Starter Tank Mates?

[rayjay1234]

Hi
I used to have a tank of Tiger Barbs, Dwarf Ottos and Tetras. I stress the word used to because I got a really bad case of Ich and since the temperature was high, it spread so fast I barely noticed until it was too late. My fish (I'm told by my LPS) are beyond saving and already 3 have died. There are two left and they arent looking great.

I was wondering if anyone has suggestions on what to stock in the tank next (after its treated for diseases of course).

I have a 10g freshwater, Aquaclear 20, 50W heater, Rena Air Pump (with airstone) and two 15W mini-fluorescent bulbs. The tank is quite heavily planted with lots of Java Fern and long leafy plants as well as two large pieces of driftwood. The substrate is a fine golden sand with mineral tablets mixed in.

any suggestions on good fish species (and quantity) would be MUCH appreciated.

Thanks

 

[mark.w.jones]

I have a 10 gal with 5 harlequin rasboras and 3 pygmaeus cories. Very slightly over stocked but well maintained so it's fine.

 

[-Deano-]

Zebra Danios, Glowlight/Neon Tetras. Harlequins, Cories...Few Suggestions

 

[Hysterian]

I differ with the thought that your fish would be beyond saving. I have brought many fish back to health after having a bad case of ich. Buy the ich tablets by Jungle. They work wonders. I rarely lose fish anymore since using that.


As for my suggestion for fish, I love my red eye tetras, zebra danios, and rosy barbs. They seem to do really well together. My danios and tetras even school together

 

[fishrkewl14]

i have a 10 gallon w/ 3 cherry barbs and 3 gold barbs. They school together. Thy are fun to watch and easy to raise.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Assuming that you fail to save the fish- though we still hope you will, a 10 gallon should really house a smallish species that does not need to move too fast. I would not recommend danios or rosy barbs, and certainly not tiger barbs. Stress caused by unsuitable living quarters may make them more susceptible to disease. Tiger barbs need to be kept in schools of at least 6-8, with plenty of room for manouevering their social hierarchy- I would not keep them in less than a 30 gallon tank personally.
If you like barbs, a trio of cherry barbs (1 male, 2 females) is a good suggestion.

Tetras again need schools- one school (6-8 individuals) of a smallish tetra would be fine in this tank, but they would pretty well fill it. Something like neons, black neons, ember tetras, glowlights.

Otos are small enough for the tank, but ideally need a mature filter, so I would wait with adding those for a few months after you've got the tank up and running again. They also want to be kept in small groups.

Other options for this tank might involve the smaller livebearers (endlers, guppies, platies, heterandria formosa), khuulie loaches, corydoras. Just make sure that you research the needs of each fish before purchase, and do not attempt to keep schooling fish in small numbers, or very active fish in this tank at all.