Is 1 Cory cat or a flying fox enough for a 10 gallon tank?

[hihello405]

I just got my 10 gallon tank, and is cycling right now; I think 1-2 weeks are need before I can add my first fish to the tank. I will add a flying fox or a fish which can help me to clean the tank. Any suggestion? I don’t really want a Cory cat, since it will get big, really big for a 10 gallon. So my question is:

Is 1 cleaning fish enough for a 10 gallon tank? I will have tropical fishes, not goldfishes or koi.

Any suggestion for a cleaning fish for a 10 gallon tank?

I know my English isn’t that brilliant, sorry….

[Leopardess]

Firstly, cories are small. They max out at about 2" for most species. The flying foxes you mention not only get 4-6" (and too big for a 10g) but aren't even the same type of "cleaner" fish. Cories will pick through the crud in your gravel whereas flying foxes will eat mostly algae (and tend to stop this when adulthood is reached)

Cories also like to be kept in groups - a minimum of three cories is generally accepted. They do not simply live off of what is at the bottom of your tank, however. They need to have a diet supplemented with all sorts of foods, just like any other fish.

If you want an algae eater (which also should have a supplemented diet) get a couple of otos (otocinclus). They are small. Just make sure your tank has had a while to accumulate algae for them to eat and that there will be a constant supply of it.

If you want a bottom cleanup crew, get three cories.

Either way, you do not NEED either of these types of fish - your tank will be fine without them.

What other fish are you planning on getting, may I ask?

[SayersWeb]

Most Cory cats don't get bigger than 2.5". You should be able to have a couple of these in a 10 gallon. Just be sure they get some food.


--- edit
Well.... I was a minute too late with my post. :)

[TKOS]

You need a 20 gallon for an SAE, Flying Fox or similar fish. You can easily put 3 cory catfish in a 10 gallon tank (and they do need friends).

There really isn't a good algae eater choice for a 10 gallon. The ottos are fine fish but tend to only eat brown algae, not the green or hair kind that is generally more common. If you want something to attack algae, wait until algae actually forms and think about some ammano shrimp. They are cute tiny guys and don't really put much stress on the bioload of a tank.

[hihello405]

Hey, thank you for all of the replies. I think I will put 3 cories cats into my tank then, prehap if my tank is clean and nothing really gets dirty, is it unnecessary to get some "cleaner fishes"?

Also, I will get 5-6 neons tetras into my tank, and some mollies too. i prefer Marble Mollies, will these fishes gets along very well?

[Leopardess]

Unless you have a planted tank, you do not NEED a cleanup crew (and even then, its just algae eaters that would be essential). You do not need to have any cories at all. They don't really "clean" to an incredibly noticeable extent...and regular water changes and gravel vaccumings will clean up the substrate anyway:) Most people get them because they are so gosh-darn cute - with it being an added bonus that they'll pick the bottom up a bit.


Are your mollies coming from a purely freshwater source? They like salt in their water, whereas neons do not. Perhpas someone could better direct you on this as I don't have much molly experience.

[TKOS]

Since the Mollies were most likely in freshwater at the pet store they will do fine in fresh water, though the harder the better, which of course neons don't like (soft acidic water for them).

As was mentioned before you must buy some special sinking food for cories. They will spend all day looking for food and eating whatever they find but do need a healthy balanced diet that left over flakes won't help. And you will still need to clean your tank.

A ten gallon tank can still only hold a certain number of fish before being overstocked, so unless you want cories as pets and not a cleanup crew then I wouldn't bother getting them. Catfish tend to produce more waste then other, especially neons.

[SayersWeb]

Originally posted by TKOS
As was mentioned before you must buy some special sinking food for cories. They will spend all day looking for food and eating whatever they find but do need a healthy balanced diet that left over flakes won't help. And you will still need to clean your tank.

A ten gallon tank can still only hold a certain number of fish before being overstocked, so unless you want cories as pets and not a cleanup crew then I wouldn't bother getting them. Catfish tend to produce more waste then other, especially neons. I give the 20 gallon freeze-dried tubifex and the Corys love it. They even come up to the surface for it.

They also like the algae disks I put in there for the pleco.

I feel the Corys are very useful in keeping the gravel bed cleaner. They are also very fun to watch.

[TKOS]

I love my cories as well, though I don't think that they should be bought assuming that they are only a work horse fish. They should be enjoyed more for their cuteness. Mine liek the algae tabs, shrimp pellets and a complete tablet that tetra makes. Plus of course frozen blood worms and flakes that fall. Busy, hungry little guys.

[hihello405]

Sorry, but I forgot to mention 1 important thing. I am going to put a lot of plants into my 10g tank, since I want to make my new tank similar to a rainforest.

I’m worrying about algae problem right now… I know Cory will not help much of algae, I think I am going to put 4 real plants into my tank, and 2-3 plastic plants for it. So how many fishes and what kind of fishes do I need for this kind of tank?

[TKOS]

So this is a new 10 gallon tank and so far only has live and fake plants in it? Well a 10 gallon tank is kind of limiting (I know cause I have one). You really need to look at fish that get no bigger than 2 inches with the exception of maybe a betta or paradise fish.

What sort of fish do you like? Tetras, barbs, Platies, Guppies?

[Wippit Guud]

I use cories on my tank mainly to prevent substrate problems... since I use sand, they dig it up, preventing the **** bacteria build-ups which can kill everything off...

... now I just need to get them to stop destroying one of the plants :P