Tetras in a 13 gallon "widescreen" tank?

I can't believe how many fish questions I have thought of in the last couple of weeks. Thank you for all of your help!

My kiddo loves cardinal tetras, and I agreed to let him have an aquarium in his room with them. (I will be taking care of the fish/tank.) I am thinking of the Aqueon 13 gallon LED "widescreen" tank. The dimensions are 29"L x 10"W x 18"H.

Does this sound appropriate for a small school of cardinal tetras? And possibly a small school of pygmy cory cats?

Thank you for any advice, all!

 

It sounds fine actually, since your tank is 22 gallons, not 13, lol. You can have a lot more than just those and pygmy cories.

 

What the heck, it's 22?! The description and box say 13! I'm confused. LOL Anders247?



Maybe the dimensions given on the Petsmart site are wrong....I'll have to check it out in person!

 

What the heck, it's 22?! The description and box say 13! I'm confused. LOL Anders247?



Maybe the dimensions given on the Petsmart site are wrong....I'll have to check it out in person!

If they are wrong, then it's not a 22g. But that would be a lot better, lol

 

I think the height listing includes the hood. I've seen this tank, I would estimate it between 13 and 15 gallons where the water actually sits.

 

I think those dimensions are of the box itself. The actual tank is 24 x 8 x 16. Even with those dimensions a school of each will do. I would do 6-8 cardinal tetras and 8-10 pygmy cories.

 

I think those dimensions are of the box itself. The actual tank is 24 x 8 x 16. Even with those dimensions a school of each will do. I would do 6-8 cardinal tetras and 8-10 pygmy cories.

Really? That makes sense, then..... but why would they list the box dimensions, not the tank?

 

Aha! They ARE wrong on the Petsmart site. The Aqueon site lists the dimensions as 24"L x 8"W x 16.5"H. Darn. LOL

Does a tank with those smaller dimensions seem appropriate for the cardinal tetras/pygmy cories?

EDIT: I was writing this as you guys so kindly replied clearing it up for me! LOL Thanks for the info and the help, all!!

 

I find a lot of stores list the dimensions for shipping purpose and not the actual product. The Aqueon site has the actual dimensions.

 

Thank you for clearing that up, junebug and Chris99! And thanks as always for the advice, Anders247!

 

Thank you for clearing that up, @junebug and @! And thanks as always for the advice, Anders247!

Haha, you're welcome, even though it wasn't exactly correct. But I agree with Chris99.

 

Thank you for the stocking advice, Chris99!

 

I want one of these tanks with only pygmy cory cats and pygmy hatchetfish.... lol.

 

Just got home from the store. We ended up getting a 15-gallon (15.8 gallons, to be exact LOL) bowfront instead of this one. I think we might have room for some more fishes now....Any ideas on any other peaceful fish we could add to the cardinal tetras and cories? (Or we could always just add some more of each of those!)

 

It's only two gallons difference and the floor space is pretty much the same if I remember correctly. I wouldn't add another species, but maybe up the cory school a member or two, as they really, really shine in larger numbers.

 

I want one of these tanks with only pygmy cory cats and pygmy hatchetfish.... lol.

I'd get one more thing... a peacock gudgeon.....

 

Thanks so much, junebug and Anders247! The kiddo is super excited (Ok, so am I!).

 

Thanks so much, @junebug and Anders247! The kiddo is super excited (Ok, so am I!). 

You're welcome TikiBird. Make sure to post pics!!!

 

I'd get one more thing... a peacock gudgeon.....

Actually that might not be a bad idea. I have some of those in the BF's tank and they are really amazing fish. My favorite male happens to be the alpha of the group. He's this amazing pastel pink/green/yellow, HUGE with a massive bump on his forehead (think this is a result of him being the domineer of the entire 55 gallon tank lol) and is a total jerk.

But my new rule is with peacock gudgeons, mystery snails are a must. Because it is hilarious to watch the gudgeons try to boss the snails around. Then the snails get mad, climb to the top of the tank, and dive-bomb the gudgeon's wives.

 

OMG, junebug! Hahaha

 

Amano shrimp are great too. Watching invisible shrimp stealing food from fish. WAIT WHY IS MY FOOD RUNNING AWAY?!?!!!? Lol those trollers

 

TikiBird I can't even explain the behavior. I need to get a video of the gudgeons terrorizing the snails. It's just hilarious like you wouldn't believe. They swim up to them, cockeyed and off-balance (being gobies they have very oddly designed swim bladders) so they're usually at a 45 degree angle whenever they're in motion.

Then they stop, still keep their bodies tilted at that angle, and their tails kinda drift up. But the look on their little faces as they get so close they're almost touching the snails' shells is like: "Hey. Hey, whatcha doin here? Hmm? You bein' a snail? You bein' a snail on my LOG? IT'S MIIINE >.<"

Then they get distracted by the female gudgeons and swim away. And later, the snails will climb as high as they can and then release into the current, aimed at a female gudgeon 90% of the time. Makes the gudgeon girls furious!

 

thefishdude277, that is awesome! LOL!

junebug, that is just too funny!! A video is a must! LOL

 

I just had a look at one of these Peacock fish... and I thought it looked like a puppet out of Sesami Street.. Just the face mind you

 

Dark Storm, ha! I love it.

 

Dark Storm -- the dude who lives in the garbage can perhaps. He's kinda grumpy.

Also gudgeon lurkers be warned, they are about ten times as smart as bettas, impossible to net without destroying the tank, and definitely the worst stalkers/beggars I've ever seen. WAY worse than even my friendly "mommy if I give you puppy eyes can I have every single one of those bloodworms?" betta.

 

Went looking for a peacock gudgeon and the LFS is out. But, my kid is now in love with guppies. I don't want babies. Would a single male guppy be OK with these tetras and cories?




Well we have met a powder blue dwarf gourami who charmed us all and I think we're going home with him. Hoping he won't eat the tetras eventually....he might need to be moved to my tank if so....

 

Dwarf gouramis shouldn't eat tetras...... mine never has.

 

Good to know, Anders247! Thanks!

I feel so silly, doing all this research and then going home with a totally different fish than I had planned!

 

Yes, a single male should be OK.