Unique 10 Gallon Build

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

I have a 10 gallon sitting empty with a little sand (stole most of it for my little sisters 3 gallon betta build). Well since she doesn’t want anything bigger then the 3 gallon cylinder, I get to keep my 10! I decided to do something different then my usual fish (no tetras or other small schooling fish. I am fine with the idea of Pygmy Corys though, they are too cute!) I have created 3 (finalized) stocks:
1.) 2 Shell dwelling cichlids. This stock probably won’t happen though because I could only keep 2 and nothing else.
2.) 2-3 Pea puffers Again, This stock may not happen if they need to eat anything other then frozen blood worms (my mom wouldn’t like it).
3.) 4 Scarlet Badis, 6 Pygmy Corys, and 12 ghost shrimp.
4.) Invert tank
If you have any unique ideas or concerns with my stocks, fire away!

 

[DutchAquarium]

2 shell dwellers will fight in the 10 gallon so stay away from them. The badis stock would be okay, however go with only 3. You might have fighting with 4. You want a 1:2 ratio with the badis also. Also, 12 ghosts are a bit too much. This many will gang up on your fish, and them being as small as they are. Also with only 10 gallons to work with, I would get ri.d of the ghost and stick to just the fish. Your fish will be happier with the extra room. Make sure the aquarium is densly planted and that you have food for the badis. Most of the time they can be difficultI to get off live foods. Even frozen can be a challenge to get them to eat

 

[Mary765]

I personally love pea puffers and am getting one for my 5g!!

If you want puffers, they can eat frozen/live bloodworms, live snails, frozen/live brine shrimp or any other natural water protein you can get them to eat really (including new born fry and shrimp) Do any of those options sound ok to you?

They need lots of plants and hiding places too (but that just makes the tank look better). Their really awesome once they have settled in though

 

[Platylover]

problems I see in the stocks-
1) you need 4 as from my understanding they are colonizing fish, but they would work in a species only 10g
3) Pygmy cories need at least a 15 gallon as they are pretty active. I'd try and get only male and the rest be females if you get a badis or if you get males only get two. If your mom isn't ok with anything other than frozen then I wouldn't suggest them either since they typically require live food.

I'd personally just go with 6-8 cpds, ammonos, and either a peacock gudgeon pair or sparkling gouramI pair.

 

[DutchAquarium]

I wouldn't put any type of danio in anything smaller than a 20. they are active fish, and a 10 gallon would be cramped.

 

[Platylover]

I have some in a 10g, they are pretty mellow compared to just about any other danio and they are perfectly active and healthy in a 10g. Celestieal pearls really aren't the typically danio, this being said I'd still not put them in anything less than 5 gallon with 20" length.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

Thank you for your ideas! I would rather not do schooling fish. I am not against gouramis though. Would there be any bottom dweller fine in 10 gallons?

 

[Platylover]

There’s Asian stone cats, shrimp, or snails for bottom dwellers in a 10. Peacock gudgeons and other 10 gallon acceptable gobies will also stay towards the bottom.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

I like the catfish. Would a school of 6 suffice? The only true freshwater goby is the ram variety. Right? My lfs has some freshwater gobies. I think I will get some few gobies (or order in the stone catfish) and put them in with a pair of Sparkling Gouramis. Would they work the Scarlet Badis too? If not, any suggestions to complete the stock?

I personally love pea puffers and am getting one for my 5g!!

If you want puffers, they can eat frozen/live bloodworms, live snails, frozen/live brine shrimp or any other natural water protein you can get them to eat really (including new born fry and shrimp) Do any of those options sound ok to you?

They need lots of plants and hiding places too (but that just makes the tank look better). Their really awesome once they have settled in though

I do have frozen bloodworms for my angels as a treat. They gobble it up fast! My mom thinks that they are cute, I would just have to feed frozen only.

