Hey all! I'm working on this little list project of 10 gallon stocking ideas. Although 10 gals may not be the ideal starting tank for people, they often are the first tank people own. However, they can be used by more advanced aquarists too!
So, I've been coming up with a variety of ways to stock a 10 gal, and rating them by difficulty. I also put additional notes on some of them.
I am looking for help now! I'd like this to be a community effort, as I have not directly owned many of these or other species.
I am looking for additional stock suggestions, creative ideas for tank stock names (you can see I still have a lot of blank ones), opinions on the difficulty rating of tanks, opinions on how well the tanks are stocked, and anything else you can think of.
I know you guys are a creative bunch! Tell me what you think!
Tank Level – 1 – 5
1= Easy, low maintenance, hardy fish, beginner tank
5=Difficult, advanced or high maintenance, possible delicate species, advanced tank
1. Splendid splendens – Level 1
1 male Betta splendens (Siamese fighting fish) + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 2 bridgesii snails
2. Sorority Girls – Level 2
3 female Betta splendens (Siamese fighting fish) + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 2 bridgesii snails
3. You’ve Got Male Guppies – Level 2
6 male guppies + 1 moth catfish (Hara sp.) + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
4. Please Pass the Platies – Level 2
4 male platies + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
5. – Level 1
8 – 10 small tetras (Neons, glowlights, embers, coffeebeans, etc) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
6. On Cloud Nine – Level 2
8 white cloud minnows + 1 moth catfish (Hara sp.) + 2 bridgessi snails
7. Sparkling Water – Level 3
Trio (1 male, 2 females) sparkling gouramis + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus)
8. In the Endler Zone – Level 1
10 – 12 male Endler’s livebearers + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
9. – Level 2
10 micro-danios (Danio margaritatus (Celestial pearl danio), D. choprai (Glowlight danio), D. erythromicron (Zebra rasbora)) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
-Tank must be planted
- Micro-danios need fine food
10. – Level 2
10 dwarf rasboras (Boraras brigittae (Chili or mosquito rasbora), B. maculates (Dwarf or spotted rasbora), B. merah (Phoenix rasbora), B. micros (Micro rasbora) or B. uropthalmoides (Sparrow, least or exclamation point rasbora)) + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
-Tank must be planted
- Micro-danios need fine food
11. Clowning Around – Level 3
6 clown killifish + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
-Clown killifish may require live food
12. – Level 3
Pair ( 1 male, 1 female) shell dwelling cichlids (Neolamprologus brevis (Brevis shell dweller), N. multifaciatus (Multibar shell dweller), N. similis (Big eye shell dweller) or Lamprologus ocellatus (Ocellated shell dweller)) + 2 bridgesii snails
-Shell dwellers require sand substrate
-Shell dwellers require shells in the tank
13. Shrimp Cocktail – Level 2
15 dwarf shrimp (Caridina or Neocaridina sp.) + 2 bridgesii snails
-Tank must be planted
14. Cajun Crawdad Boil – Level 1
2 dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus schufeldti or C. patzcuarensis)
-Tank must have many hiding places
15. – Level 4
6 bumblebee gobies + 2 nerite snails
-Brackish tank
16. – Level 3
3 peacock gudgeons + 3 male guppies + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
-Peacock gudgeons may be picky eaters
17. Underwater Desert Oasis – Level 3
Trio (1 male, 2 females) Desert gobies + 2 bridgesii snails
18. – Level 2
Pair (1 male, 1 female) Badis badis (Dwarf chameleon fish) + 1 bridgesii snail
19. – Level 2
Harem (1 male, 6 female) Dario dario (Scarlet badis) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
20. – Level 5
Trio (1 male, 2 females) dwarf puffers
-Brackish tank
-Puffers require live snails and frozen food
21. Go Figure – Level 5
1 figure eight puffer
-Brackish tank
-Puffers require live snails and frozen food
22. – Level 2
1 dwarf gourami + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 1 bridgesii snail
23. Honey Pot – Level 2
