It's me again! Final 10g stocking question!

[edwardorino]

Okay, after much deliberation, advice, and many trips to my LFS, I think I have what I want. Here's my setup:

standard 10g
20-40 Whisper HOB
Hagen CO2
2 15W Compact Fluorescent
Driftwood, Java Fern, Crypts, Sword plants, Anacharis, Jungle Val

Stocking:
1 male Crowntail Betta
4 Cardinal Tetras
4 Panda Cories
5 Amano Shrimp

I've traded in a pair of Golden Wonder Killies, 2 Chinese Hillstream Loaches, and 3 Platys :sad:

If anyone of you are ever in Bloomington, IN, please visit Delilah's Pet Shop. They have a wonderful and knowledgeable staff.

My question is, do I have any more room for pandas or cardinals or both? If you had this tank, would you add anymore to this stock?

I appreciate everyone's help so far, and I wouldn't where I am at (fishkeeping -wise) without you all!

[jm1212]

you could get one or two pandas, for corys are extremely good with helping with deterius.
as for the cardinals, ive never had them before, but you could try with two or three to start with

[Ms.Bubbles]

I would definitely not add anything more to this tank. IMO it's maxed out.

P.S. Warning--bettas do not always get along with other fish. Be prepared to move him into a separate tank if you see continued aggression, stressed out fish, or if someone starts missing fins or bits of tail!

[jm1212]

yea i agree... i shouldve caught that lol. bettas can get nasty

[dorkfish]

Cardinals and every other "tetra", are schooling fish and need to be in a group of 6 as the barest minumum. Dtto for the panda cories.

The tank really isn't big enough for 2 species of schooling fish. The betta, 6 cardinals, and 3 ottos may be a better option for you.

Bettas are usually quite peacefull in my expierience. 2 of my males are getting along with fancy gppies (according to some aquarists, the guppies should be dead) with the only aggresion being a little chasing for the first 5-10 minutes after the guppies were introduced. Although there is a chance the betta may not like some of it's tankmates, based on my observations, I'd say the probability is petty low.

[jm1212]

i dont think corydoras need to be in a group if 6 or more... they are fine on their own or in pairs or in threes

[dorkfish]

i dont think corydoras need to be in a group if 6 or more... they are fine on their own or in pairs or in threes

They hardly ever move when there on there own (I doubt this means there enjoying it). When in a group of three or more, they are very active. So maybe three for the absolutest minumum, preferably 6. keep in mind, my observations are coming from my own bronze corys, and a peppered and an albino cory in my aunt's tank, and panda cories are smaller then these species; usually it's the smaller species of fish that tend to school together, not the larger ones.

[jm1212]

my peppered cory is always swimming around the tank and hes on his own

[fishcatch22]

you could use more cories and more cardinals, but if you got more it'd OS your tank. but i'm sure it's gonna be fine the way it is. you messed up alot, but you still managed to pull through. good job, man! :)

[Ms.Bubbles]

Bettas are usually quite peacefull in my expierience.
Consider yourself lucky. See some AC examples of aggressive bettas:

Betta eats white clouds:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78684&highlight=betta+killed

Betta kills/eats snails and shrimp: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75693&highlight=betta+killed

Betta kills snails and guppies: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73099&highlight=betta+killed

Betta kills cories and platies: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70009&highlight=betta+killed

Betta bites the tail off every fish in community tank: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66439&highlight=betta+killed

Betta kills 2 lemon tetras overnight: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60504&highlight=betta+killed

[edwardorino]

Thanks for the advice guys (and gals?). The cories are fun to watch in their little group of four. The betta is very peaceful, and hasn't flared much since I moved the golden wonder out. It almost seems like he misses the killi (aka Booster Gold). I guess I kind of miss him too :sad:

I've heard conflicting advice on the old shrimpsters. I've heard their bioload is negligible compared to fish. I know everything adds up in the end, but I'm doing two 30-40% waterchanges on Wed. (frozen food day!) and Sat. (live blackworm day!) weekly.

I was hoping someone with some clout would've chimed in with adding a cardinal or two would okay.

On a side note, are amanos pretty good algae eaters? That's what I got them for. I wanted ottos, but I knew two ottos in the tank with the current fish would be too much, or would it?