10 gal. compatibility questions (yay!)

Rava

Rava

Betta Babe
Dec 26, 2002
223
0
16
CA
I'm looking into getting a 10 gallon tank. I want as colorful of fish as possible, but I'm unsure what would be compatible, and how many would be good. Here's what I like: dwarf gouramis (sp?), male guppies, certain tetras (though I don't really want a school of them in a 10 gal., that doesn't seem right), and bettas (don't want only bettas though). I narrowed my list down pretty good, I just need to know what the best choice(s) would be, how many, and which would be compatible.

I also have a lone male betta I would consider putting in the tank. But I don't think he's compatible with any of the other fishies on my list, right? I can do any accesories (heater, ect.), but no live plants!

Oh, cycling. I have the betta in a cycled, established 5 gallon right now. Am I able to cycle the 10 gallon with the filter media from the 5 gal. somehow? How would I do that? Thanks so much for all help! I REALLY appreciate it! :)
 
The Betta "should" be fine with the guppies. Depends on the temperment of your betta. Some tetras are fine with betta, just be wary of anything that will nip fins, as the slow moving betta will be stripped pretty quickly. Gourami and betta I'm not sure on.. I've heard they will fight.
 
Beta and gourami will fight. For a 10 gallon I would say 1 dwarf gourami or 1 betta and a small school of small tetras(cardinals would be nice) or a few male guppies. I would stay away from a guppy/beta mix it can work but it matters on how nice the beta is....

As for cycling I would add the 10 gallon filter(turn the flow down) to the 5 gallon and run both filters. You will be able to get some bacteria going in the new filter this way and then can just trasfer it over to the 10.
 
Last edited:
I would be pretty leary of putting most tetras with a betta. In a 10g tank they would probably be too nippy, plus I think almost all tetras are schooling fish, so if you don't want a school I would just eliminate them. What about a male and female dwarf gourami? And maybe some dwarf corys or otos or snails or shrimp to add some more life? Or maybe just 4-6 male guppys?

I think I would just leave the betta in his 5g tank if thats an option, I'm sure he doesn't mind the tank all to himself :laugh:
 
Just a thought but I would think about going with a 20 instead of a 10. The cost uprade isn't much and its the same footprint. It will allow you a bit more flexibility with fish choice and the water should be easier to keep stable.
 
shady3210 said:
As for cycling I would add the 10 gallon filter(turn the flow down) to the 5 gallon and run both filters. You will be able to get some bacteria going in the new filter this way and then can just trasfer it over to the 10.
Click to expand...

Gonna be crowded for Mr. betta in there for awhile. How long will it take to get the second filter established so it can be moved to the 10 gal.?

Holly, with my other fish choices, betta will probably stay in his tank. I was just hoping maybe he'd be compatible so I could keep tank numbers down. I'll just let him move in with my sister (she gets her own room soon), since he's her's anyway, and she can take care of him. lol

I considered male/female dwarf gouramis before, but I'm pretty sure nowhere around here sells females. Do the males not get along? Do fish/pet stores special order females if necessary, does anyone know? And what about breeding? I don't want babies...

If I get 2 dwarf gouramis, could I have some guppies in there as well? How many, if so?

No bigger tanks. I do just fine keeping a 5 gal.'s water paramaters stable, and my choice of fish I listed are the only fish I'm especially interested in, so I'm not limiting myself due to tank size. :) Thanks, though!
 
If you run the filter for at least 2 weeks you might be able to get away with adding one or two fish a week, I would still just test the water to be safe, and be prepared for some changes if necessary. Alot of stores will order fish for you, just call around and ask. I think the males will fight, they might get along with each other in a bigger tank, but I think in a 10g it would be risky!!
 
Well here is what I am doing for my 10 gal:
3 otos
5 neons (or cardinals if you prefer)
5 male fancy guppies
It is very colorful and very active!
 
Holly9937 said:
If you run the filter for at least 2 weeks you might be able to get away with adding one or two fish a week, I would still just test the water to be safe, and be prepared for some changes if necessary. Alot of stores will order fish for you, just call around and ask. I think the males will fight, they might get along with each other in a bigger tank, but I think in a 10g it would be risky!!
Click to expand...

Thanks! So I'll plan on getting the new filter (and other necessary equipment) and running it for two weeks in the 5 gal.. Then I'll move it over, and be vigilant with water checks, adding one or two fish at a time.

Two questions remain. If I'm able to get ahold of a female dwarf gourami, what about babies? How do I prevent them? And, can the guppies go in with the dg's, and how many, if so? Thanks so much!! I'm excited. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom