Stocking For 10 Gallon Tank

[Fishmanic]

I have an overfiltered moderately planted fully cycled 10 gallon tank. I stocked it with 5 of the 10 harlequin rasbora that were in my. 35 gallon hex and had had them in the tank for the last month or so. They seemed to not be swimming around that much. Also in the tank I had 2 surviving julii cory (orignally had 4 but never had luck keeping them. They were not swimming around much. I decided to put the harlequins back into the 35 gallon tall hex to join the other 5 harleys in the 35 gallon tank. They seem much happier and swim about the tank a lot more than in the 10 gallon.

I also removed the 2 corys and put them in my 29 gallon tank which has 1 nanus cory and a Bolivain ram as bottom swimmers along with several other tank mates that include 6 tiger barbs, 1 bn pleco, 2 surviving rummynose, and 2 surviving neon tetra. All fish get along fine.

For a second attempt at stocking the now empty 10 gallon, I bought 5 juvenile serpae red minor tetra and moved the adult three serpae tetra that were in my 35 gallon hex into the 10 gallon tank. So I now have 8 serpae tetra in the 10 gallon tank. Would you say I'm fully stocked or would you add a second specie to the tank? The 8 serpae are doing well in the tank so far.

I do 50% water changes weekly and rinse out the filters about every two weeks.

 

[BettaBettas]

I'd say your pretty full in my own opinion

 

[**sarahp**]

If you look in the species index on here you will see that serpae tetra (not sure if they are the same thing as serpae red minor tetra though)  need a minimum tank size of 15 gallons.

 

[Byron]

Serpae tetra, which are most likely Red Minor Tetra, species being Hyphessobrycon eques, need at minimum a 30 gallon tank, and a group of 10-12.  This species is much the same as Tiger Barb; they are prone to nip fins, and this can be confined to within the shoal if there are sufficient of them in enough space.  If you won't take my word for this, read more here:
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/hyphessobrycon-eques/
 
To be honest, there are very few "common" fish (thinking of tetras, and similar) that will be at their best in a 10g, which to the fish is a very small space.  
The nano or dwarf species suit this size tank, but keep in mind the parameters as most of the nano type species will be wild caught and require close attention to water conditions.
 
What you experienced with the rasbora and corys is exactly what I would expect.  These fish must have more in the group; corys need at least five, but more is always going to be better.  Rasbora also tend to do better with larger groups than say some of the common tetra can.  Both are much happier in their larger quarters with more of them, and this means healthier.  Their interactive behaviours are evidence of this.
 
Byron.

 

[Fishmanic]

Thanks byron.... I have a 35 gallon tall hex tank I could move them into . From the 35 gallon tank, I could take out the 9 harlequin rasboras and move them into the ten gallon tank. Do you think my doing this would be better for these fish?

 

[Byron]

Thanks byron.... I have a 35 gallon tall hex tank I could move them into . From the 35 gallon tank, I could take out the 9 harlequin rasboras and move them into the ten gallon tank. Do you think my doing this would be better for these fish?

 
My last post was simply data on the species (Serpae Tetra) in general, not especially thinking of your situation.  Now that I do, you have some issues.
 
A 10g is not enough space for Harlequin Rasbora.  At least a 30cm/24 inch tank (a 15g this length would be minimum).
 
I might suggest the following, from the viewpoint of your present tanks and your acquired fish.  Please note, I am not "recommending" this in other cases, only trying to offer what I feel is a workable solution (for the sake of the fish) in this situation, though it is still much below the best case.
 
29 gallon, the tiger barbs and serpae tetra.  I know, they may well tear each other to pieces, but better each other than the other sedate fish that do not deserve to be housed with such aggressive tankmates.
 
35 gallon, the rasbora, various tetras, corys, Bolivian Ram, BC pleco.
 
10 gallon...empty.  Could be kept as a hospital or quarantine, or used for suitable-sized small fish as I mentioned previously.
 
I would like to comment on the "all fish get along fine" point.  We can't know this, and I would suggest it is highly unlikely.  Fish do not need to rip into one another to be aggressive.  All fish release chemical signals, pheromones that are read by others in their species, and allomones that are read by other species.  It is like communication.  Fish use these for social interaction, spawning, feeding, warning, and aggression.  Other fish reading them will react accordingly.  So a fish may not be physically bullied, but it is being mentally bullied, which is just as bad.  This causes stress, which will either increase until the fish weakens and dies, or the fish may "fight back" in any way it can.  The latter frequently leads to weakening and death too, ironically, because it is sapping the fish's energy that should be going to more important functions like the immune system, keeping its internal homeostasis functioning properly, and so forth.  The best way to avoid problems is to fully understand the behaviours and requirements of a species, and provide the closest possible environment to this; assuming the fish will be normal for the species rather than hoping it will be abnormal (by accepting a situation/environment that is contrary) is much safer, and frankly more responsible.  Fish are living creatures and evolution has programmed each species a certain way, and that is the best guide to long-term health and indeed life.
 
Byron.