apistos and rams should actually have more room than a 10 tho.
it is the minimum tank size.
add to it the smaller tanks are more vulnerable to fluctuations. = less stable ..which rams definitely should not be subjected to.
I believe shell dwellers are African
Perhaps the question should be 1) what can work in a 10 gallon tank? ...then 2) is a cichlid, or maybe cichlid-like, and "american".
Let me throw this out - there is a fish that has been in the hobby for years that comes and goes. Lately, I have seen them in shops with a little more frequency, and they can easily be ordered for cheap by your LFS. They kind of look like a cichlid, very pretty, and even behave a little bit like them. They are hardy and a great first fish for a 10 gallon thank. I'm talking about Jordanella floridae - the Florida Flag Fish. Here is a link: