What Is The Largest Fish Comfortable In A Ten Gallon?

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

Title almost says it all; what's the largest fish that can comfortably live in a ten gallon long?

 

[Fishy friend2]

A giant Betta splendens. Lithely are hard to find, usually giants are around 3-3.5 inches. Not including finnagge

 

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

I read something interesting on the cichild forum. Check it out, let me know what you guys think. I can't imagine it, but I'd be willing to up water changes if you think it can be done.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_10g.php

 

[thereverendturtle]

I read something interesting on the cichild forum. Check it out, let me know what you guys think. I can't imagine it, but I'd be willing to up water changes if you think it can be done.

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_10g.php

The cichlid recommendations are fine. I personally would use small tetras, neons or embers, instead of the white clouds and zebra danios.

 

[ZephyrStarPlaties]

I read something interesting on the cichild forum. Check it out, let me know what you guys think. I can't imagine it, but I'd be willing to up water changes if you think it can be done.

http/www.cichlid-f..._cutter_10g.php

The cichlid recommendations are fine. I personally would use small tetras, neons or embers, instead of the white clouds and zebra danios.

Woah, awesome! I've always wanted to try keeping cichlids, but I never thought I had the space. I think this calls for saving my allowance to get a new tank.

 

[thereverendturtle]

The tanganykians are a bit more sensitive to water quality than the apistos. Other cichlids you may want to look for would be, butterfly jewel cichlids from west Africa, Nanacara anomala and lateacara species from south America. These three would all do well as a pair in a ten gallon.

 

[tomtomtom1230]

All the statements are true so far but this is provided that the ten gallon is somewhat empty (in terms of fish stock).

 

[Wills]

I actually disagree with that Cichlid forum post, Apistos are hareeem brooders and a single pair would result in a very stressed if not dead female. Also their dither fish suggestions are pretty bizarre - why put Zebra Danios, the terriers of the fish world in a 10 gallon tank? And why put white clouds in such a small group as well... and why suggest 2 sub tropical species with true tropical fish?

The Reverend Turtle is closer to the mark with his recommendation but I think Nannacara Anomala males are a big large for 10 gallons but you could be okay, for me the best option are Laetacaras - Dorsiger or Cuviceps would be pretty good.

Perhaps a stocking could be something like

2 Laetacara Dorsiger
8 Ember Tetras or 8 Green Neons
or
6 Ember Tetras or 6 Green Neons
2 Endlers

Wills

 

[ZoddyZod]

I'll agree with Wills on the Apistos, but disagree with a Laetacaras Curviceps being suitable. I've kept Dwarf Flag Cichlids and due to their size I think they are not suitable for 10g. Mine got to a very chunky 3.5" and they were pretty active.

 

[FishBlast]

A giant Betta splendens. Lithely are hard to find, usually giants are around 3-3.5 inches. Not including finnagge

Are giant Betta Splendens just as aggressive as their smaller versions? I had one of those when I was given a big tank, but didn't have much time to enjoy watching it, because the giant betta was first to die, was on its last fins anyway.

 

[tomtomtom1230]

I would've thought so.

 

[thereverendturtle]

I've got to disagree with you Wills, most apistogrammas in my experience do fine as a pair. Also Nanacara males are very small when full grown, almost half the size of a laetacara.

 

[Wills]

I've got to disagree with you Wills, most apistogrammas in my experience do fine as a pair. Also Nanacara males are very small when full grown, almost half the size of a laetacara.

I think probs best to agree to disagree I can see it from both sides but I still think there is a risk for a female kept just as a pair as the male will be inclined to breed with multiple females but only have one available? But equally I can see how this can be managed by the fish keeper and also if it is a well inclined male - after a few big mistakes from taking risks Im playing it quite safe...

The reasons I said Laetacara are because of their small floor print of territory even when breeding rather than size, but having not kept them in overly large tanks I cant really give a true indication of their activity levels.

Again with the Nannacara, never kept a male but saw one at a fish show once and he was properly huge I was really shocked how big he was. But not kept males so perhaps not a true indication...

Wills

 

[pablothebetta]

Not 100% sure, but shell dwelling cichlids? A giant betta would be fine in a 10g 'size-wise'

 

[thereverendturtle]

Ok Wills, agreed to disagree.
I've bred apistos and have always kept pairs. I do keep a close eye on them, in case I have to intervene, but that's only happened a couple of times in the last 15 years or so.
I used to have a group of Nanacara anomala and the largest male was maybe 5 cm TL, probably closer to 4.5 cm. I had them for about 2 years in a 60 gal aquarium, so I'm sure he was full grown.