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i was thinking a few different combinations...
You help me with the number of fish or add new suggestions....thanks
Malaysian themed: pearl or blue gourami, coolie loach(s), harlequin rasbora(s)
India themed: cherry barb(s), dwarf gourami, zebra danio(s), zebra loach(s)
Brazilian themed: oto(s), black neon tetra(s), cardinal tetra(s), three striped dwarf cichlid
Colombian themed: cardinal tetra(s), 1 ram"butterfly cichlid, black fin corydoras(es)
please help with right numbers and what would be the best theme..
or add other suggestions thanks!

As I mentioned on your last post, I would go with the zebras, cherry barbs and ottos. India. I would stay away from the gouramis because with them they either get too big for a 10 gallon or too aggressive. Also cichlids, maybe if any I would go with one Blue Ram, but that would limit the tank stock. Cardinals are a little bit sensitive to water conditions so a 10 gallon might be a little small for a school of them. Every thing else there should be alright, I would put a bunch of stock numbers down for ya but this post is long enough as is hahah.

None of your stocking options will work. They are way overstocked.

Pearl and blue gouramis are too big for a 10g. Coolie loaches might work, but really they need a 20g or larger. Zebra danios are too active for a 10g. I would only have one type of small schooling tetra in that size tank. Cories need a tank bigger than a 10g.

Forget the themes. Here are some options.

-6-8 Harlequin Rasboras, 2 ottos, 1 dwarf gourami or 1 betta
-6-8 black neons, 2 ottos
-6-8 cardinals, 1 dwarf gourami
-5 cherry barbs(2m/3f), 1 dwarf gourami or 1 betta
-6-8 flame tetras, 2 ottos

10g tanks are small, so stocking is limited. You have to look at the size of the fish and the activity level of the fish before deciding if it can live in that size tank.

For a theme, you could do Asian with:
8 Harlequin rasboras, 1 dwarf gourami


*Kristin*

what kind of plant setup would you recommend?

I would go with live plants...if possible.

Plant selection would depend on your lighting.

I think some good plant choices would be java fern, anubias nana, dwarf sag, and cryptocorynes.

What type of lighting do you have on the 10g? Is it one bulb or two screw in types?

*Kristin*

In my 10g I keep:

1x Betta
6x Harlies
2x Ottos



Inky

I have 4 cardinal tetras, a little algae eater, and a few other tetras.. they seem to be living together just fine!
Just haven't got any live plants, just artificial, but they enjoy them from what I can tell!

any other fish recommendations for a 10 gallon?
what can be mixed with dwarf puffers?

The only thing I would keep with DP's is an otto or two. And even with them, its likely the DP's could kill them. I would keep them in a species tank. It should be planted with live plants preferably. You could keep 3 dwarf puffers in a 10g...but make sure you get 1m/2f. I'm sure its hard to sex them, but with more than one male in that small of a space and you could have problems.

There is a good thread in General Freshwater about keeping Dwarf Puffers. Check it out.

*Kristin*

Hello and welcome. I would probably go with about seven harleys and an otto or two. A ten is a very small tank and well stocked or even moderately stocked your parameters may spike very quickly. Please avoid the dwarf gouramis as they just don't do well in a ten, they need very stable water parameters and are e to all kinds of maladies caused by poor water. A very strict maintenance routine would help prevent that. Harleys are much more hardy and would do better.
Dwarf puffers, hmmm. maybe only an otto or two, they are aggressive little guys. Many of them sold today are wild caught and just don't do well. mine would not eat ANYTHING but live food. Not trying to scare you away but just offering what happened to me.
Once the tank is set up, running and cycled in, do water changes at three gallons twice a week for a well stocked tank, to keep parameters in check. Good luck with your new tank

you guys are so nice and helpful. would it hurt to throw a betta in with the six harlies and 1 or 2 ottos?

That would be a perfect combo. My betta, Klaus, gets along great in his 10g setup with 6x Harlies and 2x ottos

Inky