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I am interested in maybe putting a pair of keyhole cichlids in my 10 gallon tank. Should I just get one, or should I go with a pair? Can I put something else in their with them? Whats campatible? Are these fish interesting or do they just hide most of the time? Thanks!

Fish CAN fly!

Keyholes will reach a length of 4-5" which really is too large a fish for a 10g, it just doesn't give them the swimming space they need.

If you're interested in cichlids you could get a pair of apistos or rams. There are also a number of dwarf acaras that would work as well.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I was told that one or two of them would do fine in a ten gallon tank. Was I missinformed?

Fish CAN fly!

While a pair of 4-5 inch fish might "fit" in a ten gallon tank, they end up looking terribly cramped and unhappy, and under those conditions it's extrememly unlikely that you'll have any breeding going on. Even my 3.5 inch pearl gourami wasn't happy in a 10 gallon he had all to himself, and while keyholes are pretty laid back for cichlids, they are still cichlids and will want their own territories, and a 10 gallon simply doesn't have enough space. I wouldn't even put one of these in a 10 gallon tank.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

So if I dont go with keyholes, what other kind of fish could I get for a centerpeice fish? I dont really care for gouramis...

Fish CAN fly!

Like I said, if you're interested in cichlids a pair of apistos, rams, or dwarf acaras would work.

Betta?

Cherry barbs are very nice and they don't have to be kept in schools.

There really aren't a lot of options for a 10g, especially for a centerpiece fish.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Thanks! I realize my options for such a small tank are practically ZERO... Im so used to having a 29 gallon tank to deal with, were I dont really have to worry about the size of the tank so much.

Fish CAN fly!

For cichlids, a pair of Apistos would be just fine. I have spawned several differnt types of Apistos in 10 gal tanks. Also, kribs would work as well. I have spawned several different krib species in 10 gal tanks too. As already stated, dwarf Acaras would be OK too. There are several different small dwarf species of Cichlids you could put in that tank.

If not cichlids, try some killies. I have spawned several killies in 10 gals, and even smaller. Also, you could try some of the dwarf Rainbows as well, like the Preacox, and several others. There are many different fish you can put in a 10 gal tank. Just takes some research and imagination.

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There is always a bigger fish...