10 gallon community tank with a betta

[sweetgurlsparkle]

hey,

This morning I moved my male betta to a ten gallon tank (he's so much happier with all that space ). I'd like to have that tank eventually contain live plants, tank mates, and a sponge filter.

I would like to get a bristle-nose pleco, and I know that they can grow up to five inches..would a ten gallon tank be too small? I know females don't tend to get as large, maybe that's a option. Or instead I could get a pittbull pleco, since from what I read they stay quite small. Other than that I was thinking of adding a group of 6 tetras. When it comes to schooling would the tretas care what color each other are, because I was thinking of getting 4 Flame and 2 Serpae. I was also considering a couple cherry shrimps. So I'd be looking at 6 schooling fish, 1 betta, 1 pleco, and 1-2 shrimp. Would this be to much? You guys have any suggestions? I want to have a varity of unique fish, opposed to one school of danios, or something.

Also if any of you make your own sponge filters, could you tell me a good place to get some open-pore sponge material? Thanks a lot.

Jen

 

[cation]

I would like to get a bristle-nose pleco, and I know that they can grow up to five inches..would a ten gallon tank be too small? I know females don't tend to get as large, maybe that's a option. Or instead I could get a pittbull pleco, since from what I read they stay quite small.

Way too small for a bristlenose, my 20g is too small for one. The only plec I would consider in such a small tank is a clown, but even that's questionable given how much waste they produce. Another note - a sponge filter will NOT provide enough filtration for the waste a pleco produces

Other than that I was thinking of adding a group of 6 tetras. When it comes to schooling would the tretas care what color each other are, because I was thinking of getting 4 Flame and 2 Serpae. I was also considering a couple cherry shrimps. So I'd be looking at 6 schooling fish, 1 betta, 1 pleco, and 1-2 shrimp.
Jen

Cherry shrimp will become dinner. The Tetras need to be in groups of at least 6, and both types grow to an average of 1.75 and 2 inches, so with the six of them, you're already fully stocked. Also, every betta is different. Some do not do well in community tanks.


By the way, welcome to the board! Hope you have a good stay here!

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

who's going to eat the cherry shrimp? The tetras? What's a good subtitute of a pleco then? I was favoring a pleco because I like their unique look. I'm planning to get 6 tetras because of their need to be in groups, and I'm sure my betta will be fine with some company. If there is an idea of what I should put in the tank instead on a group of schooling fish (danios, white clouds, hatchets, rasboras, etc), I'd love to hear it. I don't want a tank with only a betta and a couple shrimp, I'd like at least a couple of other fish swimming around and a catfish. And the more unique and weird looking the better.

 

[cation]

The betta will eat the shrimp. most likely. Tetras are notorious fin-nippers. you may want to consider an all-female betta tank, or maybe just go with a communty tank without a betta for the 10g if you want more fish in it. In the Fish Index, you will find descrptions of fish, including how big they get and the minimum recommended tank size.

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

Hmm..I didn't think the betta's month would be big enough..I mean half his attempts with pellets result in them getting away.

I'd feel bad about putting him back in his 1g tank..So, a tank without him is out.

I mentioned tetras because someone told me they do fine with bettas, and I figured with all the different colors I could make a pretty tank But I'm still considering the other types of schooling fish I mentioned in my previous post. So a pitbull pleco won't work even thoguh they only grow to 2"? Or maybe a rubbernose? Any ideas for pretty loner fish that could be good company? I prefer not to get 6 of one fish, but a couple of different, unique, pretty fish.

The idea for this community tank is company for the betta, opposed to a communtiy with a betta added in.

Thanks a lot.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Maybe the betta with a few smaller cories, an ADF or two and some cheaper types of shrimp just in case the betta does eat them. It all depends on the betta though, I'd test him out before sticking him in with other fish.

 

[yeeviabetta]

Mystery Apple snail. They beautiful, exotic and fun to watch. They clean tank too.

 

[gale]

Hmm..I didn't think the betta's month would be big enough..I mean half his attempts with pellets result in them getting away.

My female is tiny and I'm down to 1 shrimp from 4 original ones. I didn't think she did it but I'm beginning to wonder...

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

Ok, thanks. I was hoping for something other than cories (don't really like them), but I guess it will have to do. I already own some frogs and toads, so I was hoping to start an aquarium.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi sweetgurlsparkle

You might want to think about otos and/or kuhli loaches. They are both 'interesting fish that won't compete with the betta for territory.

Otos are tiny sucking fish that eat algae and other vegetable matter. Here's a link with a picture:

http/www.angelfire.com/wa/AquariaWeb/oto.html

Kuhli loaches are small fish that will often hide if kept along, so it's best to have a few of them:

http/www.loaches.com/species_pages/kloach.html

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

ok. I'll take a looks at some ottos. What about a usd catfish? I think I had one when I was younger, because I use to have a catfish that would spiral through the water and I never knew why. Named him whiskey

Also what about 2 cherry barbs. This is what I read about them:

Peaceful loner fish that do not prefer to school with their own. Will mix well with other similar sized fish.

There is a misconception that all the members of the Barb Family are aggressive towards other tank mates. Cherry Barbs are a very passive barb that do not harass the other fish and tends to stick to themselves in the aquarium.

And maybe 2-3 shrimp, depending on if I think its worth risking them turning into betta food.

so, a usd catfish, 2 cherry barbs, and maybe 2-3 shrimp, all with a betta in a 10g tank. sound reasonable?

 

[gale]

And maybe 2-3 shrimp, depending on if I think its worth risking them turning into betta food.

so, a usd catfish, 2 cherry barbs, and maybe 2-3 shrimp, all with a betta in a 10g tank. sound reasonable?

My inch long girl killed the last shrimp in the tank last night. I'm willing to bet your shrimp won't last long.

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

ahh well, at least she enjoyed a good meal
My betta likes to hang out on the top of the tank, so maybe he won't bother the shrimp. I don't know if I'm getting shrimp, but its a possibility.

So what do you guys think of a couple cherry barbs and a usd catfish?

 

[gale]

So what do you guys think of a couple cherry barbs and a usd catfish?

Cherry barbs are good peaceful fish. I have a male and a female-the male is a beautiful red and the female is more of a brown and very fat all the time. The female seems more active than the male most of the time.

I don't know what a usd catfish is. I only have cories.

 

[sweetgurlsparkle]

ok. I'll get a couple cherry barbs then. That way I don't have to get a schooling fish, and therefore 6 of them. usd catfish= upside down catfish. I wanted to get a pleco, but apparently not even a 2inch pittbull pleco will work.