How would you stock a ten?

[Deadeye]

Going to be setting up a ten gallon soon, just curious to hear what kind of input all of you would have for what goes in.
pH comes to about 7.4, so that doesn’t really limit the options except for the most acidic or basic fish.
Ideally I’d get something that doesn’t require any care too advanced as I won’t have as much time to devote to this tank as I would to others, so dwarf puffer or badis is probably out.
I was thinking of doing shellies, a glofish tank (but one that doesn’t look cheap), or a pair of dwarf cichlids (if there are any for that small a tank).
Any suggestions?

 

[Jexnell]

If it was me setting up this tank. I would make it planted with lots of surface plants. Stocking would be one beautiful male Betta and a group of smaller Tetras, Neons,Black Neons, Cardinals etc. Simple easy no breeding to worry about, just regular water changes and feeding.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Celestial pearl danios with a bunch of floating hornwort, sand substrate, and rocks/small caves/driftwood!

 

[jjohnwm]

For me, no contest: I would plant heavily, using Java Moss, dwarf Sag, Anubis, etc. Some driftwood, sand bottom, some Giant Duckweed, Najas (Guppy Grass). Filtration with a simple air-powered sponge filter or corner Mattenfilter. No drama, no noise.

For fish...and I know this won't be popular...I would simply put in a couple pairs or trios of Heterandria formosa livebearers (Dwarf Mosquitofish) and then let them do their thing. They will breed, and the females drop fry in ones and twos over a period of weeks; all sizes in the tank at once. I'd also add some Red Cherry or other shrimp. The Dwarf Mosquitoes are fairly predatory on tiny items like newly hatched shrimp, but with plenty of Java Moss the shrimp population will still grow, albeit slowly. No heater required at typical room temperatures. You don't need any scavengers, but a few Ramshorn or other smallish snails wouldfit nicely.

No cichlids, nothing large, no "personality" fish, no centrepieces, no Betta...just Heterandria and shrimp. It makes for one of the most restful, relaxing aquariums you will ever have. I do this set-up in my little library...i.e. a spare bedroom with just a couple of chairs and wall-to-wall bookshelves...and it is a joy. Endlers would be pretty similar if you must have lots of colour, but they are a bit bigger and breed a bit faster.

 

[BIG-G]

I’ve always thought a Dario Dario (Scarlet badis) setup planted as discussed above would be interesting.
It would be fun to throw a few mosquitoe larvae in during warmer months to watch it hunt them.

 

[Deadeye]

I do like the small livebearer idea. It was one of my earlier thoughts before I (like usual) thought about going bigger etc., not to mention the free wolf food.
Do you think a small labyrinth like a female betta or licorice gourami would work well in there or would it just wind up eating all the fry?

 

[Backfromthedead]

I agree with jexnell. Betta with tetras or rasboras.

 

[fishguy1978]

Definitely planted and with shrimp. Brachygobius xanthozonus "bumble bee goby" is brackish but you could possibly transition them to straight fresh. A trio of murder bean pea puffers would work. Kili fish or the recommended mosquito fish. A trio of T. Gyrina woodcats.
10g is to small for shellies.

 

[Friller2009]

A pair of western Pygmy perch

 

[Caveden]

Arapaima