10 gal desktop suggestions

[black_knight]

Wow, great post! I think we need to keep this one in mind for the database of tank ideas!

The only one I don't agree with is the peacock gudgeons. Three pairs seems like a lot for a 10g. I have a single one at work that's pushing 5 inches.

I've kept that many Tateurndina ocellicauda in a 10 gallon, however none of them were near 5 inches , more like 3.5 for the males max. However your right it is pushing it. They won't breed crowded like that. The purple striped gudgeons (Mogurnda mogurndaget) pretty big, 5-7inches. A pair would need 25-30 gallon tank at least.

[black_knight]

I agree. I suppose I don't know if I'm making this up, or if there is actual truth to it, but it seems to me that we keep going "bigger, bigger, bigger" with suggestions, too. I used to suggest some species for certain sized aquariums a couple of short years ago, and now, it seems like the next sized tank up is the normal suggestion. . . and I'm not sure where that comes from sometimes. It's warranted in cases where we learn something about a species or their behavior, but I'm curious where some of the suggestions are really coming from.

Well, bigger has it's benifits. Larger water volume allows for more stable, temp., quality, and parameters. Like all living things fish like stability. That being said smaller tanks can do well if your the type who likes to do "a little at a time" vs. "a lot infrequently". There's more room for error in a bigger tank. However the trap that people fall into: They assume that their big tanks are like the "ocean". But few even qualify for the volume found in a pond. If we look at how betta breeders and killifish people keep their stock, they maintain stable water parameters through freq. water changes. No filters, just good old fresh clean water. Currently, some of my tanks need only a turkey baster to do a water change or a small cup. that's about it for weekly or biweekly maintance.

I guess it's probably wise to plan ahead to the ultimate size of fish you'll have in the end. Oscar and 10 gallan tank=bad bad bad idea.

[TonyO]

Could you explain this a bit more? I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Like, you once would suggest species for a 5g, and now the recommended minimum size tank for said species is a 10g? Or am I just totally missing your point, lol?

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Yeah, something like that. I know that water quality is more stable and there is more space in the larger tanks, but I've had people tell me that there was no way they would keep a pair of firemouths in a 29-gallon, which I thought was just silly.

EDIT: That wasn't directed at you, by the way. . . I liked your info!