10 Gallon Stocking--Friendly Fish

[mrbelvedere]

Hi,
I have a 10 gallon tank that is currently stocked with 1 cory, 1 danio, 1 guppy, and 1 snail. They all get along for the most part--the danio does nip at the guppy but nothing too serious. I figure I have room for maybe 2 more fish and was looking for some advice on stocking. I realize that danios and corys are meant to be in schools but did not receive the info from my lfs. In any case, would love to hear what people think.
Thanks!

 

[tricky-z]

you probably should get more danio. i don' know about the cory i have never had one but am thinking of adding some to one of my tanks. danios are much happier in a group. mine always stick together chasing each other around.

 

[dougie]

All those fish are better in groups, unfortunately IMO your tank is too small for a group of each. I'd pick your favourite, get a group of those, say 6-8 & re-home the others.
Good luck.

 

[brittani299]

I my 10 gallon I have 2 zebra danios, 2 black tetras, 1 neon tetra, and 1 female betta. They all swim together and it is fun to watch the danios and the tetras swim in a group. I think you should get more danios though. They seem to be friendlier

 

[mrbelvedere]

Thanks for the feedback. I wish we knew that they needed to be in groups but being noobs, we had no idea. Now they seem like they're in good shape but I definitely understand the opinion that we need to make some adjustments. If we have just one or a couple of a fish that should be in a larger school does that mean that they are automatically going to be more stressed? less likely to survive?

 

[brittani299]

Thanks for the feedback. I wish we knew that they needed to be in groups but being noobs, we had no idea. Now they seem like they're in good shape but I definitely understand the opinion that we need to make some adjustments. If we have just one or a couple of a fish that should be in a larger school does that mean that they are automatically going to be more stressed? less likely to survive?

I really don't like the pet stores because they give horrible info. I didn't know that I should have 5 barbs together in one tank. But I only got two. Now after doing research I know but I don't think all fish will get stressed out. My barbs in my 60 gallon seem to be fine. They just followed each other around a lot. I think that once grouping fish get used to being alone or in small groups they will be fine. Warning though. I have have school fish like my rainbows which also should have been in schools get attacked. I started with one got another and the first one attacked my new one. Now they are fine. I think is really depends on the fish species itself

 

[dougie]

I think the general thinking is shoaling fish get stressed if kept alone, which can shorten their lives. But the bottom line is we should be keeping any pet in the best possible conditions & environment as we can.
Bad retailer advice is no-ones fault but the retailers. Don't feel bad about rehoming fish if it's in the fishes' long term interest.
In a small tank, I think it's much more attractive to see a set up based around one type of fish anyway - but that's just my opinion
Good luck.