I'm new. Almost cycled 10g tank, time to decide on fish.

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CLH

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Mar 8, 2004
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Hi all...I'm new at all of this...Like others I have set up tanks off and on but I have never done it correctly and as a result my fish died. Well this time I'm trying my best to do everything correctly. My 10g tank has been cycling for about 3 weeks now and it should be through soon. The ammonia levels have dropped to 0, with nitrite at 1.0 and nitrate at 5.0. I have cycled this tank with an applesnail. Now, I need to begin deciding on fish...But, there is a catch...About 6 months ago I adopted a small applesnail and 3 neon tetras and the 2.5 gallon tank that were in and are still in. My plans are to move the applesnail and the 3 neons into the 10g with the other applesnail when it is finished cycling. Now, my question is, how important is that I add 2 to 3 more neons? I've read that they feel very insecure when there is not at least 5 or 6 of them together, is this true? So, let's say I add 2 or 3 more neons, what other kind of fish could I add that doesn't have to have another of it's kind in the tank with it? I've thought about a betta or a dwarf gourami but I just can't decide which one and I want to make sure that I choose the right one. I've also thought about african dwarf frogs, but I think I want to stick with fish. What I need is some opinions and suggestions...Thanks!!

Casey
 
I have a 55 gallon with multiple types of tetras and have had different numbers of neons at a time. I started out with 3, added 6 more and lost 7 due to some ich medication that was not as safe as it claimed for tetras. I have since purchased 4 more and currently have the 6. I really have seen no difference between 2 and 9 as far as security. I'm not sure if it's because I have so many other types of tetras or what. the 6 I have are rarely together in a group. The cardinals are not supposed to school with neon's according to most people but my 2 neons and 3 cardinals stuck together more than the 6 neons do presently. If you like the neons, get some more. If not, you can always get a few other types of tetras, a couple mollies, guppies, platies or like you said, the betta or dwarf gourami. Bettas are very individual, some are terrors, others are fine. I've actually heard of bettas that are scared of tetras and constantly hide. I havn't had a betta that bothered tetras but larger fish like mollies must seem like competition because mine would flare at them and actually killed my guppies. Kyle
 
Thanks for your quick reply. I just really want to do what's best for the neons. If I'm not going to see much difference in their behavior when more are added, I may just stick to 3. I don't really favor mollies and guppies but I would consider a different kind of tetra and/or platies. I want to set my tank up in a way that I have fish at different levels in the tank...Does that make sense? I don't want all of my fish to swim only at the bottom, or at the top, etc...If I stick with only the 3 neons, what are some other fish options and how many? Could I get 2 dwarf gourami then? If I had 2 males instead of a male and female would that cause problems? I've also read about pygmy cories, would they be a choice for me? Thanks again!!

Casey
 
a few small cories would be a good choice. there are numerous designs out there. Gourami's can be territorial/bullies no matter what the sexes. Females are hard to find because they're usually not very pretty and therefore don't sell very well. If they were to mate, the males can be very aggressive. Neons tend to stay at the middle/bottom. Platies do swim all levels. One other option would be zebra/leopard danio's. They are fairly small, fast moving, colorful and very cheap. you can usually find them between 75-99 cents each. they stay more at the top levels and some venture to bottom levels at times. I would probably suggest a couple dwarf gourami's, might as well go males, a couple small cories and a few zebra danio's. Make sure you have some vegetation along the sides in a couple spots for the gourami's to shelter from eachother. You will need some open water for the zebra danio's to move around so don't make the tank densely planted all over. Kyle
 
I'd go ahead and add a few more neons, and maybe a betta or gourami. If the betta or gourami happens to be a bully there's a greater chance that the neons will stick together as a group. When neons feel that there is no threat, they tend to drift apart.
 
So, 5 to 6 neons and a betta or gourami and 2 snails in a 10g is okay?? I just want to make sure that I don't overpopulate...Is there enough room for a bottom-dweller or two?? If so, what do you suggest?? Thanks again!!

Casey
 
Originally posted by CLH
So, 5 to 6 neons and a betta or gourami and 2 snails in a 10g is okay?? I just want to make sure that I don't overpopulate...Is there enough room for a bottom-dweller or two?? If so, what do you suggest?? Thanks again!!

Casey
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I don't know anything about how snails affect you bio-load. It's possible you could get away with a couple of pygmy cories, but they might not be happy, and I think you'd have to be very attentive to water quality.
 
Thanks for the input...Snails are poopers, so it's probably just best that I stay with the 5 to 6 neons, a betta or gourami, and my 2 snails...

Casey
 
my cories always like the tanks I have had 5 gallon, 10, and 20 they always did well and looked happy
2 or 3 in a tank always
 
I currently have the following in my freshly cycled 10 gallon.

2 Zebra Danios
2 Dwarf Honey Gourami's
3 Black Phantonm Tetras

2 African Dwarf Frogs

I'm planning on adding 1 or 2 otto's when I can find some at the store. That should max out my tank.

I don't really take the frogs into account when it comes to stocking as they breath normal air from the surface. Their bio-loads are not huge either.
 
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