10Gal Stocking List

[Steve H.]

I came across a brand new Aqueon 37gal tank with hood at a hidden LFS for $89!
Snapped it up as fast as I could get my wallet out...
Finally! I have a proper home for my Tigers!

Just planted my 10gal where the tigers currently have resided the past 3 months, and want to work out a proper stock list for the 10gl. A friend gave me a book that has stock lists in it, and I really like the "Malaysian Stream" list....but the book contradicts itself in the fish description section.

5-Harlequin Rasbora
3-Cherry Barbs
3-Kuhli Loach

With the exception of the Kuhli Loach the book states a minimum of a 20gl and Cherry Barbs??

I like this list as is...will it work in this 10gl?

 

[Fishy friend2]

Hmm, kuhlis should ideally be placed in groups of around 5+ and require larger tanks than 10 gallons as they are fairly active fish, 4 inches large, and also you have gravel when they really like to be placed in sand so they can sift around in it for food

Cherry barbs are schooling, fish that should be in groups of 6 or more and not in trios

Harlequins are a bit too active, large, and boisterous for a 10 gallon tank.

May I recommed something along the lines of

1 male sparkling gourami
6 boraras brigittae
3 Otocinclus catfish

 

[Steve H.]

Thanks...ya I don't get this book. I know most schooling fish you want 6 or more...we'll save the Kuhli's for a maybe in the 37.

I like the Oto's...they would help with any algae. Think I could replace those with Pygmy Cory's.

Sorry but I have to look up the boraras brigittae...not sure what those are.

 

[Biulu]

As I told you in the other post, have a look at this link:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/116208-recommendations-for-a-10-gallon/

You can also find it under the subforum new freshwater tank in the beginners ressource center.

 

[Steve H.]

Thanks Biulu! I was probably writing this post when you responded to my journal...

 

[Man of fish]

Cherry barbs could be placed in male-female pairs but if not 6+ is more ideal.
Corys also like sand and you have gravel, which could damage their barbels.

 

[Steve H.]

Builu mentioned Celestial Danios on my journal page. Those and the Boraras look pretty cool.
It's going to be a tough choice...

Although I would like to keep this as a Biotope...I am thinking a school of one of the above plus the Oto's would be pretty cool.

 

[Biulu]

Builu mentioned Celestial Danios on my journal page. Those and the Boraras look pretty cool.
It's going to be a tough choice...

Although I would like to keep this as a Biotope...I am thinking a school of one of the above plus the Oto's would be pretty cool.

I am setting up an Asian biotope, but Asia is large! The CPD's and the boraras are Asian too, so it is not at all contradictory. The nice thing about small fish is that it makes your tank looks much bigger than it is in reality, especially if you take plants with smaller leaves as well. Plus, the oto's are not Asian.... If you want to have an Asian algae eater you should go with a flying fox.

What about for your tank: the boraras or the cpd's, and shrimp as a clean up crew? You could then still add 2-3 sparkling gouramis as a centre piece. All these fish are Asian and stay small.

 

[Ruskull]

Hmm, kuhlis should ideally be placed in groups of around 5+ and require larger tanks than 10 gallons as they are fairly active fish, 4 inches large, and also you have gravel when they really like to be placed in sand so they can sift around in it for food

Cherry barbs are schooling, fish that should be in groups of 6 or more and not in trios

Harlequins are a bit too active, large, and boisterous for a 10 gallon tank.

May I recommed something along the lines of

1 male sparkling gourami
6 boraras brigittae
3 Otocinclus catfish

I respectfully disagree on the Cherry Barbs. Although they are shoaling fish, they are fine in pairs. They never school anyway and a 10 gallon should be fine for a pair or 1 male & 2 females. It's one of the few shoaling type fish that are fine that way.

 

[Fishy friend2]

It's like keeping cories with sand compared to gravel mate, the cories can be potentially kept in gravel and be "happy" provided with a proper diet, places to hide, and more of there own kind. but will ideally be better off in sand. In the wild cherry barbs are in groups and are in subtropical temperatures which indicates that they will do much better in groups and sub tropical conditions, yet. many people keep them in pairs, trios, whatever, and tropical temperatures. they can be happy but will be much better off in colder temperatures and in larger groups, IMO no type of barb should be kept in a group of anything short of 8 as they become slightly insecure and will nip other fish. yes. even cherry barbs, I've had this experience

 

[Steve H.]

Builu...I think you have it! With the 2 schools and shrimp.
Then gouramis or even the cherries...

I looked up the flying fox, and they grow to 6"+...unless I am missing a dwarf or Pygmy version this is too big for me.

Thanks all!!! Great start for me...some really great ideas for a small community!

 

[balajake]

emerald dwarf rasboras and some shrimp

 

[Ruskull]

It's like keeping cories with sand compared to gravel mate, the cories can be potentially kept in gravel and be "happy" provided with a proper diet, places to hide, and more of there own kind. but will ideally be better off in sand. In the wild cherry barbs are in groups and are in subtropical temperatures which indicates that they will do much better in groups and sub tropical conditions, yet. many people keep them in pairs, trios, whatever, and tropical temperatures. they can be happy but will be much better off in colder temperatures and in larger groups, IMO no type of barb should be kept in a group of anything short of 8 as they become slightly insecure and will nip other fish. yes. even cherry barbs, I've had this experience

Well I agree with that but I'm going by personal experience with mine. I have 3 males & 3 females & they chase each other all the time in a 36 gallon tank. I can't imagine them doing the same in such a small tank as a 10 gallon. That's why I was recommending a pair or two at most. Even then I think a 10 gallon doesn't leave enough space for individual territories.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

10g as in 40l or 48l?

Either way, the only fish from your list (Harlequin rasbora, Cherry Barb, Kuhli Loach) I would consider suitable would be the loach.

Ten Kuhlis with something tropical and is happy as a singleton is that tank stocked IMO. The loaches need good numbers for confidence and socialising, which leaves you little room for manouvre in such a small volume tank, where many fish would be squashed in like sardines in a can and nitrates would go through the roof (even if you kept ammonia and nitrites under control, a lot harder in a small volume of water).