fish for beginner

[EmilyS]

Originally Posted by BryanB

tetras about 15 of them they school and are awsome

Tetras will only school if they have to room to- I don't think a 10 gallon would be enough room for 15. Maybe 8, depending on what kind you get and what else is in the tank.

[alessia55]

So I like the look of the tetras... they're definitely an option.

EmilyS, I'm looking for easy fish... just feed and pretty to look at. I don't want to have to deal with complex feedings (like feeding other live fish or worms or something like that) or fish that will die if the temperature of the water isn't perfect.

Heating? how do you heat a fish tank? I've always seen people keep fish in tanks without any heat source, water at just room temperature.

[EmilyS]

Originally Posted by alessia55

So I like the look of the tetras... they're definitely an option.

EmilyS, I'm looking for easy fish... just feed and pretty to look at. I don't want to have to deal with complex feedings (like feeding other live fish or worms or something like that) or fish that will die if the temperature of the water isn't perfect.

Heating? how do you heat a fish tank? I've always seen people keep fish in tanks without any heat source, water at just room temperature.

No fish is an easy fish, really, though many people think you can just fill a tank with water and plop in the fish. First you need to cycle the tank, otherwise your fish could die from high ammonia levels. Once your tank is cycled, you'll still have to do at least 25% water changes every week or two.

Edit: Oh, goldfish... *sigh*

One goldfish, depending on the type, needs around 30 gallons. For each additional, you need another 10 gallons. I hate seeing goldies in little bowls/tanks that are too small for them.

You guys probably think I'm crazy! But I know fish like you guys know snakes!

If you aren't looking for much work, you could do a betta and some snails/shrimp. Bettas, though, would need a heated tank. They sell aquarium heaters at pet stores, just get one rated for a 10 gallon.

[alessia55]

Originally Posted by EmilyS

No fish is an easy fish, really, though many people think you can just fill a tank with water and plop in the fish. First you need to cycle the tank, otherwise your fish could die from high ammonia levels. Once your tank is cycled, you'll still have to do at least 25% water changes every week or two.

If you aren't looking for much work, you could do a betta and some snails/shrimp. Bettas, though, would need a heated tank. They sell aquarium heaters at pet stores, just get one rated for a 10 gallon.

I kept a betta fish for 4 years while in college, and is now living with a friend of mine. I was hoping for something different
Oh, and I don't mind changing the water and that sort of stuff. I guess what I mean is that I would prefer a hardy fish that can live off of the flakes food and not require a whole lot of specialized care.
Do all fish need a heater? my betta fish was held at room temperature the 4years I had him

[EmilyS]

Originally Posted by alessia55

I kept a betta fish for 4 years while in college, and is now living with a friend of mine. I was hoping for something different
Oh, and I don't mind changing the water and that sort of stuff. I guess what I mean is that I would prefer a hardy fish that can live off of the flakes food and not require a whole lot of specialized care.
Do all fish need a heater? my betta fish was held at room temperature the 4years I had him

Ok, no betta! Most fish will be ok with flake food, so you shouldn't have to worry about that. Here's a quick list of some fish that will fit into a 10 gallon (not all at once though):

*guppies/endlers
*some gouramis
*some cories
*neon or cardinal tetras
*harlequin or galaxy rasboras
*platy

Goldfish don't need heaters

While bettas (or other fish) CAN live without a heater, they become more susceptible to disease without it. In the end, a heater would probably save money

Here's my 10 gallon halfmoon (sorry, I thought I had a better picture). It used I house a betta, 3 endlers, and 6 pygmy cories, but I've recently switched it up to 8 guppies.

[alessia55]

Originally Posted by EmilyS

Ok, no betta! Most fish will be ok with flake food, so you shouldn't have to worry about that. Here's a quick list of some fish that will fit into a 10 gallon (not all at once though):

*guppies/endlers
*some gouramis
*some cories
*neon or cardinal tetras
*harlequin or galaxy rasboras
*platy

Goldfish don't need heaters

While bettas (or other fish) CAN live without a heater, they become more susceptible to disease without it. In the end, a heater would probably save money

Here's my 10 gallon halfmoon (sorry, I thought I had a better picture). It used I house a betta, 3 endlers, and 6 pygmy cories, but I've recently switched it up to 8 guppies.

That was super helpful, thanks!!!!

[RandyRhoads]

Good old goldfish. Idk who said one fish per gallon but if people say that it must be a very vague rule. Imagine 10 tuna in your tank. It really depends on the species. I have a lion and moray eel in a 25 and that's way too small for them... Are you only considering fresh water?

[BryanB]

Originally Posted by RandyRhoads

Good old goldfish. Idk who said one fish per gallon but if people say that it must be a very vague rule. Imagine 10 tuna in your tank. It really depends on the species. I have a lion and moray eel in a 25 and that's way too small for them... Are you only considering fresh water?

The general rule is one inch of fish per gallon not one fish per gallon

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by BryanB

The general rule is one inch of fish per gallon not one fish per gallon

That's an OKAY rule. I find it's about the bioload of the animals in the tank and how it's set up.

I had a live planted five gallon tank that was highly stocked of guppies and endlers. I think I placed 5 in there original and it was easily 20 of them within a few short months. I did remove bigger animals though to bigger tanks but still the tank thrived due to the way it was set up.

Personally, I had a 10 gallon at one time for my daughter. I tried to keep it really basic and intermix species but I found to give them the proper requirements required more room or different things. In such a small area I would stick to the most basic of animals.

Guppies, danios and some tetras or barbs. Cherry barbs pop out to me.

If I did it again, I would do a dwarf gourami, a trio of cherry barbs and 4 - 6 khouli loaches.

[EmilyS]

You're welcome

If you want I can help you pick a stock from some of your favorites.

[alessia55]

Originally Posted by EmilyS

You're welcome

If you want I can help you pick a stock from some of your favorites.

Just looked up some photos of the fish you listed. I really like the cories!

[Corey209]

Mollies Fish Gallery - Black Molly Fish, Black Moon Tail Molly Fish, Silver Molly Fish and Silver Moon Tail Moll Fish Supplier & Exporter from Chennai, India

We used to have these, they're cool to have.

[EmilyS]

Cories are some of my favorite fish It can be harder to find ones that will fit a 10 gallon though, especially pygmies.

You could probably do something like this:

*6 pygmy or panda cories
*a centerpiece fish, like a gourami (you could do dwarf gourami, honey, or sparkling to name a few)
*3 guppies/endlers

or-

*6 cories
*6 neons/cardinals or harlequins

You could also do dario dario as a centerpiece in the first option, but those are hard to come by, and that's getting a bit advanced

[Jay]

Zebra Danios! Cheap, and very forgiving to slight fluctuations.

[Jay]

Or, you could do cardinal tetras.

Neon blue/red...