new tank

[Dicky]

I just started a new 10g tank. Like many other people I just bought 2 angle fish with out thinking if they were a good match for my tank. Then I found this site and asked the question what would be good tank mates? I was informed that the tank I have is too small for the angle fish. I will return the fish and start a new. My thoughts were to now purchase a male betta, longfin whiteclouds, topsail platty and golden harlequin. I know that I can only have one betta, but how many of the others can i put in the tank? Thaks in advance.

[aquariumfishguy]

A 10 gallon is really the worse tank to start off on when it comes to the difficulty level. Believe it or not, a 55 gallon aquarium is 10 times easier to keep "clean" than a 10 gallon!

Anyway, with the tank you have now, I would say the safe amount of fish to add would be:

1 Betta
2 Platies
4 Whiteclouds
1 Harlequin

That would be a "safe" amount of fish for a newbie with a tank this size...

[thom336]

I would avoid the long finned varieties of white clouds, and topsail (hi-fin?) platy, as bettas have a tendency to nip at fins. I would also look more into keeping a larger shoal of a single shoaling species, rather than lesser shoals of more species - such as just the 4 white clouds and the single harlequin, both species of which would prefer larger shoals around them. Instead I would look at keeping at least 6 of either the white clouds or the harlequins. Also, make sure, if you do go with platy, that if you have just the two that they are two females, as a male would be over amorous of just a single female with him. If you do want a male, then make sure you have three females as well - so that his attentions are devided.

So, I would go with the betta, and then either one of the platy, the white clouds or the harlequins. And have a fair sized group of the one you go for. I would then also have some cories as well - a tank just aint complete without them! :D

Hope this helps,
Thom.

[TKOS]

My 10 gallon setup used to be

1 betta (male)
5 white cloud minnows (regular)
3 cory catfish

I have plenty of plants and that setup worked a charm. Never had problems with excess ammonia or nitrites and everyone was very peaceful to each other. Occasionally the betta will probably do a littel chasing around to show who is the boss but no real harm is done.

The betta has now moved to his own 5 gallon tank, but that is because I had a spare.