First Tank, Advice On Fish?

[GrimThePanda]

I've read quite a few of the help guides for first-timers, but here's what I was thinking. 

I have a ten gallon(first tank of my own). I want a fairly diverse tank, but I know size is a limitation here. I really love the idea of giving a HM betta a home that he can really swim in and explore(instead of a cramped unfiltered bowl).

I'd like him to have some smaller tankmates though, which I've read is possible depending on the individual temperament(and I'm aware of their tendency to mistake long-finned fish for other bettas) 
My goals are:
Amano or Cherry Shrimp
Guppies, tetras or Forktail Rainbows. 

I've heard of success with these fish, depending. My idea was to start with the small number of guppies or the small school of tetras or rainbows, so that they can be established in the tank. Then I'd try to find a calm betta and watch him closely to see if he gets along. If after everything he didn't work, I'd rehome him and put a dwarf gourami or a honey gourami in the 10 gallon to finish it off. 

The tank is going to be planted so there will be plenty of places for the betta to explore and the smaller members to hide if they want to. 

Thoughts?

 

[Ryan10]

Welcome to fish keeping. It's great that you are asking questions first. You don't want to mix a gourami in there, they can tear a betta up. Some guppies aren't good either. The more colorful they are and the bigger their fins are, can be a recipe for disaster too. Your best bet is smaller less flashy fish.

 

[GrimThePanda]

Thanks for responding! I understand the flashy fin thing, but I've seen it work occasionally(thats why i was considering the rainbows, as they have smaller fins than guppies)! ^^ 

And I wasn't going to put the gourami with the betta If the betta didn't work in my desired setup, I would replace him with the gourami.

 

[attibones]

The gourami really need more space than a ten gallon can provide. Forktail rainbows need larger tanks, around twenty gallons (that would be a twenty gallon long tank). 
 
Your best bet with a betta would be some inverts. You could also perhaps try a few pygmy corydoras, but the issue there is that you have to have six of them and they don't really understand that they are supposed to be bottom dwellers. I don't house my bettas with anything other than large shrimp and snails. My current man, George, is very happy with his ten gallon which he has all to himself. There are not very many species which will work well with a betta in such a small tank. 

 

[GrimThePanda]

I've gotten other opinions that say dwarf Gouramis, honey gouramis(moreso than the dwarf) and forktails are fine in 10 gallons though. Everyone I've spoken to(from the lfs to hobbyists to breeders) tell me something different. I'll keep in mind their size, but I'll also consider the other advice I've gotten.  

But if I were go with something besides these options, would a school of small tetras work in a 10 gallon with some guppies? 

And what about swordtails? Some people have suggested them, some have warned against. I'd love another opinion!

 

 

[attibones]

Swordtails are much too large and active for a ten gallon. I always reference Seriouslyfish for tank sizes. I find it is a very trustworthy site with good information. Remember that breeder and LFS employees may just want you to buy their stock. You have to take I to consideration activity level, not just size. Dwarf gourami are fond of patrolling, which is why they need larger tanks. Betta fish, which are a little smaller, are happier to laze about or drift around la tank. They are more casual with their behavior.

As for the tetras it really depends on what species. There are a few small tetras (I believe the glowlight tetras NOT glofish tetras) are suitable, but I'm not sure which species.

Have you had a look into endlers? They are smaller than guppies but very lovely in coloration. Maybe you could do some chili rasbora with a few endlers if you are willing to hold off on the betta for a different tank. Maybe 8 rasboras and three guppies or endlers if you can keep on top of your water changes. This would be, in my opinion, tightly stocked.
I just checked and it is a little on the small side for glowlights, but if you could still have a school of them in a ten gallon. I actually really like this fish and I am considering setting a school up in one of my tanks soon. The albino variety is very cool looking.

 

[GrimThePanda]

I've gotten lots of suggestions for endlers, so I'll look into them The glowlights sound like a good idea too I suppose. 

Thank you!