Centre Fish For Community Tank ( 15g)

Hi, I bought a 15 gallon tank about 3 weeks ago and have now successfully finished cycling it. I'm looking to start a community tank and am wondering on a centre piece fish to stand out from the rest I was thinking a betta but was wondering if anyone else had any other ideas. I went to an aquatic store and bought 4 ( hardy ) fish and was told to come back in a week with another water sample so I could get some more. Does anyone have any ideas on what fish would be best to give me an idea before I go next Sunday ?

 

Dwarf gouramy or honey or sparkling

 

Welcome to the forum!

What fish did you get and can you provide your tank dimensions? The answers to these questions would allow members to give you appropriate stocking suggestions.

Just want to note that it would be better if you got your own test kit so you can monitor your own parameters instead of relying on the store. Their advice on whether you're ready for fish may not be accurate as many have experienced.

 

I'm pretty sure the dimension are 24" x 12" x 12" and I got 2 yellow and black mollies, a black Molly and a balloon Molly I was advised these to go with a betta because they are not fin nippers like danios not sure if this is true or not as only just started

 

You could do a gouramy like honey, sparkling or dwarf

 

Unfortunately, your tank is overstocked with the mollies as they have a large bioload and are usually recommended for a tank that's at least 30g. I wouldn't add a betta in this tank size either with other fish.

 

Okay thank you, for future reference how would you suggest stocking my tank around a betta or a dwarf gourami

 

What other fish do you like?

You could do -

1x DG
8-10x Harlequin Rasboras or 8x Cherry Barbs
10x Corydoras habrosus

 

I just wanted something colourful really that stands out

 

The above suggestion would be colorful or you could replace the cories with a pair of GBRs (m/f).

 

So in future I'd be able to keep:
1x Dwarf gourami
8x cherry barbs
2x Gbr
??

 

I would caution you about a dwarf gourami. They are gorgeous but they have an obscenely high mortality rate due to a disease that a large percentage of them have . I recommend googling DGIV for some info before bringing a Dwarf Gourami home. If you decide to go the gourami route I would think about Honey's or Chocolate's. Just my two cents.

 

So in future I'd be able to keep:
1x Dwarf gourami
8x cherry barbs
2x Gbr
??

You could add some nerite snails and/or mystery snails but as far as more fish, you'd be fully stocked, IMO.

 

Okay thank you for the help I'll go back Sunday to buy a water testing kit and speak to them and put your points a cross and see what they say

 

Okay thank you for the help I'll go back Sunday to buy a water testing kit and speak to them and put your points a cross and see what they say

Remember that they are in the business to sell you fish so I wouldn't rely on them for stocking advice. They would gladly tell you you can stock a betta with 10 mollies and a 12 foot pleco with no issues. We don't have anything to gain here by giving you stocking suggestions other than trying to help out fellow fishkeepers.

 

If you go to a good special lfs they could give you some good advice