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I know they have almost no similarities, but these are the two types of fish I am thinking about placing in my 10 Gallon Planted tank (once I get around to setting it up, that is).

Their only company will be a small school of otos.


Now, here's my question? Which do you think would be a better look for my 10 Gallon- A single Male Paradise Fish and the otos or a school of Cardinal Tetras and the otos? A Paradise Fish would be a feature fish, but a nice-sized school of Cardinal Tetras would be nice too.

I've heard that these two fish are on opposite ends of the difficulty-of-keeping spectrum. Paradise Fish are supposed to be very hardy, and I'd be able to cycle the tank with one. But I've also heard that a Paradise Fish would be much happier in a larger tank, something that I cannot provide. Cardinal Tetras, I've heard, can be e to disease. I purchased a school a while back, and they all got through 3 days. Then I fed some Tubefix worms, and everything went to... that one lake of burning sulfur...

I believe I'd be safe to assume it was from the Tubefix worms, because the only fish that survived were the otos, who did not get a hold on this "tasty" treat. Anyways, I believe I would have a reliable stock of Cardinals at one of my available LFSs.

The tank is a low-light 10 Gallon- with 1.7 WPG. I plan on keeping low-light, easy-to-care-for plants in it. If you would, which particular plants would be best for each species?

I hope this turns into a nice debate. =)

i would go with cardnials b/c u already said why not to get a paradice, atad active for a ten.

Go with the Cardinals. Until my local watere company fed excess treatment chemicals through my pipework last month, I'd had them for nearly 9 years without trouble.

When you fed Tubifex and everything went pear shaped afterwards, i presume this was liveTubifex you fed? Ah, explains a lot.

Tubifex worms live in some very unpleasant conditions. They are known to survive near raw sewage outlets. Indeed, their principal food consists of bacteria, and although you can improve matters by culturing your own in more hygeinic surroundings, the simple fact is that doing so is time-consuming and messy, and generally for the dedicated. Drop live Tubifex worms obtained from a source of unknown provennce in with your prized and expensive aquarium fishes, and all Hell can break loose in a flash. Who knows what diseases they've picked up along the way? Now, of course, you could reply to me by saying that my own live foods (namely Daphnia and Bloodworms) carry the same risk. Actually, while they do carry some risk of disease transmission, the risk is a LOT less than that of Tubifex, quite simply because Daphnia and Bloodworms live in much healthier habitats in the wild. Daphnia need reasonable oxygen levels to survive for any length of time, and while Bloodworms are detritus feeders, they don't feed on sewage. As an experiment, take some live Bloodworm, put in a clean container with fresh water, and when everything has settled down and there are no water currents, pop in a couple of flakes of TetraMin and watch how the Bloodworm enjoy high quality fish food just as much as Discus or Chocolate Gouramis. Plus, if you're really paranoid about such issues, it's a LOT easier to medicate Daphnia and Bloodworm prior to feeding your fishes than it is to medicate live Tubifex. Personally, I've experienced very few problems (but then I know the provenance of my live foods, which helps!) and reaped a lot of benefits (including Panda Corys that spawn like mad!).

Give your Cardinals a decent home, and they should last a long time. As I said, mine would still be with me now but for the water company flushing a nice cocktail of chemicals down my pipes six weeks or so ago, and they were over 6 years old and still kicking like juveniles.

However, watch your water chemistry - though Cardinals can be relatively adaptable from a maintenance standpoint, they definitely do best in soft, slightly acidic water (which my local water is - again, no surprise to learn I do well with South Americans in my water).

As for plants, get a small piece of bogwood and grow some Java Ferns on it. In my experience, those things are damn near indestructible in the aquarium, and you have to go to some fairly serious lengths to actively kill them off!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I know you are trying to decide one or the other, but I would probably have to say get neons instead of cardinals. Everyone seems to be ahving trouble with cardinals these days. Almost everyone has had trouble with their cardinals living. It is probably jsut a bad time of year for them or something, but I would say how abotu neons instead.


Christina

I would prefer a school of Cardinal Tetras have a look at my Betta tank. I would also suggest keep the Aquscape simple but plenty of plants no more than 5 varieties of plants and use small leafed plants.

Cardinals and diseases when I got mine I got a good dose of Ich but it was quickly controlled.
I have not used any live food for many years (I only use frozen worms) this reduces the risk of importing any unknown problems.

Have a look in [link=My Profile]http://
www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/profile.asp?userid=6741" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link] for my tank info

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Keith

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I would go for Cardinals & Ottos.


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I have 2 paradise fish in a 10 gallon with a pleco and a female betta and mine are doing just fine.

I do plan on getting a 29 gallon soon and moving the pleco and paradise to it.

If you buy a young male paradise, I think it would be fine in a 10. Then save your money and in the near future, buy a bigger tank.

If youre like me, from now on, ALL your extra money will go to fish!!!!

Alright, I think I'm going with the Cardinals.

My only question now is the cycle. Since Cardinals can be fairly sensitive to water quality, I doubt I would want to cycle with them. Perhaps I could try fishless cycling?

I've heard about it, but have never done it or seen how you go about it. I know you add ammonia to the water, but where exactly does the ammonia have to come from?

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but can't you go to the store and buy a bottle of "Cycle" It should start up your cycle for you, unless you have another tank all ready set up. Then you can jsut take some gravel or filter media and start the tank up that way.


Christina

Fishless cycling happens when you just add regular, pure household ammonia. No colors or other additives. I dont know how much. Some people buy the small feeder goldfish. You can also use bacteria starters like Prime or Cycle. Along with these and a filter moved from a tank with fish, Ive cycled tanks in about 3 weeks.

Many fish will make it through the cycle time. Ive had many make it with no problems.

You can add a dead fish or a shrimp from the grocery store. It may kinda smell a little but serves the purpose.

If you dont have test kits, you should buy one. Otherwise you wont know when the cycle is finished.

Since you see to be really set on doing this the right way, once the cycle is complete, add fish slowly over a period of a few days to a few weeks.