I have a 10 gallon tank with 1 black skirt tetra, 5 neon tetras, and 1 ghost shrimp. They are getting along great! Are there any tips for taking care of them and are there any other things I can add to the tank without disrupting?
2007-07-21 07:41:41 · 9 answers · asked by turkeyleg0090 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
By the way I already have ten inches of fish.
2007-07-21 08:02:05 · update #1
Here's the best tip I can give you: take care of the tank and it will take care of you. Every week do a 25% (roughly) water change, and vacuum the gravel at the same time. The fish should be worth 20 minutes a week, and a bit of work often will save you hassle and problems and a filthy tank in the future. No matter what you hear, nothing is more healthy for your fish then fresh, clean water.
Clean out the filter regularly. Do it in de-chlorinated water to preserve the bacteria. I've heard the recommendation 'clean it when it clogs from waste', but really if it clogs it means you've waited too long.
As for algae eating fish - they will eat some algae, but they do not clean tanks whatever you might hear, and they most certainly don't eat fish waste or 'whatever makes the tank dirty' - they eat a lot and poop a lot, and only add waste. Get them if you like them only, not as an aquarium tool - and be very careful of your choice, since most of these are too big or too aggressive for a 10 gallon tank. Ghost shrimp, on the other hand, are excellent scavengers and low-waste creatures, so feel free to add more of them if you wish.
And as for adding to the tank, don't use chemicals. Other then dechlorinator you fish don't need it, no matter what the store may try to sell you. The more you complicate it, the more can go wrong.
2007-07-21 07:53:32 · answer #1 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DON'T GET ALGAE EATERS! They are little monsters that get almost a foot long. Gold Algae Eaters only eat algae when there is no other food present, if they can, they will eat flake food and let the algae sit there. Later in life, they attack other fish and give them "fish hickeys", this leads to diseases and death. You may want to add a couple more Black Skirts for security, but other than that, you've done a great job stocking. You may want to add a DWARF Gourami in a couple weeks. They are colorful, peaceful fish that will leave the Tetras and Shrimp alone. Dwarf Gouramis get about 2 inches long, be careful though, make sure you don't buy a normal Gourami, they can get up to a foot long and way too large for your tank! Good luck!
Nosoop4u
2007-07-21 14:54:05 · answer #2 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems like you have a very well balanced tank. What you could do is add plenty of loong-leaved live aquatic plants so the tetras have a place to hide just in case they ever need to. That's if you want to be safe. Other than that, just make sure you keep the tank very clean, since you don't have any algea eaters to keep the tank clean. Those work wonders when it comes to a clean tank, all day they just go around the tank eating whatever makes the tank dirty. You should get one, since it won't harm your other fish. The best cleaners are the Golden Algae Eaters. Hope that helped!
2007-07-21 14:48:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
you seemed well stocked for such a small tank i wouldn't really add anything else. if you start getting some algae the only thing i would add is some snails to eat up the algae but for now i wouldn't do that until it is necessary. As far as caring for them keep up with your water changes and feed lightly twice a day. when you feed make sure that the ammount of food you put in will be all gone within roughly 2 minutes.
2007-07-21 14:54:57 · answer #4 · answered by craig 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you are on top of things. One common saying to remember with aquariums: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
I would say you have room for a few more small fish. Either a few more ghost shrimp, 2-3 oto catfish or maybe a small group or glolight tetras. Any of those should be fine to add to your tank.
MM
2007-07-21 14:53:47 · answer #5 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like there allgeting on great. I wouldnt add anything else, Understocked is allways better for power cuts etc, Just do a 25% water change a week.
2007-07-21 14:46:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really anything wrong with your tank, and theres nothing really to add.
The problem is 10 gallons isnt alot of room, and your well stocked now.
2007-07-21 14:45:08 · answer #7 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Live plants. They are pretty & help filter the water.
2007-07-21 14:47:56 · answer #8 · answered by purpleverywhere 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you should be good
2007-07-21 14:46:40 · answer #9 · answered by bungee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