fish for beginner

alessia55 · 01-03-13, 07:33 PM

I have an empty 10gal fish tank in my garage at home that I want to take to my apartment and put fish inside. Besides gravel and plants, what else do I need? a filter? what kind? light? what kind of fish can I get? how many? can I combine different types of fish? I've heard a 1 fish per gallon rule, not sure if it's true. This would be a fresh water tank. Preferably some hardier kind of fish that don't need lots of special care. Thanks

Corey209 · 01-03-13, 07:42 PM

I personally like convicts, but it's been so long since I've had fish I couldn't help you with husbandry. We had these for years with just a simple filter recommended at the fish place we went to and they lived healthy lives breeding all the time.

GarterPython · 01-03-13, 07:44 PM

Guppy's they just have lots of babies and you can have some cool colours. They are easy to take care of too.

alessia55 · 01-03-13, 07:47 PM

oh..that's something I hadn't thought about... fish breeding. I would prefer if they didn't... if possible? Is that something I can prevent? I don't want to have to deal with suddenly having a crowded tank or having to rehome baby fish.

I only have a 10 gallon tank.

Corey209 · 01-03-13, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alessia55

oh..that's something I hadn't thought about... fish breeding. I would prefer if they didn't... if possible? Is that something I can prevent? I don't want to have to deal with suddenly having a crowded tank or having to rehome baby fish.

I only have a 10 gallon tank.

You could scoop up the eggs and give them to a local fish place or just get all females/males. Others I'd recommend would be beta fish (not sure if you can house more then one together safely) and water frogs which are extremely easy to take care of. We kept them inside a small circle bowl without any filter or anything and never had any problems.

Xenopus Express Husbandry
Meet my Frogs : African Dwarf Frogs

Jendee · 01-03-13, 07:54 PM

tropical community fish...barbs, tetras, Guppys unless u shop on line most fish stores carry one sex

cossiecraig · 01-03-13, 07:54 PM

African Dwarf Frogs are nice to have ,but a 10 Gallon is i believe 12" high.....this may cause a little stress on them to swim for air.....( not sure but i know they stress ) ....rule of thumb is a gallon of water for each ,we have 4 and 2 our lovely Albino's ( smaller than normal ) ......i know you said fish but i thought i'd give you a option ,they very easy to keep aswell ,a tip would be that their food makes more waste than their own ,so water changes must be done

i've attatched this link for you to see if you wish okay

African Dwarf Frog Housing and Feeding

Gungirl · 01-03-13, 07:55 PM

I had 2 beta in a 10 gallon for a few years. They never bothered each other but I had it planted fairly thick. Although I have come to find this very rare..

Corey209 · 01-03-13, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gungirl

I had 2 beta in a 10 gallon for a few years. They never bothered each other but I had it planted fairly thick. Although I have come to find this very rare..

Growing up I was always told to keep my beta fish away from eachother and they were in separate housing. I just found a source online saying that you can house females together but not males. Not sure if this is true though.

EmilyS · 01-03-13, 08:36 PM

I love fish! Here's a great site, if you're interested: Aquarium Fish | Tropical Fish

Definitely don't try multiple bettas XD Multiple females can get along, but not in that small of a tank.

I find african dwarf frogs (I believe that's the kind of frog we're talking about) are hard to care for if you don't know what you're doing. They have poor eyesight and you have to spot-feed them; for this reason, it's best to keep them in species-only tanks as they can be out-competed for food.

In a 10 gallon, I'd try a small school of neon tetras or maybe harlequin rasboras, and maybe a gourami. You could also do a gourami, some pygmy or panda cories, and guppies- get all male if you don't want babies.

Edit: the one inch per gallon rule isn't an accurate tool for stocking.

You will need a filter and heater; I guess a light is optional, but I would get one. Make sure you know what the nitrogen cycle is

cossiecraig · 01-03-13, 08:39 PM

EmilyS" are hard to care for if you don't know what you're doing"

hence me posting a link

EmilyS · 01-03-13, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cossiecraig

EmilyS" are hard to care for if you don't know what you're doing"

hence me posting a link

Fish are a lot more work than people think they are! lol.

I love that site, there's such great people and information!

BryanB · 01-03-13, 08:49 PM

tetras about 15 of them they school and are awsome

Corey209 · 01-03-13, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmilyS

I love fish! Here's a great site, if you're interested: Aquarium Fish | Tropical Fish

Definitely don't try multiple bettas XD Multiple females can get along, but not in that small of a tank.

I find african dwarf frogs (I believe that's the kind of frog we're talking about) are hard to care for if you don't know what you're doing. They have poor eyesight and you have to spot-feed them; for this reason, it's best to keep them in species-only tanks as they can be out-competed for food.

In a 10 gallon, I'd try a small school of neon tetras or maybe harlequin rasboras, and maybe a gourami. You could also do a gourami, some pygmy or panda cories, and guppies- get all male if you don't want babies.

Edit: the one inch per gallon rule isn't an accurate tool for stocking.

You will need a filter and heater; I guess a light is optional, but I would get one. Make sure you know what the nitrogen cycle is

We kept african dwarf frogs for years without problems but it was a single species tank.

EmilyS · 01-03-13, 08:56 PM

Quote:

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.