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I have a 10 gallon/40 litre heavily planted tank. At the moment it has:

1 Peppermint Bristlenose
2 Otocinclus Catfish

Filter: Eheim Aquaball
Maintenance: fortnightly 30% water changes

I want to add some more fish, and I have 3 options to choose from:

1) At the aquarium they have a pair of Maldive Kribensis. They are much more colourful than the regular (Pulcher) and the female is the more dominant of the two.

I was wondering if they would get too aggressive in a small tank, and if they would hurt the otos or BN. Would this tank be too small to house the pair of them?

OR

2) A school of about 6-8 very brightly coloured and active tetras. (not cardinals or rummy-nose) Any suggestions?

OR

3) A pair of either Blue Rams or Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlids. Would they get too aggressive in the small tank if they decided to breed?

I don't see any problem with keeping either of the sicklid species with your catfish, nor would it be a problem to keep some tetras with them, but as to suggestions, I can't really say - there's plenty of small tetras about. I quite like neon or cardinals, but that's very much a personal taste thing.

In fact, if the tetras are small enough, you could probably keep a few of them as well as a pair of small sicklids.

I would recommend that you get another 2-3 Oto's, as they are social, shoaling fish, and are best off in a group.

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Mats

A perfect tetra would be "Hemigrammus rodwayi" also called the "gold tetra". They're small (2cm max), brightly reflective with a faint blue stripe on the body and a black spot at the base of the tail, some are of a silver tone, others a yellow-gold. I keep 6 of mine in a 50 litre with 5 otos, a pair of apistomgramma borelli and an LDA 33 in a heavily planted tank and they get on fine

Would I be able to have:

1 PBN
3 otos-add 1 more
5 ember tetras-they only grow to 2cm
2 blue rams

Would this be too many fish?

If it's well planted and filtered I don't see why you'd have trouble with that, but choose the rams carefully as they can be a bit fragile, I find apistogrammas like agassasis, borellis or cacatuoides much hardier in a mini tank....

Hi.
I have always been told, and books have told me, that Brostlenoses need around 30 gallons to thrive..? More than 10 Gallons anyway? WEll, that is just what I have found out.
There are many Tetras you could choose for your tank, such as Lemon Tetras, Glowlight Tetras, Bleeding Heart Tetras, Diamond Tetras, Emperor Tetras, and of course the old Neon Tetras!! Any particular reason why you do not want to go with Cardinals or Rummynoses? They are very nice Tetras as well, even if they are very common.
You could probably get 2 Blue Rams in your tank. Just be careful, as they can be sensitive to poor water quality. As long at the water is ok, they are beautiful fish. A good choice.
Good luck, whatever you choose,
Kathryn

Thanks, the peppermint bristle nose species that I have is smaller than others and the aquarium (they breed them) said that it would be ok in a 10 gallon...The reason I don't want cardinals or rummy-nose is because I have a school or cardinals at the moment and I used to have some rummy-nose so I want a different type of tetra if I get any.

I particularly liked the ember tetras as I have never seen them before and the bright red just looked stunning in a planted tank they were in.

labrakitty wrote:Thanks, the peppermint bristle nose species that I have is smaller than others and the aquarium (they breed them) said that it would be ok in a 10 gallon...The reason I don't want cardinals or rummy-nose is because I have a school or cardinals at the moment and I used to have some rummy-nose so I want a different type of tetra if I get any.

I particularly liked the ember tetras as I have never seen them before and the bright red just looked stunning in a planted tank they were in.

Ok, well I've learnt something today!

I agree, Ember Tetras look stunning, even though I have never owned them.

Good luck,
Kathryn

Ember Tetras are great little fish for your tank. I have bred and raised them a couple of times and a school of a hundred looks great as a display in my 36 gallon. I might have a slight bias.