Odele

Hi everyone,

My betta fish just died (we think he had a tumer) Anyway, I have this 10 gallon tank with nothing in it. What fish would do well in a 10 gallon tank? I don't want to get fish that are too big.

Also, should I do a complete cleaning of the tank? Fill it - and then wait a few weeks before I get new fish?

Carrie

I should add that I really like dalmatian mollies but I'm not sure if they are appropriate for a 10 gallon. If they are ok how many should I get and should I get dwarf bottom dwellers to go with them?

Lucy

I'm really sorry about your betta
If you're sure it was a tumor and nothing contagious, you can keep the tank cycled (if you haven't lost it already) and do a good water change when you're reading to add fish.

Mollies get a little large for a 10g, I think a 20g is recommended minimum.
How about a 3 guppies (same gender) and 4 or 5 dwarf cories.
Or you could do a small school of tetras like Pristella or Neons or zebra danios with a few dwarf cories.
Glo-lights stay on the small side also, but I think a 20 is recommended for them also.

Craig-D

In a 10 gallon I would avoid anything that gets much bigger than 2 inches. You can go with another betta with some platies, guppies, and one variety of cory catfish that stays small. I recommend pandas or juliis. If you want schooling fish, then make it a species tank and get a small school of rasboras, cherry barbs, or tetras.

In my 12 gallon I have 1 betta, 2 platies (and 1 platy fry), 3 panda cories and 2 juliis. It's a perfect stocking that my biofilter easily handles and there's plenty of space for all due to the differing areas of the tank my little residents stick to.

bolivianbaby

I must respectfully disagree with a betta in a community tank. Too many members have had it backfire on them. Craig, I'm glad it's working for you and my fins are crossed that it continues to do so.

I agree with the other recommendations, though. Rasboras really like to be in smaller schools, like 3, so they'd work really well in a 10 gallon.

Hope this helps

Craig-D

I can see where you're coming from, and you have a valid position on that. But for every person you point out that had a problem with a betta in a community tank, I can show you someone who didn't have a problem. Go on YouTube right now and you can watch tons of videos of bettas in community tanks. It's hit or miss depending on the temperment of each fish. I see nothing wrong with trying it as long as the person watches closely for awhile and has a backup plan in case it doesn't work out.

My betta has lived peacefully with his tankmates for nearly a year now. Experience has shown that the only fish in there with something to worry about are newly-born fry. So I think it's fair to say it's worked out fine for me, and I hardly think my betta is one of a kind. I would never tell anyone that every betta will live peacefully with tankmates. But I would never tell anyone never to try it because no betta will live peacefully with others either. That simply isn't true.

Shawnie

agreed and disagree..if you do recommend a betta in a community tank, its also very good to recommend to have a back up tank if it doesnt work which is what I think BB was replying on..your original post had no recommendations just the positives of it..which Im glad its working for you!!! .....more times than not, it doesnt work and I am also glad yours has once again ...I have 2 out of 10 kids that is great in a community tank but its a tank I continue to watch for just in cases ...a few seconds on a video doesnt constitute a great happy community ....sometimes it will even be disaster months after no issues at all...just make sure to have the back up tank read for just in cases

bolivianbaby

I am very glad that your betta has gotten along with his tankmates for so long. I have heard many horror stories and very few success stories, in fact, you're the first success story I've heard. So, no, I won't recommend a betta in a community aquarium. Nor did I say "never to try it". I respectfully disagreed with your suggestion, which gives the OP the opportunity to do the research and decide what's best for their own individual aquarium. The fact that we have different thoughts and opinions on this is a good thing. It provides a reason for research, which in this particular situation, is of definite importance.

We can agree to disagree and help others at the same time

iloveengl

I'm so sorry about your fish; that's awful to have something happen that you can't prevent or treat for.

Odele

Thanks everyone for the advice. I was just at the pet store looking to get some other fish and then got another betta I couldn't help it, I just love them. He doesn't look healthy (most of the color is gone), but I like getting them that way since I know they likely won't get picked by others, especially when there are lots of healthy looking ones.

I tried a pleco with the the betta that died. It worked out jus fine for several months but then he started bullying the pleco. I ended up giving the pleco back to the pet store. Plus the pleco was getting too big for the tank. The betta in my 5 gallon tank seems super agressive so I haven't tried any fish with him.

bolivianbaby

Congratulations on your new betta! Does he have a name yet?

kloseo

you could get a tank divider and have 2 bettas, they would have plenty of swimming room and be seperated. After a few weeks they get used to each other and dont display at one another. Each side could have its own design layout. I did this with my 2 daughters, each one designed their half of the tank and my oldest daughter had her betta feeding out of her hand