FishProfiles.com Message Forums

In my 10g tank I have an elderly male betta (very tame for a betta by the way ) and 5x Harlies

Could I add a small juvinile gourmi, such as a dwarf or a honey gourmi?

If I can't I may just add 5 Pygmi cories (finally found some at a LFS)

Thanks!

Inky

No, adding a gourmami to a tank with a betta is not a good idea since they are both air breathers and occupy the same space.
You might be able to add an otto, but skip the cories - you will be overstocked in my opinion.

I didnt think 5x Pygmis would be over stocking, since they are bottom feeders.

Inky

I don't think you are overstocked now, but if you add the cories you would be. They may be small, but they add to the bioload and a 10g tank is small.

I have a 10g with a male betta, 6 Harlies, and an otto (had 2 but the other died). I am not going to add anymore fish to the tank.

I had 8 neons, a betta, and 2 ottos in my 10g before and I started getting ammonia and nitrites. None of the fish died, but I couldn't get the numbers down and ended up getting a bigger tank (and spending more money). My point is, when you add too many fish to such a small tank....your going to have problems. Its best to prevent problems and just keep your tank like it is.

You could add a couple ottos, if you have any algae. But that's all I would add.

Overstocking is not only about the fish having room to swim and play, it is about not overloading the tank so that you get high nitrates, ammonia, and nitrites, that could affect your fishies.

*Kristin*

I was told that:
1x Male Betta
5x Harlies
5x Pygmi Cories

would be fine in the 10g. I don't have any alge but I want a bottom feeder of sorts, and I really want cories somewhere in at least one of my setups (this one seems the most plausable)

Inky

I think you could probably do 3 of the cories but it will be heavily stocked and require lots of maitnence.

"A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man" Simpsons

I would never do less then 5 cories. Anyway, I don't mind doing excess maintnence on my tanks, thats not an issue with me.

Inky

I wound up doing this:

Klaus
6x Rasburas
2x Ottos

I'm carefully watching my tank and everything seems normal.Is this okay?

Inky

Klaus
6x Rasburas
2x Ottos

That is great. I am glad you didn't go with the cories. The smaller cories are usually more active than the bigger ones and don't always stay on the bottom, so it would be like having more middle fish. And that would get crowded. I don't think cories should be in groups less that 5 or 6. I also think they need atleast a 20g to be happy. They would have alot of room to swim around in a bigger tank. My 10g is setup like yours. I think you will enjoy it.

Is it planted? You could plant it pretty heavily with that stock, that would make it not look so empty. Thats the problem I have with smaller tanks, they look empty so I am tempted to add more fish...even when I shouldn't./:'

*Kristin*

Right now the only decore I have is 3 plastic plants. I will add some live ones when I get the extra money

The tank looks really good! Thanks!

Inky