10Gallon Tank - Gourami & Shark?

[walkers101]

Aside from the Oto's being weak they also require a mature tank to feed on as most die due to starvation

 

[KittyKat]

Honey Gourami, Oto Catfish, and Harlequin Rasaboras?

In my experience, harlequin rasboras grew 50% longer when kept in a 3 ft tank compared to a 2ft tank (where the two tanks were almost identical and the fish were bought at the same time from the same batch). The ones in the 3 ft tank spawned regularly, while the ones in the 2 ft tank have never spawned. I recommend you go for Trigonostigma espei (aka espei rasboras) because they look almost identical to harlequins but grow 2 cm shorter.

A single honey gourami or a couple of females would probably work… although again, I prefer to see them in a larger tank. You wouldn't happen to be interested in a pair of Betta simplex instead or a single male Betta splendens?

As above, Otos are not a good choice until you have more experience and the tank is more mature. They also do better in groups of 6+ from what I have seen. Could you be tempted with some cherry shrimp instead? They're also much lower bio-load (may not be compatible with individual Anabantoids (which means Bettas and gouramis), depending on the temper).

 

[Florida_Fin]

You guys are great for helping me, I really do thank you. I am a full time college student with a full time girlfriend. Aside from the 5 hours of fish reading I do daily, this all helps even more.

So the honey/dwarf gourami is good. I'll avoid the little catfish for now. What about 5-6 rummy-nose tetras? Im looking for a neat wellrounded tank with 1 main fish, a small school, and maybe a clam/shrimp, something on the bottom of the tank.

 

[fluttermoth]

Rummy noses get to 2 inches, so are a bit too big. Avoid the clam, they never stay alive in tanks; shrimps are great though

 

[KittyKat]

Rummy noses get to 2 inches, so are a bit too big. Avoid the clam, they never stay alive in tanks; shrimps are great though

+1, it is better to keep a school of 10 smaller fish than 6 larger fish, for the sake of the said fish. Any of the smaller Boraras spp. would work. (spp. = species, plural)

 

[Wills]

Yeah as above really just worth saying if you like Rummy Nose Tetras - I bet you will like Chilli Rasboras - have a google but they are one of those fish that do what they say on the tin the other common one is Galaxy Rasboras which are just as nice.... it just depends if you like red or green

Also shrimp are again a good idea - and if you like red Cherry Shrimp are the ones for you

Ps. if your into fish reading I would put down the books, sites like seriouslyfish, planetcatfish and loaches.com just put the books to shame. For me fish books are a leisure item and a quick flick index or something to carry to a shop if really needed as the internet sites are updated a lot lot quicker than even the most respectable book. Also there are a lot of bad fish books and a lot are self published to a small audience which just creates an massive nightmare...

Wills

 

[Florida_Fin]

Those chilis are cute. Cherry shrimp are pretty nifty little buggers too.
I still like harlequin the best. They stand out more imo.

I'll think about it...in the mean time I'm watching my little zebra danios play around in the tank. I've grown to like small fish as they seem to have a more playful personality. At least these danios do. I am giving them to a friends 55Gal soon though since you said they were too small for mine.
Fishless cycle after that..
Thanks for all your help guys! You'll def be hearing from me soon as I am always changing my mind about this that and the other.

 

[KittyKat]

I still like harlequin the best. They stand out more imo.

The thing is, harlequins won't stand out in a tank that small because it's really too small for them. You should really have a look at the smaller espei rasboras, they would do much better and you could have more of them