Trio (1 male, 2 females) honey gourami + 3 otocinclus + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
24. – Level 2
5 African dwarf frogs + 3 male guppies OR 5 male Endler’s livebearers + 2 bridegsii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
25. Behind Blue Eyes – Level 2
6 blue-eyes (Pseudomugil furcatus (Forktail blue-eye), P. gertrudae (Gertrude’s or spotted blue-eye), P. mellis (Honey blue-eye), P. signifier (Pacific blue-eye) or P. tenellus (Delicate blue-eye)) + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
26. – Level 2
Pair Freshwater Gobies Rhinogobius wui (White cheeked goby), R. candidianus (Candidius goby) + 5 white cloud minnows + 1 bridgesii snail
27. – Level 1
1 male paradise fish + 2 bridgesii snails
28. Chain Gang – Level 2
6 dwarf chain loaches + 6 male endlers
29. – Level 3
Pair (1 male, 1 female) killifish (Aphyosemion australe (Lyretail killifish), Jordanella floridae (American flagfish) or Fundulopanchax gardneri (Gardneri killifish)) + 2 bridgesii snails
30. – Level 2
6 harlequin rasboras + 3 otocinclus + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
31. Livebearer Lover – Level 2
2 male guppies + 2 male platies + 1 male molly + 4 male Endler’s livebearers
32. Over the Rainbow – Level 2
6 Melanotaenia praecox (Dwarf neon rainbowfish) OR 6 Iriatherina werneri (Threadfin Rainbowfish) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
-Rainbowfish have narrow throats and require fine food
33. Knights in Shining Armor – Level 4
2 knight gobies + 2 nerite snails
-Brackish tank
34. – Level 2
6 kuhli loaches + 3 male guppies + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
35. – Level 4
3 Indian glassfish + 3 bumblebee gobies + 1 nerite snail
-Brackish tank
36. – Level 1
2 male mollies + 2 bridgesii snails
37. – Level 2
6 small hatchetfish (Carnegiella marthae (Black-winged hatchetfish) or C. myersi (Pygmy hatchetfish)) + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus)
38. – Level 3
Pair Stiphodon gobies (Stiphodon atropurpureus (Neon goby), S. elegans (Green riffle goby) + 3 male guppies
-Allow algal growth for Stiphodon grazing
39. Fish n’ Shrimp – Level 2
[FONT="] 6 male Endler’s livebearers + 10 dwarf shrimp (Caridina or Neocaridina sp.) + [/FONT] [FONT="]1 bridgesii snail[/FONT]
So, I've been coming up with a variety of ways to stock a 10 gal, and rating them by difficulty. I also put additional notes on some of them.
I am looking for help now! I'd like this to be a community effort, as I have not directly owned many of these or other species.
I am looking for additional stock suggestions, creative ideas for tank stock names (you can see I still have a lot of blank ones), opinions on the difficulty rating of tanks, opinions on how well the tanks are stocked, and anything else you can think of.
I know you guys are a creative bunch! Tell me what you think!
Tank Level – 1 – 5
1= Easy, low maintenance, hardy fish, beginner tank
5=Difficult, advanced or high maintenance, possible delicate species, advanced tank
1. Splendid splendens – Level 1
1 male Betta splendens (Siamese fighting fish) + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 2 bridgesii snails
2. Sorority Girls – Level 2
3 female Betta splendens (Siamese fighting fish) + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 2 bridgesii snails
3. You’ve Got Male Guppies – Level 2
6 male guppies + 1 moth catfish (Hara sp.) + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
4. Please Pass the Platies – Level 2
4 male platies + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
5. – Level 1
8 – 10 small tetras (Neons, glowlights, embers, coffeebeans, etc) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
6. On Cloud Nine – Level 2
8 white cloud minnows + 1 moth catfish (Hara sp.) + 2 bridgessi snails
7. Sparkling Water – Level 3
Trio (1 male, 2 females) sparkling gouramis + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus)
8. In the Endler Zone – Level 1
10 – 12 male Endler’s livebearers + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
9. – Level 2
10 micro-danios (Danio margaritatus (Celestial pearl danio), D. choprai (Glowlight danio), D. erythromicron (Zebra rasbora)) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
-Tank must be planted
- Micro-danios need fine food
