Estimated Tank Size

[Impudence12]

I'm not anywhere near done with my first tank, but with all the reading I keep getting new ideas for other tanks. In the future I know I'll end up getting a crowntail betta (found a store with them) I don't want just a betta in a tank tho. I think some small bottom dwellers would be good.

Just for planning sake, how big of a tank would I need for a betta and a group of dwarf otos or the like(the group being as big as the respective fish would prefer.)

[Weezer]

20 is a good size and would allow you to add a few other fish, our beta is in a 29.........:)

[Dwarf Puffers]

Here's the oto "rule":

30g for the first, 10g+ for every next one to prevent starvation do to lack of algae.

[~Kswords~]

Oto's are complicated sometimes because they can often starve if there is not enough food.

I would suggest corydoras or African Dwarf Frogs. And you could get away with a 10 gallon tank that would be nice.

[severum mama]

I'd suggest a 20 gallon. The betta can be your centerpiece fish, and you can keep a school of small corys. This would also allow you enough room to keep a school of small tetras or rasboras.

[Impudence12]

I'd prefer a minimalist approach. I have but a quaint appartment and thus a space limit. For a betta and a school of corys, is 10 gallons to small, 15?

[severum mama]

Oh, I see. I just thought you would be happier in the long run with a bigger tank. The 20 high is only 4 inches wider than a 10 gallon, but if you like the 10, then go for it. My only problem with that is that your options for corys are very limited in a 10. Corydoras pygmaeus or habrosus would be pretty much your only choices, and only a small school of either species. Some may say you could keep pandas or trillineatus in a 10, but I wouldn't do it. A 20 would be ok for them though. If you are worried about the weight of a 20 (I probably wouldn't be), you could buy a 15 long that has the same footprint (24x12), but is only 12 inches tall as opposed to 16. You could easily keep a 15 on a sturdy dresser or table. I set up a SW nano in one of these and it looks cool.:) I wouldn't bother with the 15 tall. It has the same footprint as the 10 and wouldn't offer you much more stocking options. JMO.:)

[Impudence12]

With my initial browsing of tank mates, pygmy corys was considered. Looking now I like the C. habrosus. Would a school of 3-4 in a 10 gallon be a large enuff school to make them comfortable and be a large enuff tank for the lot of them?

[severum mama]

It's definitely pushing it, but I think you could do 3-5 in there. You'd have to stock slowly and be absolutely sure to keep on top of water changes- I'd do 50% weekly.

I don't know about habrosus, but I've kept pygmaeus on a couple of occasions and I've found them to be difficult to keep, even if you are experienced. Don't get discouraged if you lose a couple.

[Impudence12]

thanks for the advice, I'll mull over it for the next month or so.