posted 11-13-2003 06:38 PM           

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I have a 10 gallon tank with 3 platys in it...when it is finally done cycling, what type of fish would people suggest I could add and how many. I want peaceful fish that won't bully my platys. Thanks!

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From:Savannah, GA
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 11-13-2003 06:56 PM         

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you should have let the tank cycle first before putting platies in there (buying a good ammonia from the store without additives) and bacteria. But eh, It's alright.

As for how many fish? depends on what you are looking for. Do you want large or small? I'd suggest fish about the same size as the platies and that go into the same tropical temperature range (basically most live bearers). Sword tails, guppies, mollies. I'd suggest only about 4 or 5 more fish in the aquarium. If you have livebearers, they'll likely reproduce and make more in there anyway

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posted 11-13-2003 07:52 PM           

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yeah...I wish I would have researched more about fishless cycling. I was such a novice a few week ago that I thought you went out and bought the fish and the tank in the same day. Oh boy! The pet store told me to add the platys 4 days after setting up the tank so I did. I was thinking of adding 2 mollies and some sort of cat fish type thing after the tank does cycle...what do you think?

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From:OKC, OK USA
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posted 11-19-2003 06:21 AM         

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I would suggest some type of cory catfish, if you are wanting a catfish, there are several types and they are relatively common in your local pet stores. They aren't aggressive at all and they are very active, and they don't get very big, which is usually the problem with most catfish.

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posted 11-19-2003 06:58 PM         

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I think I am going with 2 mollies and an algae eater type fish it's name it Oct. something....I can't remember it's full name.

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From:OKC, OK USA
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posted 11-20-2003 07:47 AM         

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I would do some research on your algae eater first, i'm not sure what kind your talking about, but the two that are most common at my pet stores both can get fairly big, but you can always trade them into the store if they get to big

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posted 11-20-2003 01:42 PM         

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Concerned,
I think you may mean an ottocinclus? These algae eaters do not grow too big (2") and are good community fish. It takes 4 of them to keep my 20 gallon clean.

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posted 11-21-2003 01:12 PM         

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YES...THAT IS THE ONE! THANKS!

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posted 11-21-2003 05:58 PM         

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the person at the pet store mentioned that the otto will also clean up debris on the bottom of the tank sort of like the catfish...is this true?

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posted 11-21-2003 07:02 PM         

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so so. They would rather eat algae than debris. And, they die easily.

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posted 11-21-2003 07:46 PM         

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would you not suggest them? what else would be better in a 10 gallon tank?

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posted 11-21-2003 08:18 PM         

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corys..Actually, if you can find someone who sells ghost shrimp (freshwater) they do amazingly well with cleaning aquariums.

Apple or Mystery snails have given me a hard time, so I don't rely on them...

Hmm..*dies and goes to bed*

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From:Canada
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posted 11-23-2003 10:34 PM         

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I've heard mixed experiences with otto's. Mine live in cooler water with goldfish, which should be far from ideal, but they seem to do fine. I have a somewhat oversized filter and live plants in the tank, that may help somewhat. Cory's will clean debris, but aren't great with algae (especially along the sides of the tank). Otto's will keep the algae in check, but aren't great debris scavengers. I vacuum my tank regularly. I'd go with which you like better, you can always get an algae pad! Both do well with groups of each other and in community tanks.

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posted 11-25-2003 05:56 PM         

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thanks for all your advice...I may go with one or 2 of each!

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From:Newport, RI, USA
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posted 11-28-2003 08:52 PM         

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From what I know, with platies, livebearers and tetras you should have about one fish per gallon of water.

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posted 11-29-2003 11:05 PM         

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sword tails are pecaful and they look cool
the males are a long sword like part comming
for there tails

also your ott thingy will grow quite big so get a few small corys to do ott-thingys job

[This message has been edited by spaz_9871 (edited 11-29-2003).]

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posted 01-06-2004 03:11 PM         

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You can get about 5-7 more small fish. You could get some schooling fish like neon tetras or you cold get some guppies, or cory catfish or mollies.

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