10. – Level 2
10 dwarf rasboras (Boraras brigittae (Chili or mosquito rasbora), B. maculates (Dwarf or spotted rasbora), B. merah (Phoenix rasbora), B. micros (Micro rasbora) or B. uropthalmoides (Sparrow, least or exclamation point rasbora)) + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
-Tank must be planted
- Micro-danios need fine food
11. Clowning Around – Level 3
6 clown killifish + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
-Clown killifish may require live food
12. – Level 3
Pair ( 1 male, 1 female) shell dwelling cichlids (Neolamprologus brevis (Brevis shell dweller), N. multifaciatus (Multibar shell dweller), N. similis (Big eye shell dweller) or Lamprologus ocellatus (Ocellated shell dweller)) + 2 bridgesii snails
-Shell dwellers require sand substrate
-Shell dwellers require shells in the tank
13. Shrimp Cocktail – Level 2
15 dwarf shrimp (Caridina or Neocaridina sp.) + 2 bridgesii snails
-Tank must be planted
14. Cajun Crawdad Boil – Level 1
2 dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus schufeldti or C. patzcuarensis)
-Tank must have many hiding places
15. – Level 4
6 bumblebee gobies + 2 nerite snails
-Brackish tank
16. – Level 3
3 peacock gudgeons + 3 male guppies + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
-Peacock gudgeons may be picky eaters
17. Underwater Desert Oasis – Level 3
Trio (1 male, 2 females) Desert gobies + 2 bridgesii snails
18. – Level 2
Pair (1 male, 1 female) Badis badis (Dwarf chameleon fish) + 1 bridgesii snail
19. – Level 2
Harem (1 male, 6 female) Dario dario (Scarlet badis) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
20. – Level 5
Trio (1 male, 2 females) dwarf puffers
-Brackish tank
-Puffers require live snails and frozen food
21. Go Figure – Level 5
1 figure eight puffer
-Brackish tank
-Puffers require live snails and frozen food
22. – Level 2
1 dwarf gourami + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus) + 1 bridgesii snail
23. Honey Pot – Level 2
Trio (1 male, 2 females) honey gourami + 3 otocinclus + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
24. – Level 2
5 African dwarf frogs + 3 male guppies OR 5 male Endler’s livebearers + 2 bridegsii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
25. Behind Blue Eyes – Level 2
6 blue-eyes (Pseudomugil furcatus (Forktail blue-eye), P. gertrudae (Gertrude’s or spotted blue-eye), P. mellis (Honey blue-eye), P. signifier (Pacific blue-eye) or P. tenellus (Delicate blue-eye)) + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
26. – Level 2
Pair Freshwater Gobies Rhinogobius wui (White cheeked goby), R. candidianus (Candidius goby) + 5 white cloud minnows + 1 bridgesii snail
27. – Level 1
1 male paradise fish + 2 bridgesii snails
28. Chain Gang – Level 2
6 dwarf chain loaches + 6 male endlers
29. – Level 3
Pair (1 male, 1 female) killifish (Aphyosemion australe (Lyretail killifish), Jordanella floridae (American flagfish) or Fundulopanchax gardneri (Gardneri killifish)) + 2 bridgesii snails
30. – Level 2
6 harlequin rasboras + 3 otocinclus + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
31. Livebearer Lover – Level 2
2 male guppies + 2 male platies + 1 male molly + 4 male Endler’s livebearers
32. Over the Rainbow – Level 2
6 Melanotaenia praecox (Dwarf neon rainbowfish) OR 6 Iriatherina werneri (Threadfin Rainbowfish) + 2 bridgesii snails OR 5 ghost shrimp
-Rainbowfish have narrow throats and require fine food
33. Knights in Shining Armor – Level 4
2 knight gobies + 2 nerite snails
-Brackish tank
34. – Level 2
6 kuhli loaches + 3 male guppies + 1 bridgesii snail OR 3 ghost shrimp
35. – Level 4
3 Indian glassfish + 3 bumblebee gobies + 1 nerite snail
-Brackish tank
36. – Level 1
2 male mollies + 2 bridgesii snails
37. – Level 2
6 small hatchetfish (Carnegiella marthae (Black-winged hatchetfish) or C. myersi (Pygmy hatchetfish)) + 6 small corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus or C. hastatus)
38. – Level 3
Pair Stiphodon gobies (Stiphodon atropurpureus (Neon goby), S. elegans (Green riffle goby) + 3 male guppies
-Allow algal growth for Stiphodon grazing
39. Fish n’ Shrimp – Level 2
[FONT="] 6 male Endler’s livebearers + 10 dwarf shrimp (Caridina or Neocaridina sp.) + [/FONT] [FONT="]1 bridgesii snail[/FONT]