New 10Gal tank - fish ideas?

K

Kokopelli

Small Fish
#1
Oct 27, 2003
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#1
Hi there, I have a 10 Gallon Hex tank that I'd like to get some Cichlids or possibly Brackish water fish into. Something colorful that stays small would be great. Any ideas or suggestions of what I should put in there?

I currently have 1 apple snail, some fake plants, and a sand bottom. I had some more fish in there, so the system is stable.

Thanks...
 

Orion

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#2
Feb 10, 2003
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Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#2
Shellies would be great normaly. They dont offer a wide varitey of colors, but there actions and behaviors more than makes up for it. However in a 10 gallon hex tank the floor area is most likley reduced that what a standard 10 gallon would be, so you might have some difficulty with these. However by only houseing a few, you very well could pull it off with minimal problems.

You might could even go to some of the apisto's, as they are small and colorfull. I havent kept any, so Im not sure of the teritory reqirements for them in your tank, but I have heard of several species being housed in tanks as small as 10 gallons.

What ever you pick: Research Research Research!!

You say that you had some fish in there, if the fish have been gone for more than 24 hrs, then the bacteria have already started to die back. If it might be some time before you add anything, you may want to concider removing the snail, and adding ammonia to the tank to keep the cycle up before you add more fish.
 

W

wayne

Elite Fish
#3
Oct 22, 2002
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Withthe amounts of organics bouncing around in most tanks it's going to be more than 24 hours before bacteria start dying back. If denitrifying bacteria are so needy as to not survive 24 hours in an unstocked tank then it makes the marvellous claims of biospira fairly hard to believe.....
 

CAPSLOCK

CAPSLOCK

Elite Fish
#4
Jul 19, 2004
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#4
What about dwarf puffers? They are freshwater, but they are little and cute and a bit different.

Just make sure to keep an eye on the water parameters after you add new fish...and be prepared to do water changes if they spike.
 

S.Reef

S.Reef

Superstar Fish
#6
Dec 1, 2003
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#6
Dwarf puffers should really have a little salt in the water. Therefore your snail might not be compatible in the first place. A pair of Julidochromis ornatus would be kinda cool.
 

K

Kokopelli

Small Fish
#9
Oct 27, 2003
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#9
Actually, I went with a pair of Dwarf Puffers... I saw them at the LFS and couldn't stop myself. I asked them about brackish water, and they said that their water is fresh, as was the water from their suppliers.

So they're swimming around in there, I don't think they'll bother the snail since he's pretty large... probably an inch in diameter.

The question now is when will they start eating? I dumped in some frozen bloodworms, which just fell to the bottom and ended up getting chomped up by the snail! The puffers weren't interested. Should I try again this evening? Maybe getting some live brine would be better?
 

I

iridescentkid

Large Fish
#11
Oct 18, 2004
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#11
id get dwarf puffers man those things are awsome but kick the snail out get about 3or5 dwarf puffers if im not mistaken they like to school and they also stay very very small


[edit] if u wanna feed it somthing feed it ghost shrimp i know my dwarf puffers i had about a month ago loved ghost shrimp and they liked baby snails also welcome to the tank
 

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K

Kokopelli

Small Fish
#13
Oct 27, 2003
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#13
Thanks Lotus.. I actually looked up that sight yesterday, good information.

I dumped in another little bit of thawed bloodworms today, and they were too busy swimming around to notice. Before long, my snail gobbled it all up. So much for snails being herbivores! I'll keep an eye out, and if they start munching on him, I'll take him out.

I also plan on picking up some brine shrimp tonight, so they have something live they can chase. Maybe that will help them get comfortable with the new home.
 

slurpor

slurpor

Large Fish
#16
Jun 21, 2003
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#16
If your puffers are ignoring the frozen bloodworms, then you will probably have to start them out on live food. I feed mine live blackworms one at a time, until she stops eating. That way there is minimal mess on the bottom of the tank. Some puffers will eat frozen foods and others won't. Mine will not eat anything that is not moving.

I have never had an apple snail, but knowing puffers' love for mollusks, I would guess the snail's days are numbered.

And no Dwarf Puffers are NOT brackish and do not like salt at all- salt is for Figure 8s and Green Spotted puffers who look similar, but are true brackish species. Dwarfs are fresh water.
 

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