Need stocking help for a 10 gallon aquarium?

Question

I need stocking help with a 10 gallon aquarium. I want something different, I already have two tropical community tanks and an african cichlid tank. It will be the permenant habitat for whatever I put in there so please do not suggest fish unsuitable for 10 gallons.

Fish I DON'T want (already have) are platies, guppies, mollies, common tetra species, common danios, gouramis, bettas, pretty much anything you can buy at a chain pet store. I'm willing to try brackish if there are any suitable brackish fish for a 10 gallon. My water is naturally soft with a neutral pH, but I can harden it if necessary. Anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

Have you considered dwarf puffers? Totally freshwater, you could keep a single, or a male and 2 females if the tank is well planted with enough hiding spots for all.

You an read about these here:
http://www.dwarfpuffers.com/
http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/C_Travancoricus/

You could also try killifish if you've never had these:
http://www.petfish.net/articles/Killifish/lin.php
http://www.petfish.net/articles/Killifish/splendopleure.php
http://www.petfish.net/articles/Killifish/rac.php
http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/303.htm

Answer 2

the only brackish i can think of that would be ok in a 10 gallon is a molly -- the better ones are all better in about 100 gallons -- archers, scats, monos, etc.

a dwarf puffer with a lot of plants and baby snails is lots of fun -- they hover around like little helicopters inspecting the bottoms of leaves until they find a snail and the they go chomp!

my fave little fish are darios. they are aquarium chihuahuas -- 1" of bad attitude. they are great for small tanks. add a school of pygmy rasboras and you have a great little tank.

don't rule out sparkling gouramis -- they sing so you might not want them in your bedroom. they are great in a school.

other great little fish are florida or everglades flagfish are better algae eaters than anything sold as an algae eater.

killifish, apistogrammas, lots of good small fish. my favorite schoolers are still standard rasboras and white clouds -- common but fun little fish.

Answer 3

I'm with copperhead, you should get some dwarf puffers. I am about to get 1 myself. They are very interesting little critters and it is funny to watch them hunt down a snail. If you do get some puffers I would make sure you have lots of plants. Also, make sure the ratio is 1 male/2-3 females. For a 10g you could get 2 males and 4-6 females. Just make sure you have plenty of bloodworms and snails ready for them becuase they will not eat flake food.
Happy Fish Keeping! >(>+)

Answer 4

How about a pair of Ram Cichlids? They are extremely colorful and will do amazingly in your water. Give them some caves, driftwood, and live plants along with a school of Neon Tetras or Harlequin Rasboras (7) and you will be in good shape. Email me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

Answer 5

Try shrimp or a blue lobster/redclaw crayfish. They look cool and if you breed the shrimp (its very easy) they are worth quite a bit. Also when the crayfish gets big you can eat him and buy another one. They also look really cool though just dont mix the crayfish with fish unless you are really careful or want to euthanais the fish :P

Answer 6

As for how many you can put it saying goes one inch of fish per gallon of water.

Well for to help keep the tank clean- algea fish or snail.


Fancy Goldfish are available in many interesting shapes and beautiful colors. White Clouds, Crabs, Ghost Shrimp, Tadpoles, Aquatic Snails, and Live Plants all do well in a Cool Water Aquarium with Goldfish, and all can eat the same food such as TetraFin Flakes

Or some-

swordtails, neons, Dwarf gouramis, cory cats, glass cats,ghost shrimp