Cory vs. Otto for 10g?

J

J72g

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Jun 1, 2006
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I have a 10g that is beginning to finish it's cycle, and the first fish I want to introduce is some type of bottom feeder. Pleco would be too large for a 10g, and I have heard either some cories or ottos would work well... My question is, which one would be best, and how many of that one? I plan to have 8 guppies (2 male, 6 females) + either the ottos or the corys, and maybe a betta. Any Advice?

Thanks
Jason
 
Well, I wouldn't recomend an Otto unless you ahve lots of algae. They do not adjust to eating fish food and will starve to death. Corys are nice, but they are schooling fish and I am not sure if a 10 gallon is big enough, maybe you could do 3 of them, but that's not much of a school. As far as the guppies go, you do know they will breed and will fill up that tank in no time. If you get them I would get nothing else in there, especially not a Betta. I do not know for sure, but with the guppies fan tails he may act agrressively to them. Honestly, I would say for a 10 gallon just get the betta, that is a nice size tank for him and they are fun fish, lots of personality. I am sure there will be other opinions on this, but that's mine.
 
Cory cats are fun fish. They are very social so you should get a shoal of them if you do decide on corys. I like Panda Corys. I have to agree that a 10 gallon is going to fill up fast. You could get more than just a betta. A betta and some corys would work nicely.
 
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Otos can be kept without algae in the tank. You'll need to feed them some sort of fresh veggies to keep them from starving, because they willl rarely eat any prepared foods, not even algae wafers. That said, I think cories are much more entertaining to keep, and definitely easier to feed. As long as you have efficient biofiltration, I think a half dozen small cories (pandas, melinis, etc — NOT green, bronze, peppered or albino cories) would be fine. If you go with a larger species (greens, etc.) perhaps just three would be better.

I agree that a betta is not the best idea. Long, flowing tails will likely prove irresistably fun to chomp chunks out of. I hope you understand you will be constantly netting out baby guppies — perhaps going with all male guppies might be better.
 
Here's another choice: amano shrimp. Sometimes they sell them as algae-eating shrimp. I have found them to be very hardy and efficient scavengers. They'd be happy in a 10 gallon.
 
I would not add otos as the first fish in a tank, even if it is cycled. They are very sensitive and will often die mysteriously even in perfect tanks. It would be better to wait until your tank is established before introducing them. Otos would not necessarily compete for space with the cories - although being a 'bottom feeder' type fish, they will rest on any surface in the tank, often off the bottom. You could keep them as well as the cories.
 
corys
 
Thanks Everyone,

I have kept guppies before, and yes, I know there breeding habits, or should I say addiction. I would just let nature take its course, there would be no netting out babies, the babies would just have to live by the, survival of the fittest, way of thinking. It's the most humane way, extremely more humane than keeping 200 fry in the tank along with my other fish, and messing with all my water parameters.

Anyway, I think I will go with:
6 Guppies (2 male, 4 female) OR 6-8 Neon Tetras
4-5 corys (as monkey_toes stated they would be of the smaller variety)
1 Centerpiece fish(Haven't decided)

Will that be good for the cories?
Thanks
Jason
 
6-8 Neon Tetras
4-5 panda corys
1 dwarf or honey gourami

Sweeeeet.
 
awesome, thanks fo all your help!

I'll post pics when I get them all in their eventually!

Jason
 
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