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Hey everyone,

Just a quick question for you all. I have a 10 gallon tank that I've had running since October (with a fair bit of success now that I'm doing things right). I do weekly water changes (about 40-50% of the water) and add the Cycle with nitrifiers and waste control liquids every week.

Now, I have 1 dwarf gourami, 1 creamsicle molly, 1 blue paradise, and 1 male betta (he's divided off to one end of the tank). I'm not looking to change or add new fish right away, but I'm kind of trying to plan ahead... Maybe add a few new ones at a time?

So, what suggestions do you have? (If I wait long enough, I might just let all these ones die before adding anymore, so then I'd be starting right from scratch) So, suggestions with an 'empty' tank, or what would work with the fish I have, would be great! Probably the hardier the better, as while I try, I haven't had much luck with mollies (except for the girl I have now... She just won't die). So, delicate fish... Probably not so great.

I'm also picky... I only like 'pretty' fish! Yeah, I'm a girl, can you tell?

10 Gallon: Gold Danios 5 Gallon:Flik the Betta
33 Gallon: Platies, Guppies, Bolivian Rams, Honey Gourami's, and Spot the Spotted Climbing Perch

Welcome to FP

Your tank is almost at the stocking limit with your current selection of fish and tank divider. If the Paradise is a gourami also, you might have more probs, but hopefully not.

I'd add an applesnail for cleaning duties.

"(If I wait long enough, I might just let all these ones die before adding anymore, so then I'd be starting right from scratch)" - Just letting your fish die wouldn't be a good thing. If you don't want or are bored of them, do you know anyone in your area that also has aquariums that would give them a good home ?

If you were starting new and want hardy fish, I'd suggest guppys, platys, or danios. Sparkling gouramis are nice too

ps - Waste control liquids ? There is no need to add these sorts of things to your tank. Your water changes are taking care of that.

The Amazon Nut...

Thanks!

By that comment I just meant that I might not buy anymore fish until these ones all pass on. I won't do anything to try and kill them - I'm not that mean! And no, I don't know anyone around that would take them. Unfortunately.

Yeah, I'm assuming the Paradise is a gourami - he sure looks like one! He's better now than he was before (maybe my molly is bossing him around enough... One poor girl in with a bunch of boys.)

Would an applesnail require any extra food/attention? Anything special?

Or, what (if any?) would work well with a betta? He's a tad aggressive, so I doubt any fish would be very safe with him, but do you guys know of any?

10 Gallon: Gold Danios 5 Gallon:Flik the Betta
33 Gallon: Platies, Guppies, Bolivian Rams, Honey Gourami's, and Spot the Spotted Climbing Perch

I personally think you are stocked with what you have now. Its kinda hit and miss putting gouramis with bettas, but I guess you have had some success. I wouldn't add anything, until you lose a few fish.

And like DaMossMan said...don't buy waste control products...waste of money. Keep up with water changes and leave the stocking alone.

If you could find someone to take the paradise fish (which I've heard can be more aggressive) and maybe the dwarf gourami, you could add a small school (6) of Harlequin Rasboras, neon tetras, or cardinal tetras. But you would have to lose a couple fish first. 10g are very easily overstocked and can be unstable. I know that by experience. I am keeping my 10g stocking low to prevent a minicycle.

Good luck!/:'

*Kristin*

No problem !

Thanks for clarifying your comment

I had a paradise gourami for a bit, in a 5 gal hex with no heater or filter, just some plants. You can keep them in setup similar to a bettas, but no smaller then 2 gallon.

The molly prefers a little freshwater aquarium salt in the water. Alot of people have problems with molly (I did), and for others they breed like bunnies and no probs. Platys and guppies worked very well for me. Platys being more hardy of the 2.

"Would an applesnail require any extra food/attention? Anything special?" - Nope, it will graze on algae, and leftover food in the tank. Just add one so they don't breed.

Bettas males (and paradise gourami males AND females) are usually kept solitary. Female bettas often mix well with other female bettas, and I've seen pics of them in a community tank.

I tried a male paradise gourami in my 40 gal community. Didn't work well. Very aggresive and intelligent fish. Superb hunting abilities, wiped 40 baby guppies in a night. Then started pestering the other fish.

The Amazon Nut...

If you end up with just the paradise or the DG you should be fine with a small school(6-7) of danios(Zebra, leopard, pearl) or white clouds. Instead of the danios or WCs you could have a small school(3-4) of small cories. If you keep just the DG you could find a partner and keep just the pair(or trio) alone. I'm not sure about the paradise with male and females together but assuming they get along you could do a pair/trio with just them too. A small group(trio) of platies or guppies may work with the DG or the paradise(?).


All these possibilities assume that the Betta remains seperate.

20 Gallon Long:
Aquaclear 300
2 Bolivian Rams, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus: Gumby and Pokey

weird22,

I have found livebearers and paradise gouramis do not mix.
Just my 2 cents.


The Amazon Nut...

I wasn't sure about the paradise fish. I assumed they would be fine or that someone would correct me on this. The combonations with the DG should still work though.

20 Gallon Long:
Aquaclear 300
2 Bolivian Rams, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus: Gumby and Pokey