 

[Mary765]

I do have frozen bloodworms for my angels as a treat. They gobble it up fast! My mom thinks that they are cute, I would just have to feed frozen only.

They can live off a frozen only diet of bloodworms, brine shrimp and more, though the occasional small snail is ideal.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

Ok, I will sneak some snails in once in a while

I now have 3 stocks:
1. Scarlet Badis trio, and 6 Asian stone catfish or 6 cherry shrimp
2. Pea puffer trio
3. Sparkling GouramI trio, Scarlet Badis trio, and 6 Catfish or shrimp
On number 3 aqadvisor warns me saying that when the GouramI start to breed, the Scarlet Badis will be unable to coexist.

 

[Mary765]

Ok, I will sneak some snails in once in a while

One or two a month per puffer are enough just provides a little stimulus and nutrition for them

 

[WanhiBetta]

If you go for pea puffers, some will eat frozen food. I personally never feed any live food to mine, they love the frozen Mysis shrimps and the home made frozen food I give them! At first I had to move the food in front of them to make them eat but now the wait for it impatiently everyday!

 

[FriarThomasIII]

Shell dwellers are okay in a 10, and about 6, 3 pairs should be okay. Just make sure you have multiple shells for them to choose from and change shells. Also helps to use some texas holy rock to break sight will help also. If you wanted a single fish, how about a paradise fish? They get about 4 inches, aren't too terribly active and are pretty calm yet pugnacious. Mexican orange crayfish are pretty cool, and about 3-4 would be pretty neat to see. Or a single electric blue crayfish, or some amano shrimps and cherry shrimps with mystery snails.

 

[Fishoholic23]

I have a trio of Neolamprologus Simils, a shellwelling cichlid but I would recommend it if it's your first tank, which IDK if it is yours or not. Super cute and unique to keep.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

Ok I now have a 5 stocks!
1. Scarlet Badis trio, and 6 Asian stone catfish or 6 cherry shrimp
2. Pea puffer trio
3. Sparkling GouramI trio, Scarlet Badis trio, and 6 Catfish or shrimp
4. Shell dweller (3 or 6?)
5. Paradise fish
I have had 4 tanks, 40 gallon angel tank (active), 10 gallon with tetras (torn down), with betta (torn down), 3 gallon with betta (active)

 

[FriarThomasIII]

Did you like the thought of a paradise fish? They prefer 68-74 degree water, or just room temperature. All those stocking sound good. Here is one I might go for in mine; 6 chilI rasboras (or) ember tetras, one dwarf gourami, 3 mystery snails, myriad of shrimp types and 4 otocinclus in a densely planted tank.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

1. Scarlet Badis trio, and 6 Asian stone catfish or 6 cherry shrimp (4)
2. Pea puffer trio (1)
3. Sparkling GouramI pair, Scarlet Badis trio, and 6 Catfish or shrimp (3)
4. Shell dweller (2)
I have had 4 tanks, 40 gallon angel tank (active), 10 gallon with tetras (torn down), with betta (torn down), 3 gallon with betta (active)

I have ranked them by preference

Wait. Paradise fish need 30 gallons, removed

 

[FriarThomasIII]

I'm planning on getting 3 scarlet badis, 5 otocinclus, 3 mystery snails, and 4 amano shrimps, and maybe a school of ember tetra, though I might not. Sparklers also might harass the badis during breeding time, based of of some research. Also you need to have some sort of culture of live food as the badis can be picky. I read that they like the microworms I have cultured in my room. Even if you decide against the badis, you'll need them when the fish breed and or as a nice microfood for nano fish. Hope this helps?

Wait. Paradise fish need 30 gallons, removed

Actually, they do fine in 10 gallons as they aren't active and stay about 4 inches and below. They are perfectly fine in 10 gallons alone.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

I’m thinking that I will do some shell dwelling cichlids. Maybe start with a pair and let them populate the tank.

 

[FriarThomasIII]

I’m thinking that I will do some shell dwelling cichlids. Maybe start with a pair and let them populate the tank.

