A question about my 10 gal

[jkun17]

Right now, all I have in there are three guppies. I'm thinking about getting some tetras for population control, should guppy population ever become a problem, but more importantly to make my tank a little more interesting.

I still plan in raising one or two guppies from fry and possibly getting another tank once they're big enough, but I wanted to know how many tetras I could put in a 10 gal tank with my 3 guppies.

If tetra's aren't a good idea, what else could I put in for both population control and extra color.

 

[bshockstubb]

Well almost everything eats guppy fry, even by accident. I think you should get some corys(catfish) they clean up your bottom and eat any dead or diseased guppies you have. Also they have quite the personality.

 

[jkun17]

Well almost everything eats guppy fry, even by accident. I think you should get some corys(catfish) they clean up your bottom and eat any dead or diseased guppies you have. Also they have quite the personality.

Hmm... that does sound like a fairly interesting proposal...

I might do that. Would they ever go after the adult guppies or just the fry?

How many would I be able to put in my tank?

 

[james04]

hi, corys are a good idea not only do they make a good job of cleaning the bottom but also they are great to watch. if i where you i'd buy 2 cory doras and maybe a small shoal of neons too.

 

[jkun17]

hi, corys are a good idea not only do they make a good job of cleaning the bottom but also they are great to watch. if i where you i'd buy 2 cory doras and maybe a small shoal of neons too.

Thank you so much!!

Just one question... What's a Shoal?

Also, these are going into a 10 gallon with 3 guppies and I plan to raise a few fry as well (probably in another tank when they're adults) so I don't want to overstock.

I was looking up information on cories and apparently, they don't like salt too much. I was told at the LFS to use aquarium salt in my 10 gal with the guppies and I was wondering if this would have an adverse affect on the corries if I bought them. I've seen pictures of them and they're so very lovely looking, but I don't want to buy them just to watch them silently suffer in my aquarium.

 

[james04]

i call it a shoal but a lot of people call it a school of fish. corys dont like salt at all, but the guppys will be fine without it. i wouldnt get more than 6 neons to start with, that way if you do breed the guppys there will still be plenty of room.

 

[jkun17]

Ok then, I'll probably get rid of the salt so I can add the corries. How long should I wait, after pulling out the cup of salt, before I put the corries in?

 

[lizard]

Corys like to be in groups of at least three or four, and a 10 gallon is big enough for a group that size. They are fun little fish! Neons also like to be in groups - I would get a minimum of five of those.

Do you add salt to your tank when you do water changes? If so, just don't add salt again, and after a few water changes, the salt should be diluted enough so as not to bother the Corys.

You'll enjoy your Corys - I love mine!

Pamela
aka Married Lizard

 

[jkun17]

I'll probably get the Neons first and wait maybe a week before I get the corries.

What I was given at the LFS was a carton of aquarium salt that looks a bit like rock salt. I was told to put it in a cup and let it dissolve in my fish tank since I had guppies. Since I apparently don't need it (which makes me seriously question the motives of those people at the LFS) I'll be taking it out right away.

I still don't know what to do with all this aquarium salt...

 

[yhbae]

I still don't know what to do with all this aquarium salt...

You could still use it if you want to treat specific fishes from some disease or if you are hatching your own brine shrimps, you can use it there as well...

I wonder if food tastes better if I use it instead of our cooking salt...

 

[NickT]

salt wont evaporate or get filterd out so make shure you have changed atleast 70% of your water with saltless water befor ading scaleless fish. and yes the salt will still come in handy when/if your guppys get sick. at the first sign of illness like finclamping, flashing or anything els i give my fish a dip in a slightly hevy salt bath.

and if it snows there youll have some rocksalt for your driveway if nothing els....

 

[james04]

well good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[jkun17]

salt wont evaporate or get filterd out so make shure you have changed atleast 70% of your water with saltless water befor ading scaleless fish. and yes the salt will still come in handy when/if your guppys get sick. at the first sign of illness like finclamping, flashing or anything els i give my fish a dip in a slightly hevy salt bath.

and if it snows there youll have some rocksalt for your driveway if nothing els....

Do you mean change 70% of the water at one time or over a series of changes adding up to around 70%?

I'm definately getting the corries. I just looked at them when I got the tetras and they're gorgeous. I'm thinking of getting the Jeweled ones or Peppered. Maybe both

Oh, and I'm in San Francisco -- so I don't think it's ever going to snow here any time soon

 

[NickT]

doing it all at one time may be a bad thing. i wold do it over the corse of 3-4 days.