dskunz

I need some help picking fish that will live in harmony together. I recently got a 10 gallon tank. When it was time to start stocking with fish, I read a bit and went on the advice at the pet store. I got 2 glowlight tetras, 4 neon tetras, and 2 red wag platies. After reading more, I realize I should have added fish more slowly, but what is done is done. The platies got ICH right away (I'm guessing they had it at the pet store). I started medicating and raised the temp to 82 degrees, and things cleared up quickly (still medicating as I read ich can last up to 14 days - is this true?). The two platies started picking on the neon tetras - nipping at the tail and fins - and within a week all the neons were dead. The glowlight tetras seem OK, but am concerned they are the next victims. Is this usual behavior for platies? I read they are great community fish and get along with almost anything. Is this possibly a case of bigger fish eat little fish (I know platies are not that big, but bigger than the neons were)?

So, that brings me to the topic, I need help picking fish. I would like a variety of fish, so not all platies, but don't want to have compatibility issues with whatever I get. How about dwarf gouramis? Other suggestions? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give

COBettaCouple

1st, ich does need a 14-day heat treatment and should be knocked out by that.

2nd, the tank was overstocked (15" of fish in 10g water - you want 1" of adult size fish per gallon) and the crowded territory may have LED to the conflict and neons dying. platys are best kept in groups of 3 (either all of one gender or 1 male and 2 females if you want baby platys). The glowlight tetras like groups of 5 or more but if you had 3 platies, even just 3 tetras would max out the tank but 3 would only slightly overstock it.

you might also want more hiding spots like plants and decor they can swim through.

gmillar

Doesn't sound overstocked to me. That's only 8 fish, four of which are more like half an inch, so it's closer to 6 or 8 inches all told, not 15.

Xenomorph

2 glowlights = 3 inches
4 neons = 6 inches
2 platies = 4 inches

Total = 13 inches = overstocked. gmillar, you might want to read (re-read) some of the articles about calculating how many fish a tank can hold - it is the adult size of the fish that matters unless you're planning on discarding the fish once they grow too large.

dskunz - tetras like to be kept in schools - and your tank isn't large enough to accomodate this, have a read of the different fish profiles here : http://www.fishlore.com/ and see if you can find a fish you like that is no larger than 6 inches and likes to be alone (perhaps a betta?! - FLBettaCouple will be able to advise you about that) or perhaps another 2-3 fish that don't need schools to feel at home. These guys are your pets - you wouldn't like your dog being miserable, it's important to show the same consideration for all the animals you care for.

emilai333

If you want a community tank, a betta is a bad idea - they either hurt the other fish or get nipped and stressed themselves - until one or the other or both dies. I wouldn't recommend any livebearers (such as platies) with bettas, as they tend to remind bettas of other bettas and hence get killed, and tetras nip.

An option would be to go with a few different colors of platies if you want variety. Or perhaps a couple of platies (2 male or 2 female; or 1 male and 2 females) and a couple of guppies (same ratios). I think with three of one and 2 of the other you wouldn't be overstocked.

swords3711

NEVER GET DWARF GOURAMIS
we have spent over a hundred bucks within a month and we don't have any gouramis left.
Variatus Platys are a good choice.
They are related to platys but there is little resemblance.
Very bright colors and aren't very large. Thet almost look like a platy sword cross without the sword tail.
They are a very reliable choice.