Be careful; they populate really quick

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

I will check and see if my lfs will take fry before I purchase (will need to get them ordered in) otherwise I will do the pea puffers or the sparkling GouramI pair with Scarlet Badis and ottos

 

[OneLittleBubble]

1. Scarlet Badis trio, and 6 Asian stone catfish or 6 cherry shrimp (4)
2. Pea puffer trio (1)
3. Sparkling GouramI pair, Scarlet Badis trio, and 6 Catfish or shrimp (3)
4. Shell dweller (2)
I have had 4 tanks, 40 gallon angel tank (active), 10 gallon with tetras (torn down), with betta (torn down), 3 gallon with betta (active)

I have ranked them by preference

You can't keep a shell dweller in a 10 gallon they will fight and they need a very long tank.
It is recommended that they have a 18 by 12 inch footprint for the smallest pair. They need lots of shells and you cannot use the cheap fake ones. Remember these are cichlids they are aggressive so do not put in any tank mates.

 

[FriarThomasIII]

There are accounts of people peacefully keeping 3 pairs in a ten gallon tank or more with the same footprint. Multies will be fine.

 

[OneLittleBubble]

That's like putting a goldfish in a 10 or 5 gallon. Tell me that's good for the fish. They are aggressive fish and will become more territorial when there is less space. He can put 2 in a tank, but then he cannot have anymore fish in the tank

 

[FriarThomasIII]

That's like putting a goldfish in a 10 or 5 gallon. Tell me that's good for the fish. They are aggressive fish and will become more territorial when there is less space. He can put 2 in a tank, but then he cannot have anymore fish in the tank

First, that's nothing like having a goldfish or anything. Second, they are commonly kept in large colonies in a 10-15 gallon tank. Shell Dweller "Nano" Setup read this and there are tons of multI tank descriptions of shell dwellers and what works. If it's been proven to work consistently, then it's fine.

 

[OneLittleBubble]

What I'm trying to say is that you are keeping a fish in a too small aquarium and just because you don't see anything happening physically there are a lot of bad things going on internally and mentally. It seems as though you are purposely skipping my point which is that you can not keep any other fish with the shell dwellers because they are cichlids and will become territorial over the small space.

 

[FriarThomasIII]

What I'm trying to say is that you are keeping a fish in a too small aquarium and just because you don't see anything happening physically there are a lot of bad things going on internally and mentally. It seems as though you are purposely skipping my point which is that you can not keep any other fish with the shell dwellers because they are cichlids and will become territorial over the small space.

They happily live there, and there are no bodily problems between them if they each have their own 3 shells per fish. As long as they each have a mate, so even numbers, they would be fine. There is no stunting or inhibited growth. They will squable if you have to many males or not enough shells to call their own. They are perfectly fine with 3 pairs in a tank.

 

[Alestraia]

I'd go with 4 Sparkling Gouramis and a small group of Habrosus Corydora. I'm absolutely in love with them atm.

 

[OneLittleBubble]

That's a much better set up I agree.

 

[FriarThomasIII]

Multis are pretty fun, and I'm loving the idea of getting myself some Scarlet Badis and some otocinclus

 

[puffer boi]

I would just go with 2 pea puffer

 

[OneLittleBubble]

yeah, that's unique

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

I’m thinking of 4 Sparkling Gouramis and 6 Ottos due to availability. Ordering fish to your lfs has added expense and risk. I am in no rush to stock. Tank isn’t even filled.

 

[OneLittleBubble]

Ottos are typically kept in a 1 otto per 10 gallon and they are schooling fish so I don't suggest putting 6 of them in a 10 gallon tank. You may think I'm annoying telling you to not get everything that you want to get, but the sad truth is that most fish cannot live in a 10 gallon. If you want more fish upgrade to a bigger tank then you might be able to get some more "unique" fish.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

Alrighty then. 4 sparkling GouramI and some shrimp.

