12 gallon tank plan - advice please!

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awhiteravyn

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Jul 2, 2008
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I'm new to keeping fish, so I wanted to do some research before getting my first aquarium. I am considering a 12 gallon bow-front tank, with this combination of species:
1 male betta
1 otto cat
1 panda cory cat
3 neon tetras OR 3 platies (I haven't decided between the 2 species yet)
1 swordtail

I had a few questions about this combination.
1. Is it okay to keep 1 swordtail? I've heard of people doing this, but I am unclear on how much of a schooling fish they are after researching the species. I am a college student, so I don't really want them breeding since I don't have the means to accomodate any offspring, but I also want my fish to be as happy as possible.
2. Would this tank be overstocked?
3. Will the platies or tetras breed if there were 3 of them/is it easy to identify the males from the females?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, so thanks in advance!
 
otos, neons and cories like to be in a group of five or more. A swordtail won't fit in that tank, and platies like to have more company.

My suggestion, get one type of schooler(I would reccomend others over the neon tetras and platies, since platies can easily hit three inches, and there is something of a debate about whether or not neon tetras can work in a ten. Some people say they do, so if you really like them, go for it. Look into endlers, though try to get all maless etc, avoid anything with long flowing fins), the betta(keep in mind their temperments vary and that they may kill everything else in the tank), and a school of small cories. Otos need a well established tank or they may die of starvation(as in, set up for more than 6 months)
 
Well, I do not know much about the livebearers, but the betta might not like the swordtail due to the flowing tail; I do know that corys and otos like to be in groups - the bigger, the better. Also, from what I have heard neons are not that easy to breed......

edit: Schitzo is fast! LOL
 
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Thanks for the quick advice, guys! I was originally looking at the Cory and Oto to help keep the tank clean, and I didn't realize they liked groups. I really want the betta, and I have seen them kept as a community fish in the pet store, so I was leaning towards getting one used to other fish, as opposed to the ones in the little cups alone. How many fish can I keep in a 12 gallon? Can I do 1 betta, 3 cories, and 5 endlers? That seems like a lot to me.
 
actually, you can do two more cories, lol. You just need good filtration and to keep up with your water changes. You never need a clean up crew in a tank, so never get a fish because of that. You can probably tack on a couple of endler's, too. They are tiny tiny fish. I would look into pygmies or black diamond over panda. They are smaller, but pandas will work.
 
You mentioned there is debate on whether neons do well in a 10, what about cardinal or rummy head tetras - is it the same for them? I am unsure about the endlers, because I've been doing some reading and I am concerned they might be too small to go with the betta. Also I have read that they breed like crazy, and being a newbie I don't trust myself or the pet store to ensure I have males only.
 
For that size tank, I'd recommend these changes to your stocking.

1 male betta- Keep
1 otto cat- Don't get. They need established tanks and groups)
1 panda cory cat- Change the number to 3.
3 neon tetras OR 3 platies (I haven't decided between the 2 species yet)- Go with Neons and change the number to 6.
1 swordtail- Don't get. They get big and fairly pushy.

Bravo for researching first and be sure to post pics! :)
 
Thanks for all the help everyone! I think that will end up getting 1 male betta, 3 corys, and 5 or 6 neons, providing I get no strict objections from any veteran fish-owners out there. I'll post pics once I get everything set up, but it'll be in about a month when I move.
 
Good deal! Make sure to read up on cycling and you and your fish will have a much better experience!
 
Your stocking sounds good but if you happen to come across some pygmy cories you could keep twice as many as Pandas. And you can put in 7 or 8 male Endlers if you choose. One advantage of Endlers is they swim at all levels of the tank and if this is an Eclipse 12 you will have mostly empty water on the upper half as Neons, Cories and Bettas mostly hang out near the bottom.

Endlers are easy to sex by the way. Males are tiny and beautiful. Females much larger and drab. Fish stores rarely sell females anyway.
 
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