What will go with

[oneponygirl]

I currently have a dwarf gourami and three neon tetras doing very well in a five gallon tank. Today I saw a ten gallon majorly on sale. So now I'm wondering, hmmm, despite the fact that I don't NEED a new tank, it sure would be fun to get one (and then of course I'll move these guys to my new tank and absolutely have to put something new in the old one).

So what, if anything, might like to go with these guys?

Also, what live plants might go well (ones that a newbie to live plants might not kill immediately)?

I do not have any levels on my water since I do not have tests kits at home. (It's on my wish list.)

 

[davejey]

Hi Julie, get at least 3 more neons as they are a schooling fish and hang out together well, the more the merrier.!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi oneponygirl

I think cory cats would be an excellent addition if you get the bigger tank. They would give you some nice activity at the bottom.

Since corys are schooling fish, you couldn't do with just one, but 2 or even 3 should be fine, providing you have good filtration and do regular water changes.

They are fun to watch and will be an excellent change of pace from the fish you currently have.

 

[fishwatcher]

So you are suggesting for her to put a dwarf gourami with a few cory cats in about a 10-gal tank, right? Not to hijack the thread, I just have the same idea.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi fishwatcher

Right. The idea is to balance the activity in the tank. Since the gourami is a top swimmer, he will claim the top area. Corys are bottom fish, and neons go everywhere.

A single dwarf gourami will fit with your corys, but if you like bettas, one of them would be a good choice too. I have both with my corys, but prefer the bettas because, while the gourami causes no problems, the bettas actually watch the corys and follow them around. They seem to be fascinated by these little non-threatening fish.

 

[Annastasia]

I agree that a Gourami will go well with Cories. Bettas too. But...won't 10 gallons be a bit small for a decent sized school of Neons, Cories, and a Dwarf Gourami or Betta? Neons need room to swim, and school...

Maybe if you have a good filter, and do water changes frequently...it might be okay. But I'm just a little hesitant. If it was just the Gourami and Cories, I could see that working very well. And maybe a Trio of Cherry Barbs, or something. But then again, I tend to understock all my tanks.


As for plants, I would recommend plants like Anubias, Cryptocorynes (Both of these have many different varieties) Java Moss, Java Fern....You could also try Water Sprite. These are all supposed to grow very easily.
When I first started with live plants, I got a few Amazon Swords, some Java Ferns, and a few Cryptocorynes. They grew very well, and they were very easy to look after.

Just to add, though..Java Ferns don't do very well if they are planted in the substrate. They do better tied to a piece of rock, or driftwood. It will eventually attach itself to the rock or driftwood. The reason for this is, the roots get their nutrients straight from the water, instead of the substrate.

And in your old tank...5 gallons would be great for a Betta!

 

[oneponygirl]

Thanks guys! I hadn't considered cory's. I had one in a different tank with a betta for a while, they would "sleep" together. Could I add two tetras and two corys? Then I would have the gourami, five tetras and two corys. Or is that too much? Are there varieties of corys that wouldn't get as big as some, I've heard they can get pretty big. Will the addition of live plants help?

I did use to have a betta and three white clouds in this very 5 gallon tank years ago but in order to have both my five gallon and a new ten gallon (as well as the three gallon and two gallon that I already have, both with bettas) I would need a fish stand or some new piece of furniture with a horizontal surface as pretty much everything else already has a fish tank on it. So, I might get the new ten gallon put it where the five gallon is currently, moving it's inhabitants to the new tank, give the five gallon to my son's betta to replace the two gallon that it is in and leave my two gallon tank broken down for emergency use only. Or for the next time I see a betta that I absolutely have to have - which would of course be an emergency.

 

[fishwatcher]

Oh yeah, I have a few cory cats and I just love them! THey are so active and funny the way they dig right into the sand... it'll be up to their eyeballs before they stop. They seem to really like warmer water too... about 76degrees F keeps them moving great.
I think I may add a dwarf to my tank. I have 5 cory cats, though I may be returning one if that is too much for my tank, so I think a dwarf gourami would be great in it.
Good luck with your tank, and let us know what you decide to do!

 

[oneponygirl]

Well, I got my ten gallon tank today. I need to get a heater and some more gravel and I'll set it up in the next few days. First, I'll probably add two tetras and then look into two cory's. I'm so excited!

 

[fishwatcher]

I guess I should have mentioned this earlier, but cory cats really prefer sand to gravel. It doesn't tear up their barbels, and they seem to dig around in it a lot more. You can use play sand, like from a Lowe's or WalMart, or any other hardware store. It usually runs about $2.50 a bag, which you won't use even nearly all of it. If the gravel you have is small and smooth enough though it should be ok with them. Just wanted to let you know though. There are some pinned topics on switching from gravel to sand, too, if you're interested. I did it a couple of months ago and I absolutely love it!
Anyway, after it's all set up, post some pix if you can.
Good luck!!

 

[sylvia]

I personaly don't like the idea of putting ordinary cories in a 10 gallon. These are active fish and most species reach a size of 2-3". They also like to be in a group of 4 minnimum so, in a 10, that's over-stocking. However, there is a species of cory - the pygmy cory - which only gets to about 1". If you can find some of these, 2 more neons and 3 of these would do well with your current fish.

 

[oneponygirl]

Cool, thanks guys. I was considering sand but I have a friend who has sand and his tank is always so cloudy I blamed it on the sand. I think I'll try it though, either sand or a much finer gravel.

I was going to shop around for corys that don't get big. As much as I would like to think I can afford "upgrading" again, I really don't think it's going to happen anytime soon so I don't want to get fish that will need a bigger tank soon. I hadn't heard of pygmy corys so I'll have to look around.

 

[boxman]

Silica or any inert sand would be fine for the fish mentioned.

Just a point, various fish were mentioned including bettas and tiger barbs (or barbs of some kind) - my LFS put a crowntail betta in a barb tank today and I had to tell them to get it out as it was being chased around by a couple of dozen of the little monsters!!! May not be a common thing but thought it would be worth mentioning.

If your friends tank was cloudy it could be either his water quality or inadequate filteration among other things - my tanks with sand look alot clearer than my 22gal with gravel - yes, cories are so funny in sand, definately worth the change!!!!

 

[boxman]

Silica or any inert sand would be fine for the fish mentioned.

Just a point, various fish were mentioned including bettas and tiger barbs (or barbs of some kind) - my LFS put a crowntail betta in a barb tank today and I had to tell them to get it out as it was being chased around by a couple of dozen of the little monsters!!! May not be a common thing but thought it would be worth mentioning.

If your friends tank was cloudy it could be either his water quality or inadequate filteration among other things - my tanks with sand look alot clearer than my 22gal with gravel - yes, cories are so funny in sand, definately worth the change!!!!

 

[fishwatcher]

I was considering sand but I have a friend who has sand and his tank is always so cloudy I blamed it on the sand.

The sand cleared in my tank within 2 days, and has been as clear if not clearer than the gravel was any day. If you have cories, this is really the way to go... it's so cool watching them in it! Although I have mine in a 10-gal, I'm sure Sylvia knows more than me, so you may want to try for the pygmies.
Please let us know what you end up with! Good luck!