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This summer, I'm getting my girlfriend a 10 gallon. We're thinking about 1 male betta, 4 ember tetras, and 3 pygmy cories. Does this sound like a good set up? Is it too crowded? Is 4 ember tetras enough to form a comfortable school?

-Eric
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Not really. Schools are usually 6 or more. The cories are also schooling fish.

Inky

how many would you recomend of each. I dont want to overstock the tank, but she wants a good variety. She wont settle for just a species tank like I have in my dorm room.

-Eric
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

I personally wouldn't put cories in a 10g. I know they are the smallest ones, but I still would have a 20g as minimum.

I suggest:
1 male betta
6 ember tetras
2 ottos

If Ember tetras are the same as Flame tetras (i think they are), those guys are pretty active. I have 10 in my 55g and they swim around really fast. They do stay small though, so I guess they are ok for a 10g. I wouldn't put any more than 6 in there though...it might get crowded.

*Kristin*

Will the tank have live plants? If so, I think Girlie's stocking list is good. But if it is not planted, I would hold off on the ottos and maybe get a snail.

I think a planted tank always looks nicer than an unplanted one.

Inky

Unfortunately, its not going to be planted. She will have fake plants. Its her first aquarium, so I don't think she's ready for plants just yet. I like Girlie's stocking list. Thanks Girlie. That's true about the otos, she won't have a growing light so there won't be much algae.

-Eric
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Well, with no plants...I would go with:

1 male betta
6 ember tetras
1 snail

I don't know enough about snails to suggest a type. I only have pest pond and ramshorn snails...which I don't want.

What about an apple snail, would it get too large for a 10g?

*Kristin*

Pomocea Bridgesii will stay small enough for a 10 gallon. They're often labeled as "mystery snails" in an LFS and are the only species available in white, blue, and purple. Any gold or brown "mystery" snails could be a much larger species. A Columbian Ramshorn (Marisa), or smaller ramshorn (planorbid) will also work.

If you do get snail, keep an eye on the betta to see whether he becomes agressive towards the snail. Sometimes bettas will be oblivious to a snail. Other times, they'll harass them, or will develop a taste for snails (or snail antennas) over time.

I have kept apples successfully in a 10g. Just remember that they eat ALOT for thier body size.

Inky

I've never kept snails. What do they eat?

-Eric
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

I would do a male betta, ember tetras, panda cories i think would be fine, like a small group of 3. This way you have a little color vairation, plus fish that can get a long. Or if you dont want the ember(flame) tetras, try harlequinn rasboras, they come from the same "area" as betta species do.

72 gallon bowfront:Tanganyikan Lake set up
75 gallon: A. Baenschi trio,Cyanotilapia Afra Cobwe(4), copadichromis trewavase, protomelas sp. tangerine tiger(breeding pair)

Pandas are bigger than pigmies. It might be overstocked at that point. I'll check out the rasboras though. Thanks.

-Eric
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

Please correct me if I am wrong.
But going without live plants in a small tank could easly cause algae and other problems as the live plants help with the fish waste.
You have not mentioned about filtration, and airation.

Start off very slowly with the Betta, small school of choice or different single choice , then the ottos.

I will continually keep saying a small tank is far harder to set up correctly and keep it running without problems as you have a very small margin for any errors.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

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You're absolutely right about smaller tanks being harder to keep. If I could, I would buy her a bigger one, but we are both in college, and a 10 gallon is really the biggest thing you can keep in a dorm room. I've had mine for about 9 months, and I'll make her setup very similar to mine: I have a 10 gallon with a hanging filter (Aqua-tech 5-15 Power Filter) with activated carbon. I also change about 50% of my water every single week (I will encourage her to do the same).

There shouldn't be too much algae because she won't have any light with the same spectrum as the sun. I never had any algae for about the first 7 months.

About airation, I've never had any in mine. But I'm open to sugestions.

By the way Keith, that 11 gallon desk top aquarium is absolutely incredible.

-Eric
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

panda cories i think would be fine, like a small group of 3

No pandas in the 10g. Panda cories do better in groups of around 8. I have 6 in my 29g and they can be really shy. They hide when you get right close to the tank. I have been searching for more because these cories are extremely social and need larger groups. You can't have enough of them in a 10g to keep them happy.

Cali can tell you about the needs of panda cories...where is he when we need him?

Like Keith said, stock slowly. I would add the tetras first, so that the betta can't establish the tank as his own. Then you may have problems. Those guys are fast though, so the betta wouldn't be able to catch them.

I am not sure how hardy embers are. That may be a factor in what you add first. But if possible, I would add 4 tetras first. Then add 2 more after about 2 weeks. Then about 2 or 3 weeks later, add the male betta. Then whenever you develop algae or excess food, add the snail.

*Kristin*

Thanks Kristen. I'll do some more research about embers. Don't worry, I wasn't gonna get her panda cories. She really wants more than just two species though. I'm not going to get her that many unless I know the fish will be okay. I can't really see it being very possible, but if there is a way to have three species in a 10 gallon (one of them being a male betta) I'd love to hear some ideas.

-Eric
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."

I understand about her wanting more than one species. I am the same way. I want as many different types of fish as I can get in one tank. The problem is the size though. 10g tanks, as you can tell, have limits. Just tell her to save up her money and when she moves out of the dorm she can have the biggest tank her money will buy her. And she can put lots of little tetras and cories in it.

But that she needs to start small. A 10g is a good start. And research so she knows what the limits are. Then later she will have learned enough to start a much bigger tank, and keep the fish happy.

*Kristin*

That's good advice Kristin. I'll probably have her read this awesome book I have for beginner aquarists. Its called The Simple Guide to Freshwater Aquariums. I learned a lot from it.

I'll probably be the one buying her the bigger tank, lol.

-Eric
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."