Velvet Wag - 10G?

[Howard0]

How many, if any Velvet Wags could I put into a 10 Gallon tank?
There's 5 tetras in it for now (they've stopped nipping thankfully)
 
Also, my tetras have started opening their mouths and bumping against some of the plants and pillars... are they trying to eat the algae or do I have a problem?

 

[ech0o]

Eh, swordtails aren't meant for 10g i'd say, maybe something closer to 20.  Tetras are probably eating microfauna from the algae, little critters and such.  There are certainly plenty of options for a 10g tank, what are you trying to go for?
 
There is rasboras, white cloud minnows, killifish, the Psuedomugil rainbows, bettas, and many others.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Definitely wouldn't put swordtails in a 10g.
I hope Ech & you are right on them eating the algae, but what are your water parameters?
What kind of tetras do you have? If you don't know, you can post a pic (may need to upload onto a photo sharing website and link here) and someone should be able to ID them for you.

 

[Howard0]

I'm pretty sure they're glowlights.
I want something colorful and that will grow to a decent size. I'm hoping to get a 40 gallon in 6 months when I move. Maybe something that will grow out of a 10 gallon tank in 6 months? (If such a fish exists.)

 

[Ninjouzata]

Gourami are colorful, and come in a range of sizes.
What is "decent" size to you? ;o

 

[attibones]

I'm pretty sure they're glowlights.
I want something colorful and that will grow to a decent size. I'm hoping to get a 40 gallon in 6 months when I move. Maybe something that will grow out of a 10 gallon tank in 6 months? (If such a fish exists.)

It's always best to only get fish for the tank you have at the very moment. Getting fish for a larger tank and putting them in the smaller tank is not too nice for the fish. Frequently we hear stories of people getting fish suited to the larger tank they are "hoping to get soon" but a few months later, it doesn't work out. Just be patient and stick with fish appropriate to your current tank size.

 

[Howard0]

Decent size as in 3inches. I went to the fish store and looked into Gouramis but the only one that could live in my tank (2inch max length) were dwarf gouramis and looked weird.
 
I wanted to get 1-2 mollies and maybe 1-3 guppies. Would that be pushing it? Can mollies live on their own? Can guppies?
 
Any help is appreciated. I'm still rather new to this. Tanks fully cycled and I've been doing a 10% water change every other day.

 

[ech0o]

Mollies and guppies can both live on their own, but if you go stick a few nice sized mollys into a 10g tank, they are going to be quite angry and probably do a fair bit of chasing and nipping.   I have a molly fry tank that is 10g, and by the time they are 3/4", they are far too large to continue living in the tank.   I would hold of on mollys until you have a bigger tank, you seem to like guppys, there are so many variations and kinds, it really is an entire branch of fishkeeping in its own, and guppys do fine in a species only tank. 
 
What i suggested to you before I still believe to be an extremely neat and viable option.   I personally have not kept one, but am planning a female betta tank and have seen some REALLY NEAT tanks.   The cool thing about female bettas is they dont fight if you keep them in good numbers, a 10g would be able to house up to 10, but a good number would be 5 or 6 bettas, at least 4 so they can establish heirarchy.  Also, female bettas are CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP at the stores, you find them in those cups for $1-$2 a piece, and you can make a rainbow of colors.   This is a great suggestion for a newbie tank in my own opinion, and gives you a lot of options for different color choices, without leaving you so many options on fish species that you end up with a mismatched tank.
 
The same can be said with guppies, although you can keep males together, and probably wont find females much as they are not wanted in the guppy trade, not pretty enough.  You can really mix and match colors to get just what you want.

 

[Howard0]

Would guppies and bettas be able to coexist in a tank?
I'm actually thinking about donating the glowlights back to the store. They're quite a hassle to feed. (I have to sprinkle the food underwater for them to see it, then vaccume out the uneaten food.)

 

[Ch4rlie]

Afraid Guppies and Betas don't get on all that well.
 
Betta will think Guppy is a threat and could lead to fin nipping.

 

[ech0o]

Yea even female bettas will surely not like a guppy.

 

[Howard0]

In that case, it looks like I'll be getting 6 Female Bettas

Thanks for all the help.

 

[ech0o]

It is a really easy tank to keep, for someone new to fish keeping, they are extremely hardy and easy to keep fish, and a good start for learning the ropes of fishkeeping.  Also, when you keep livebearers like mollies and guppies, what you find you end up with is a tank FILLED with fish, and have to start figuring out where to put them all or even worse, euthanizing because of overstocking, yikes!

 

[ech0o]

   This is a great suggestion for a newbie tank in my own opinion, and gives you a lot of options for different color choices, without leaving you so many options on fish species that you end up with a mismatched tank.
 
The same can be said with guppies, although you can keep males together, and probably wont find females much as they are not wanted in the guppy trade, not pretty enough.  You can really mix and match colors to get just what you want.

 
Well it is come to my attention it might be slightly more difficult for a newbie, i do underestimate what a little bit of time of fishkeeping gives one in experience, what is easy for one, might be a bit more difficult for another with less experience.   There are aggression issues that can arise and not knowing how to handle those situations could make a betta sorority a bit more then a beginner tank.    PERHAPS, you might go with the guppy or another idea, or really do some research in how to curb aggression within a betta sorority tank.
 
I would be glad to come up with some other options that may prove easier!!

 

[Wildbetta]

Ok I highly disagree on the betta sorority idea.  The idea seems like a good one from the outside but most anyone who has kept one understands the complexity of them.  The females are aggressive to each other and it is a tight rope to keep everyone healthy and without major injury.
 
I suggest going with guppies.