What are good fish combinations for a 10 gallon?

Swordtail8

Swordtail8

Large Fish
#1
Apr 14, 2004
336
0
0
41
Northern Michigan
Visit site
#1
What some good fish to put in a 10 gallon tank? I got a 10 gallon thats almost cycled and ready for more fish and right now the inhabitants are 3 zebra danios and I have several plants (Java fern, Florida banana plant, and Aponogeton boivinianus). I want a tank that has lots of colors and that utilizes the different swimming levels of fish.
 

jiffy

jiffy

Large Fish
#2
Feb 29, 2004
233
0
0
Visit site
#2
Well, Danios are top dwellers, so mabey get 1 or 2 more so they will school better. For the middle, I would go with neon, glolight, or cardinal tetras. Any of these will offer nice color. Then, get something like 2 ghost shrimp to round out the tank.

In my 10g tank, I am most likely going to use a dwarf gourami on top, neons in the middle, and dwarf pygmy on the bottom
 

Violet

Violet

Large Fish
#3
Jan 24, 2004
318
0
0
Toronto, Canada
Visit site
#3
Platies. They have such beautiful colour and don't get as big as swords, just make sure to stick with one gender. Male guppies as well have some gorgeous colour combinations. Just make sure not to over stock, you have to look at the adult size of the fish, not what it is now. If you already know this, sorry!
 

Flex26

Flex26

Large Fish
#5
Apr 21, 2003
627
0
0
49
Delaware County, PA
Visit site
#5
I have a dwarf gourami with 3 cories in a 6g with no problems.

Tiger barbs get a little too big for a 10.

Here is what I would do with your set up:

5 zebra danios
1 dwarf gourami
4 cories for cleanup
2 otos for algae

Cories like to school. So if you get cories I would get a few of them.
 

Lotus

Lotus

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#11
Aug 26, 2003
15,115
13
38
Southern California
home.earthlink.net
#11
Swordtails and platies are nice and colorful. One male would work well with the other fish you are thinking of (except tiger barbs).

Tiger barbs are common fish and visually appealing, however they are a pain because they are mean to other fish and really restrict your choices. They aren't a good idea in a 10g at all, as they need space and a large group to be happy. :)
 

Swordtail8

Swordtail8

Large Fish
#12
Apr 14, 2004
336
0
0
41
Northern Michigan
Visit site
#12
Thanks for all the suggestions. This forum has proved to be alot more helpful than other ones I was at.

I'm kinda in a stalemate now as to what to get. I could hope I get mildly tempered tigers and stick the plan I had or try something different.

I have 3 zebra danios and want a dwarf gourami. I heard some kinds of shrimp eat algae and do the scavenging so they eliminate the need for a specialist fish. I have a desire to get a fish with orange and black but both the ones I want (clown loaches and tiger barbs) won't work well. I have considered guppies and/or platies. Since dwarf gouramis are red and blue it severely lessens my desire to get neons or cardinals.

I'm also looking to have more species in my tank so thus lessens my desire for schooling fish.

I can't seem to think of anymore combos at the time, wish I had a bigger tank than 10 gallon.
 

Lotus

Lotus

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#13
Aug 26, 2003
15,115
13
38
Southern California
home.earthlink.net
#13
You could always go for a flame/sunset dwarf gourami if you want the orange/red (no black on those ones).

A snail like a mystery or apple snail would make an alternative bottom cleaner (neither of those breed when alone) if you decide against shrimp.

A tiger barb/clown loach tank is a good idea, but save it for when you get a really big tank, like 70g or something. :)
 

B

Bamabruiser

Small Fish
#14
Apr 10, 2004
17
0
0
Oneonta, Alabama
Visit site
#14
Mickey Mouse Platies have the orange/black combination that you're looking for. Supposedly, Platies are peaceful fish, but I have a single male Mickey Mouse Platy and a female standard deep orange Platy. The male is so mean...he pounds the crap out of my female. I can't figure it out. If I could catch the little bugger, he'd go in my solitary 5.5 gallon tank. But I think that is just an anomaly...most Platies are peaceful.

If you're looking for colorful fish, many of the gourami's would work. RainbowFish can be quite colorful also...but I think you would need a bigger tank for them since they're a schooling fish and can reach sizes of up to 3 or 4 inches.
 

B

Bamabruiser

Small Fish
#16
Apr 10, 2004
17
0
0
Oneonta, Alabama
Visit site
#16
Ashleigh, I had a female Mickey Mouse (she died right before giving birth...there was a breakout of ick and I had to treat my entire tank w/ chemicals) and then the one standard orange female. The male loved the M.M. female, but he has always attacked the other...I'm beginning to think maybe the female is really a male (btw, I've never had a problem sexing livebearers. It certainly looks like a female fin on the standard orange platy)

But my problem is my 20 gallon tank is at its limit with fish. I don't plan to add any more fish to it as it's a very healthy and vibrant tank now. The ONLY problem is with the Male Platy. I think my only alternative is to remove him from the tank.
 

V

Vancouver

Small Fish
#18
Feb 25, 2004
39
0
0
Vancouver, BC
Visit site
#18
Another cool option if you are looking for cories are Panda cories. They are an orangey white/black combination, are very cute, fairly small and extremely active. Ours is always going and is really fun to watch, although I agree that it is best to have more than one. When we move into a bigger tank I'll definately add a few more to my tank.
 

R

Ripnhammer

Medium Fish
#20
Feb 16, 2004
67
0
0
Ottawa, Canada
Visit site
#20
ooo great ideas, i'm always wondering what type of fish to get
right now i just have 5 cardinal tetras in it, but i wanted to get a few more fish. how heavy are corys and otos on the biology of the tank
would this be overstocking a 10g?
5 cardinal tetras
2 dwarf gouramis or 2 kribs
3 oto cats
3 corys
 

You must log in or register to reply here.