 

[Alestraia]

I’m thinking of 4 Sparkling Gouramis and 6 Ottos due to availability. Ordering fish to your lfs has added expense and risk. I am in no rush to stock. Tank isn’t even filled.

Or you can do a species tank of 7 sparklies and a snail. If you plant it heavily, they might start croaking.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

Aww yeah! How do they croak? They seem to do it underwater? I will do that. Do they like driftwood? I live next to a creek so wood is easy to come by.

 

[Mazeus]

Sparkling gouramI will likely kill shrimp (maybe not amanos).

 

[OneLittleBubble]

Perfect just keep the dwarf gouramis from being all male then they might fight, good luck

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

Ok. My first idea for shrimp is ghost shrimp. Super cheap so if they get eaten, then they have fulfilled their purpose.

If I put 2 cherries in another tank, would I be able to get a solid colony breeding? Cherry shrimp are relatively expensive to ghost shrimp.

 

[Mazeus]

I have 2 sparkling gourami, they croak all the time (especially when courting), they are spawn constantly! There is pretty much always fry in my tank. Mine love driftwood and prefer a heavily planted aquarium because they can be shy.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

While buying ghost shrimp, I requested availability check for pea puffers and the shell dwelling cichlids just to see. They have dwarf gouramis, but no sparkling. I will check elsewhere before ordering. I will start with a pair and let them populate.

 

[Alestraia]

While buying ghost shrimp, I requested availability check for pea puffers and the shell dwelling cichlids just to see. They have dwarf gouramis, but no sparkling. I will check elsewhere before ordering. I will start with a pair and let them populate.

I haven't bred sparklies before but from what I've read, they breed like bettas which makes sense since they're quite closely related. This means you can't just buy a tank and let them multiply. You actually have to have a bare bottom breeding tank with the proper conditions and remove the female if they breed. You need quite a few tanks.

If the fry are anything like bettas, they will need quite a lot of care as they are sensitive. I have a betta spawn going atm and its quite a lot of work with the constant feeding and water changes. Also, sparklies are social fish so you'll need more than 2 if you want them to thrive and behave naturally. I recommend you get 4 in your 10 gallon at least. I have 7 in my 130g and its quite fun to watch them interact with each other.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

Well that plans in the trash. My 7th grade sister got a baby goldfish which is going to grow in my 10 gallon until it gets too big then I will find someone with a pond.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

Well I guess for me this is a unique tank . My mother understands the tank limitation so when the time comes to rehome it, I will have her on my side. I would much rather it go in my tank then the fish bowl (death trap) alternative.

 

[Zentuckyfriedchicken]

Son of a gun! My lfs had a slight miscommunication with me. I wanted a price check for pea puffers, but they ordered them in! Could the Goldie live with the puffer temporally? Or would I need to put the 1 inchgoldfish in my fishbowl or angelfish tank?

 

[Rtessy]

Unfortunatley, the goldfish can't go with the puffers, angelfish, or the bowl... They can't be at the high temperatures the angels and puffers need, not to mention aggression. Also it could become stunted in the bowl... dang that really sucks I'm sorry

 

[FriarThomasIII]

G

Son of a ▼・ᴥ・▼! My lfs had a slight miscommunication with me. I wanted a price check for pea puffers, but they ordered them in! Could the Goldie live with the puffer temporally? Or would I need to put the goldfish in my fishbowl or angelfish tank?

oldfish need low temps, and pufferfish need temps at about 80 - 82 degrees. No. The goldfish needs to be in temps about 65ish-72 to feel it's best. Pea puffers would just beat the **** out of it regardless. Also pea puffers need an extremely established and heavily planted tank to thrive. my 2 cents

I would either rehome or make temporary place for them. My dad currently has three neons (who are sick and will be there for 2 weeks) in a 3 gallon bucket with an airstone and floating plants. Maybe that would be a temporary solution.