Interesting choice of substrate. At first I didn't like it, but after coming back to this thread a few times it has grown on me and I quite like it now.
Anyway,
I wouldn't go for mollies and swordtails because they do get reasonably big, and as Lupid said you would need something for fry-control, and adding barbs and tetras etc would be likely to overcrowd it since they are shoaling fish.
Guppies would be an option, some tetras would be ncie - a shoal of neons or cardinals would be lovely and bright. You could also go a totally different route and get dwarf puffers, though bear in mind if you get the puffers, you couldn't really have any other fish in it. If you got puffers as well I would recommend adding a piece of bogwood or something so they have somewhere to hide.
I haven't kept them before, but I am planning on getting some soon so have looked into them quite extensively:
They need different foods than most fish as they like to eat snails, and live/frozen bloodworm and brineshrimp etc. They need snails to keep their beaks down. They won't do well on flakes, or probably they won't even eat them. They are very difficult to keep with any other fish, but if you're happy just to have them, then there would be no problems there. They like to have hiding places, so if you added a piece of bogwood or something that would cover it. Once you get them sorted out initially, and are happy with theior feeding, they are easy to keep and tend to be quite hardy as far as I know. Many people here love them as they're really cute, but also have a lot of character.
The one type of fish I wouldn't go for in a tank llike this would be Corydoras or other catfish/bottom dwelling fish, because the substrate is very large and they could get their barbels trapped.
It's a very unique looking tank, so get some unique looking fish, in my poinion.
A guppy farm could be fun too. Since they have so many offspring, you can select the coolest looking ones, and take the ugly ducklings and throw them into a different tank to be eaten if you have one (yet).
A guppy farm could be fun too. Since they have so many offspring, you can select the coolest looking ones, and take the ugly ducklings and throw them into a different tank to be eaten if you have one (yet).
In a 10g, 3 would be a perfect number. You could have 4 I think if you had excellent filteration but 3 is best IMHO. I am going to have 5 in my 15g I have, but it's not set up or anything yet so it'll be a while.
Make sure the tank's fully cycled before adding them though - not a good fish to cycle with (not that any fish is a good fish to cycle with IMHO).
Good luck, and post pics if you can when yuo get them.
Serpae tetras would look really cool. Or Bleeding Heart tetras. Something with a bright color.
Guppies would be my first choice though. They look "whimsical" with their colors and flowing tails, and this tank looks whimsical too with it's bubble-like bottom. A dark male betta and some golden white clouds would also look pretty cool.
Or how about glass fish it would look like an empty tank unless you look really close? :shock:
Yes! That is my face pressed up to the glass-from the fish's viewpoint! I'm glad you got it. I wasn't sure if anyone would understand what I was trying to show! LOL
A guppy farm could be fun too. Since they have so many offspring, you can select the coolest looking ones, and take the ugly ducklings and throw them into a different tank to be eaten if you have one (yet).
Yes I am 100% going with puffers! I am so excited! I just need to find something for them to hide in and stuff like a rocky cave thing. I want something gray, so I'll be looking as I let the tank filter for a while.
Yes I am 100% going with puffers! I am so excited! I just need to find something for them to hide in and stuff like a rocky cave thing. I want something gray, so I'll be looking as I let the tank filter for a while.
Yes I am 100% going with puffers! I am so excited! I just need to find something for them to hide in and stuff like a rocky cave thing. I want something gray, so I'll be looking as I let the tank filter for a while.
So I added some PVC pipe caves. I liked the white look more than covering them in the marbles.. I also made a little contraption.. its the plastic cover for a pack of cds that you buy to burn on top of the bottom of a cd case. I think it would look cool if the fish would swim down into it and lay in there.. now the tank just has to cycle a little bit longer and then I have to find the puffers! The LFS doesn't have any, nor does wal mart, petco, or pet supermarket. Should I request that one of them get some for me? Or keep looking?
If requesting any, request them from the LFS. I don't live in America so can't personally comment but usually chain pet stores, and I can only imagine Walmart as well, do not know so much, or take as good care of the fish as independant lfs.
You could always buy them online. I don't know of anywhere online that would be good to buy them from though, I only know of places in Britain.
Wait until your tank has cycled though because you can't tell exactly how long it will take. You might estimate month, and so have them ordered, but it takes 6 weeks and puffers are more sensitive than other fish in terms of cycling. Pretty hardy aftrwards though
Your new decorations are nice - you have quite an unusual tank there.
If requesting any, request them from the LFS. I don't live in America so can't personally comment but usually chain pet stores, and I can only imagine Walmart as well, do not know so much, or take as good care of the fish as independant lfs.
You could always buy them online. I don't know of anywhere online that would be good to buy them from though, I only know of places in Britain.
Wait until your tank has cycled though because you can't tell exactly how long it will take. You might estimate month, and so have them ordered, but it takes 6 weeks and puffers are more sensitive than other fish in terms of cycling. Pretty hardy aftrwards though
Your new decorations are nice - you have quite an unusual tank there.
I know what you mean but the way I see it is that they're either going to go theough that stress getting shipped to me, or go through it getting shipped to an lfs. If he gets his lfs to order them in, then they're going to have to be shipped to the lfs anyway
I only ordered online once because I couldn't get ancistrus anywhere.
Andie - you're welcome.
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