How many fish...

[Bunnylova4eva]

I have a 10 gallon tank and I'm getting several mollies to put in it. But I'd also like an algae eater. I know about the 1 in. per gallon rule of thumb but would I be fine getting a plecostomus or algae eater with several mollies though it would be over the 1 in per gallon rule? I'dhate to just get 1 algae eat and have 1 lone molly..

let me know what you think! Thanks!

 

[Nancy McClelland]

You can have more fish than 2 in a ten gallon tank--just need to up the cleaning schedule. I'd go with an algae eater over a plecostomus. The algae eater won' get as big-big ones can be a problem with other fish.

 

[Bassetluv]

From what I understand, the 1" per gallon rule doesn't always apply (it's actually rather outdated, though can generally still be followed with small fish); other things have to be factored in such as the type of fish, the setup, how many decorations are in the tank, etc. Mollies are fairly small-bodied, so you might be okay; I wouldn't recommend a pleco for such a small tank, even a small variety of pleco, as they do produce a lot of waste. Probably better to go with an algae eater or two.

If this is a starter tank, make sure you've cycled it before adding fish, and only add a couple at a time. Here's a small article on setting up a new tank, if that's what you're doing.

http://freshaquarium.about.com/od/aquariumstartup/a/newtankmistakes.htm

 

[Watermelons]

The 1" of fish per gallon rule still applies... in a way. Less fish is always better and gold fish range from 2gallongs per 1" of fish to 10gal per fish.

I personally wouldnt put a total of more then 6 fish in a 10 gallon, bottom feeders included. You will end up having trouble keeping up with the bacteria cycle with all that ammonia and will get lots of algae blooms and just because you have algae, doesn't mean any pleco or algae eater will actually eat it.

If youre going to put a pleco in there you need to remember to get algae wafters to feed the pleco, malaysian driftwood for roughage, and feed something like cucumber or lettuce every once in awhile. and either get a chinese algae eater or dwarf clown pleco.

If you have any fishy related questions feel free to PM

 

[luvthempigs]

A bushynose pleco would be okay in a ten gallon tank. They will only grow to about four inches and will help keep the tank clean unlike the common pleco (who can get HUGE and is a pooping machine) lol

I would only get three or four mollies for a ten gallon. Try to get all male or you will end up with tons of babies and not enough room for them. Personally I would go with guppies in a ten gallon tank. Or if you prefer mollies get atleast a twenty gallon tank

Good luck and post pictures when your all set up!

 

[fuzz16]

1" per gallon is not something that should be followed at all anymore.

could do a clown pleco also or otto for algae...or do some sort of shrimp. if your not gonna do water changes often...pass on pleco. just stick with one otto and a few shrimp

like said go with all male mollies, they breed like crazy but i think they get kinda big for a 10g.

could do male guppies or a betta with them or platys. could even do small tetras in a small group.

actually lots of options just depends how much effort and time and money you want to put into the tank

 

[MagPie]

Yeah my 10 gallon has 3 small pencil fish in it. And it's working great so I'm kind of unwilling to add much more to that except an otto. Been having problems finding that guy. A 10 is tricky since it really isn't a big tank. Over crowd it and you could cause the tank to crash.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Yeah I ended up just getting 1 molly (so as not to have a huge ammonia spike) and then will get several more in a week or so. Maybe I'll stick with a snale since you all say pleco's aren't a good idea. They said probably not to keep a chinese algae eater with the mollies.
Yep, I'll go get some pics post them at some point!

Oh and that's the other thing: so definitly don't get a female molly? I know someone who's had mollys for a long time but they said the baby fish all get eaten except for the ones they scoop out into another tank. I was figuring then it wouldn't be a big deal, but if I'm going to end up with a gazillion more that all grow up and take up too much space I don't want to end up with that either. =P ITs sounding liek I'm better without that. lol

 

[Sweetie]

Yes plecos get huge. Bigger than or as big as clown loaches. I have a 55 gallon fish tank, a 10 gallon fish tank, and a 2.5 gallon fish tank.

In the 55 gallon tank I have:
3 goldfish, about the same size as my middle clown loach
3 clown loaches, there is a 4 inch, a 6 inch, and a 7 inch
2 plecos, not sure the size but I think about 7-8 inches each

All huge

In the 10 gallon I have
1 black skirt fish
1 male, doubletail betta

In the 2.5 gallon I have
1 male, halfmoon betta

I want to get some more fish like some tetras and put them in the 10 gallon. I also want to get a 5 gallon with the full hood cover so that I can get some hatchet fish, they jump so I would need the tank fully covered.

Male bettas will fight if they are put in the same tank. I would think that any male fish would fight. Bettas are solitary fish, they don't really get along with other fish.

You can get cory fish, they are bottom feeders and they can keep the tank clean. They get 2 inches and are great for ten gallon fish tanks.

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Don't get a pleco or an algae eater. They get way too big for a 10 gallon. I recommend either some Cories or Ottos. They stay small and they're super cute and interesting.

If you're just cycling the tank for the first time, I don't recommend using fish to do it. You can use fish food or ammonia to start the cycle.

Hope that helps!

Rue

 

[luvthempigs]

Ramshorn snails are great at cleaning up a tank. Applesnails not so much and will add to the load in your tank.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

Yep I"ll have to see about a snail or whatever.
yep and I am cycling it for the first time. I've had lots of fish before but took a break for several weeks. Its been running for almost a week. Hopefully thats fine. =/

 

[MiniLopHop]

I also recomend the ottos for clean up since they stay small. Even better, live plants! They suck up the nutrients so algae never gets a chance to start. Useing Stresszyme also helps cycle a tank faster. After it is established it keeps the tank cleaner by boosting the good bacteria population.

I have a 20 gallon with 6 male guppies, a beta, a dozen cherry shrimp, and lots of live plants. I got rid of all the female guppies after giving away litterally thousands of fish! Don't believe the "they will eat all the babies" crap, mine were never protected and I couldn't keep them under control. Also, with the shrimp you need a very well cycled tank that you keep very clean. Again, live plants come in handy here.

 

[mistyjr]

luvthempigs wrote:

Ramshorn snails are great at cleaning up a tank. Applesnails not so much and will add to the load in your tank.

I agree'd! They are very good tank cleaners, Had lots of them until our cray-fish ate them!

 

[Bassetluv]

Oh and that's the other thing: so definitly don't get a female molly? I know someone who's had mollys for a long time but they said the baby fish all get eaten except for the ones they scoop out into another tank.

You know, if you had an aquarium store nearby that would be willing to take fish off your hands, then getting males/females would be kind of fun. However, if you don't have that option, then I'd suggest you stick to one sex. While a lot of babies will probably get eaten, there will also be some who will inevitably survive (especially if they have hiding areas in the tank). And breeders like mollies reproduce often! When I had my tank up and running I was lucky to have an aquarium store that would always take extra babies...I wound up with a lot of platys, and at one point my green cats reproduced and I went from 3 of them to 10. Must admit it was exciting to discover babies in the tank! But again, you'd definitely need someplace that would take them, otherwise your tank would be overrun in no time.

 

[Bunnylova4eva]

yep well i was considering still getting a female but after it had babies maybe sticking it in my other tank that's several gallons? So it doesn't reproduce again immediatly.