10 gallon stocking ideas (Tank mates for betta fish)

[Brickosaurus]

Ok so I have an extra 10g tank just sitting around. Eventually I want to set it up and stock it in the next few months. I'm also going to have quite a bit of live plants in the tank.

As for stocking. I want to put a betta and a smaller species of pleco in it.

But besides those two fish, what else could go in a 10g with a betta. I've thought about a school of rasboras, but how many could I do if any?

I'm open to any and all suggestions!

 

[Deadeye]

I’m not sure of any plecos that can go in a 10 - otos would be better but they can be difficult to keep.
Rasboras would make great tankmates as long as they aren’t small enough to get eaten. 8-10 would be a good school size. Dwarf Cory cats would also work.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Ok so I have an extra 10g tank just sitting around. Eventually I want to set it up and stock it in the next few months. I'm also going to have quite a bit of live plants in the tank.

As for stocking. I want to put a betta and a smaller species of pleco in it.

But besides those two fish, what else could go in a 10g with a betta. I've thought about a school of rasboras, but how many could I do if any?

I'm open to any and all suggestions!

Maybe a couple Oscar’s or an aro…jk

I think clown plecos would work, I believe they only get 3-ish inches. Maybe a small shoal of endlers

 

[Brickosaurus]

I’m not sure of any plecos that can go in a 10 - otos would be better but they can be difficult to keep.
Rasboras would make great tankmates as long as they aren’t small enough to get eaten. 8-10 would be a good school size. Dwarf Cory cats would also work.

Thanks! I was thinking Cory cats would be a better alternative.

 

[Brickosaurus]

Maybe a couple Oscar’s or an aro…jk

I think clown plecos would work, I believe they only get 3-ish inches. Maybe a small shoal of endlers

Oscars!? Those are way to small for a 10g. Half gallon tank is much better (also jk)


Thanks for the info. Are clown plecos the ones with those yellow spots?

 

[Joshuakahan]

Oscars!? Those are way to small for a 10g. Half gallon tank is much better (also jk)


Thanks for the info. Are clown plecos the ones with those yellow spots?

Here’s a pic from the web, I believe they’re the smallest pleco

 

[Fallen_Leaves16]

Clown plecos will most likely not do well long-term in a 10G unless strict maintenance is done; their herbivorous diet often leads to solid waste buildup that accumulates very quickly in smaller tanks. Some of the more common Parotocinclus species (perhaps not necessarily considered a "pleco" by many, but still called "plecos" in the aquarium trade on occasion), such as P. jumbo will fare better due to their smaller size, although they seem to enjoy the company of conspecifics. I knew a breeder that housed a 2.1 trio of L471 snowballs in a 10G and managed to spawn them a couple times, but I assume there were no other inhabitants and the tank was probably well-filtered; a couple members of a pleco-keeping community I frequent have also said that L471s can be housed in a 10G long-term, but I personally do not recommend keeping larger loricariids in any tank smaller than 20 gallons without experience, time, or equipment.
Agree with the dwarf cory suggestion; they're much more active and endearing in terms of personality than plecos, and bettas don't seem to faze them much.

 

[Brickosaurus]

Clown plecos will most likely not do well long-term in a 10G unless strict maintenance is done; their herbivorous diet often leads to solid waste buildup that accumulates very quickly in smaller tanks. Some of the more common Parotocinclus species (perhaps not necessarily considered a "pleco" by many, but still called "plecos" in the aquarium trade on occasion), such as P. jumbo will fare better due to their smaller size, although they seem to enjoy the company of conspecifics. I knew a breeder that housed a 2.1 trio of L471 snowballs in a 10G and managed to spawn them a couple times, but I assume there were no other inhabitants and the tank was probably well-filtered; a couple members of a pleco-keeping community I frequent have also said that L471s can be housed in a 10G long-term, but I personally do not recommend keeping larger loricariids in any tank smaller than 20 gallons without experience, time, or equipment.
Agree with the dwarf cory suggestion; they're much more active and endearing in terms of personality than plecos, and bettas don't seem to faze them much.

Thanks for the advice! Would a couple Kuhi loaches work in a 10g? If not then I'll definitely go with Cory's.

 

[Deadeye]

Thanks for the advice! Would a couple Kuhi loaches work in a 10g? If not then I'll definitely go with Cory's.

I’ve seen recommendations for anywhere from 5-20 gallons for khulis. 20 seems to be the most widely accepted size though.
I’d look into dwarf chain loaches in a 10 if you were interested in loaches.

 

[jr71]

I've had some bristlenose plecos thrive in tanks as small as 10g. The challenge is identifying the species to estimate adult size. I love bristlenose plecos, but I buy them small and have had them grow to as large as 5-6", but I've found a couple varieties in local shops that maxed out at about 2.5". They're great in small tanks, but the 5-6" ones need much more space and produce much more waste. If you can find small bristlenose species, such as from a local breeder, I'd highly recommend them.