ideas for a 10 gal freshwater?

[Khrysty]

I purchased a 10 gallon tank with a working light, filter, heater, etc and a bunch of different fish foods, water cleaners, temp gauges, etc for both a fresh and saltwater tank for $15 at the salvation army!

I remember my mom really wanted a fish tank for our living room so this will be her christmas present (granted, its not the hundred-sum gallon tank that she wanted..but it's a start).

I just don't know what to fill it with. I know saltwater tanks are harder to manage and I want to keep it pretty simple. So I want some freshwater fish and maybe a few live plants. What do you guys suggest?

 

[LizMarie]

When we had a fish tank my mom kept tetras, I think they stay pretty small. We were never able to keep live plants because all the fish would pull them up and eat them, plant pieces kept clogging up the filter so we left the plant idea.

 

[Khrysty]

When we had a fish tank my mom kept tetras, I think they stay pretty small. We were never able to keep live plants because all the fish would pull them up and eat them, plant pieces kept clogging up the filter so we left the plant idea.

Yeah, i thought about tetras. My sister suggested we just buy one beta fish lol. That would be ridiculous

 

[Kolkri]

Get a betta and some pygmy cory cats. Would look great.
Not a lot you can put in a 10 gallon. Also don't forget to cycle the tank first or you well be in for a lot of heart ache.
Good Luck

 

[Srt14292]

Im with angie, a betta splendens will look amazing in a freshwater tank
I would personally go for a male veiltail. I think the red ones allways look nice, I had about 6 at one point. they were great.
after that, get some clown loaches to tackle snails, a couple of small plecs to clean the substrate.
after that, its personal choice really.

 

[Srt14292]

You can ONLY have ONE male betta in a tank.
KEEP THAT IN MIND. they will literally rip eachother to shreds if there are more then one.

 

[leoman777]

you could get tetras,danios, guppies, platys, swordtails. mollies hmm thats all i can think of right now...

 

[LizMarie]

Yeah, i thought about tetras. My sister suggested we just buy one beta fish lol. That would be ridiculous

I had a male betta in a 10gallon tank, lol. You just have to be careful with the filter intake power don't want their pretty fins getting caught.

 

[Kolkri]

Oh no don't do the clown loaches or pleco both get huge and need large tanks.
You need fish that well stay small. You can keep other fish with a betta. Like the pygmy cory cats.
BTW if you get female betta you can keep about 6. I have 4 in my 20 gallon. Yes they do nip at each other but make sure they have lots of hiding places along with your live plants and put them all in at once and they should be fine and look great.

 

[Srt14292]

Angie I have 4 clown loaches and 2 plecs in with my bettas, they are fine, the clown loaches don't get that big, as for the plecs yes they can get large, but most places will exchange it when it gets too big. and replace it for a smaller plec/

 

[Friedbread]

For an lively tank with a lot of activity, I would recommend a moderately sized group of your choice of danios (excluding giants). They are available in a variety of patterns, colors, and there are even long-finned varieties.

For a more peaceful tank, you could go with a small tetra species. Be sure to pick only one species though and have at least a trio or they may become timid and listless without other members of their own species.

As for bettas, I think females do better in community tanks because they don't have the flowing fins that can get nipped or caught in the filter. Personally, I've had 10 gallon tank with a female betta, four gold tetras, and two black khuli loaches that have all been doing great for over a year.

*edit*
Clown loaches and plecos will get much too large for a 10 gallon. Any algae or bottom-feeding fish isn't really necessary in a brand new tank. Keep them in mind for that 100 gallon!

 

[Kolkri]

OH almost forgot. After the tank is set up and very settled like 3 to 6 months you could try otos. Cute little fish. You can keep 5 or 6 with one male betta.
I have yet to have much luck with them but I keep trying.

 

[Friedbread]

OH almost forgot. After the tank is set up and very settled like 3 to 6 months you could try otos. Cute little fish. You can keep 5 or 6 with one male betta.
I have yet to have much luck with them but I keep trying.

Otos are SO cute! ^^
They don't seem to do very well in captivity though. :/