If You Had A 10-gal Cold...

[fishwatcher]

what would you stock it with? I've read that dwarf rainbowfish, platies, guppies, swordtails, WCMMs and zebra danios all are ok in water 64+degrees. I like the idea of 3 WCMM, 3 danios, maybe a couple rainbowfish... something along those lines. I know that's a little overstocked, but I have a filter that's for a 20 gal, and I do good changes/vacs. So as long as they would be ok personality-wise, that's what I'm the most concerned with.
So if you had a 10-gal tank to make a cold-water set-up, what would you do?

 

[demonmagus]

uuum I feel the wcmm and the danios would prefer a larger group and would also look nicer, in such a small tank I think that sticking to one species would look great, and maybe a centerpiece

 

[rob newland]

Paradise fish can go in cold water - in fact I bought my first one from an lfs that was selling it as a coldwater fish - but be VERY careful about putting in tankmates if you chose to buy one.
You could probably have a group of say 5 zebras and a paradise fish because danios can really shift if they want. That way you would have a nice group and a centrepiece as well.

Zebra danios would be fine as long as the water stayed above 18 degrees apparently

Temperature: 64-74 F (18-24 C)

Could you not just buy a small heater for the tank though?

Edit: Actually on second thoughts a paradise fish would probably grow too big to be housed happily in a 10gal.

 

[SPLiSH]

WCMM and Zebra Danios are probably the only ones that can tolerate coldwater, rainbowfish do better in tropical (they are mostly from north/western Australia and it's warm here).

I would put some nice plants in and have a nice sized school of WCMMs.

EDIT: Grammar.

 

[fishwatcher]

I found the "temps" for the fish at DrFostersandSmith. It surprised to see rainbowfish on there, but I figured they know what they're talking about. I really want a coldwater set-up, and 10-gal is all I have room for at the moment. And the main focus is on WCMM as I think they are so pretty, or fancy goldfish. Maybe a small goldfish that I could let grow out a bit, then rehouse in a 20-gal. Would a goldfish and a small group of 4-5 WCMMs work?
If not, what about a couple of ADFs along with the group of white clouds?
I've decided I'd rather have the white clouds then the danios, if that helps any.

 

[jayjay]

I'd try to setup a mountain stream, maybe hilltream loaches, WCMM etc.

 

[Egmel]

I'd try to setup a mountain stream, maybe hilltream loaches, WCMM etc.

Or the white cheeked goby (rhinogobius wui) I was thinking of doing a 10G cold with WCMM and a White Cheeked Goby or two

 

[fishwatcher]

I'd love to do whitecheeks, but they have none.can get none around here. I am also looking into maybe getting an ACF. I don't know... either WCMM or an ACF. I think that's what I've narrowed it down to.

 

[sylvia]

Don't get goldfish - besides the size issue, they are social and shouldn't really be kept alone. You wouldn't be able to keep anything else in with it either and the smaller fancy types such as bubble-eyes do better in slightly warmer tanks anyway.

I'd also avoid danios and rainbows because they need to be in schools and are very active. Neither will do well cramped in a 10 gallon (though, naturaly, the danios would live through it just fine )

I'd personaly go for a tank with lots of current, some large river rocks and allow some algae to grow and then get a couple of hillstream loaches, a school of 4 white clouds and a trio of mosquito fish (Heterandria formosa - NOT Gambusia affinis).

Alternatively, a single MALE paradisefish (Macropodus opercularis) would do well. Because they are territorial, the size of the tank won't be that big an issue as if the fish were female. They grow to be 3", are very hardy and do very well at low temps. I'd plant the tank heavily and keep water flow relatively low. Don't try t0 keep anything else in with it (you can try shrimp) as it might attack other fish as the whole tank will be its territory and other fish may be viewed as intruders.

 

[fishwatcher]

Oh, yes, I see about the goldfish issues (after doing some research... didn't realize they need that much space). That's a definite no-go. I have never seen any hillstream loaches around here. Kuhlis and then of course the dojo and clowns are the only ones offered here. They look interesting though... may have to see if they're available for order. I do think a group of 5-6 WCMM and a pair of ADFs, rather than the mosquito fish, is what I may do.
If I don't go that way, I think an ACF would do nicely there.
Thanks for the help!!!

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

Don't ACF's get huge? I don't know thier tank specs but the full grown ones I've seen are gigantic (and kind of scary looking LOL) Just curious.

 

[jayjay]

I had one, it was a great animal. Was the size of my fist. Need a 10g for one.

 

[fishwatcher]

yeah, they're so cool aren't they!?! I am trying so hard to decide which way to go with it...

 

[ImperfectFaerie]

I had one, it was a great animal. Was the size of my fist. Need a 10g for one.

Thanks, didn't know what size they needed. They do seem pretty neat