I had my Apple Snail was paired with Mollies, Platys, and a Red Finned Shark. The shark protected the snail from my nipping Mollies, which gave my tank a good community setting.

Other fish I have been looking at include the Tiger Barb, Electric Yellow Labidochromis (although I believe this is a type of Chichlid and needs a larger tank?), Scissortail Rasbora, Rainbow Shark, Red Glass Barb, Clown Loach, White Cloud, or the Orange Von Rio Flame Tetra...

This time around I'm looking for fish that I don't know much about, so I'm looking for advice on which fish are compatible and which are not. I know working with a 10 gal tank is not easy, but it is all I have for now. Any other fish pairings that are compatible and will do well in 10 gal are definitely accepted. I am open to any and all options/ideas you may have.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I haven't had a problem with cherry barbs nipping. They tend to be a more shy species. If you can, try to get either all three boys, or two girls and one boy cherry barb (otherwise, 2 boys may fight over the lady). For what it's worth, I've found cherry barbs to be more independent and not mind being alone, if you were looking at just one (again, in my opinion).

I'd maybe look at the smaller cories like pandas - the green ones get a quite a bit bigger and really need larger groups than 2. You could probably do 4 but 6 would be better, and with the greens that is too much for a 10g. Or kuhli loaches are cool, you could do 4 of those since they take up less "floor space" than large cories.

You can do a really nice 10g, but having more smaller fish will overall give a better look than a few "larger" fish. It will go better with a several of a few species rather than a mishmash of one of this, one of that. So if you do a small group of bottom feeders, and a small school of small tetras (5 would probably be good), and 1-3 cherry barbs that would probably be a good mix.

No reason not to do a snail in that mix as well - just get one mystery snail and you won't have to worry about babies.

Tiger Barb - really should be a larger tank, esp. since they need numbers
Electric Yellow Labidochromis (although I believe this is a type of Chichlid and needs a larger tank?) - you are correct on both.
Scissortail Rasbora - fine in place of tetras or the cherry barbs
Rainbow Shark - needs a bigger tank, also gets meaner when grown
Red Glass Barb - sorry I don't know this one. Google it and see what you can find out.
Clown Loach - get to 12" and need friends
White Cloud - fine in place of tetras or barbs
Orange Von Rio Flame Tetra - as the tetra, would be fine

 

[FreshyFresh]

Clays, IMO, you're a bit aggressive on your stocking list. That's a lot of fish for a 10G. It's said that fish like most corys or tetras do much better in groups of 5 or more.

I wouldn't do any platys in a 10g. I'd stick with small tetras, rasboras, white clouds, a male betta and a few tank mates, several female bettas, etc..

 

[Thyra]

For color and activity I would go with Serpaes 3 - 5. I have them in two of my tanks and have had no problems with fin nipping although they are in with Angels and other fish. They don't seem to get very big - my largest is only slightly over an inch.

 

[Clays]

Thyra are those a type of Tetra? I've never heard of the Serpaes.

 

[Clays]

Thanks CAPSLOCK! I think I'll stick with the Cherry Barbs (2-3). If I add a Mystery Snail, and 5 Orange Von Rio Flame Tetras or 5 White Cloud's, how many bottom feeders would you recommend? I don't want to over stock my tank...if I did bottom feeders I think I'd go with the panda cory or pygmy cory.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

I think maybe 4 of either of those cories would be fine. I'd be inclined to let the barbs and tetras settle in for a bit first, as the smaller cories can be more sensitive than some of their larger brethren.

Have you read up on cycling a tank yet? (Fishless cycling)

 

[Clays]

Yes I have. My tank has been cycling for almost a week.

 

[Thyra]

Their other name is Red Minor Tetra and they also come in a "high fin" variety. Look on line at Petsmarts fish and you will see a picture. I paid $1 each when they were on sale. They may look a little pale in the store, but once acclimated they get a deep orange with black fins with white tips.

 

[Clays]

Red Minor Tetras were in my original plan, I'll have to look at how big they get. If they stay small enough I might consider those as my schooling tetra. So many options when it comes to Tetras, I just want to make sure I find ones that will do well with the Cherry Barbs I'd like to get. That's the only fish we are really set on.

 

[Thyra]

As I said earlier they get to just slightly over an inch. They are taller on the vertical axis than many of the other tetras, but not as long. (does that make sense?)

 

[Clays]

Yes it does, sorry for the confusion, I meant in comparison to the other Tetras I was looking at However the Tetras I was looking at seem to grow to about the same size as the Red Minors so either or should do just fine.

 

[Thyra]

With the exception of the neons or cardinals, I just think they are a lot more colorful and IME much more active. When you have a small group, like about 5, I almost think they play games with each other, but maybe its just my imagination. lol

 

[OrangeCones]

Yes I have. My tank has been cycling for almost a week.

The question about your cycle is the Nitrogen Cycle, not just letting your tank 'cycle' for a week. The nitrogen cycle can take many weeks to establish. It is establishing the beneficial bacteria that will turn fish waste (ammonia) to nitrite, then nitrite to nitrate.