Expanding 10g Stock Suggestions

[hunterlook]

Update: So I picked up 3 little Otos today and they were shy for about an hour and just hid by my power head. Now they are little devils swimming around the tank! I was worried about the Danios picking on them but they seem to be picking on the Danios, I'm pretty sure trying to suck onto them for their slime coat. Any way to avoid them attaching to the other fish and potentially killing them?

So my 10g is doing great, heavily planted, CO2 and great lighting. I currently have 5 zebra danios and 2 gold long fin danios but I'd like a tad bit more diversity. Are there any fish you guys would recommend that do well in pairs and stay relatively small? I'd like to get something that would hang around the bottom of the tank.

Thanks for any recommendations!

[DieFranz]

Two otocinclus catfish would fit the bill if you want them to hang out in a different area than the danios. I have a 10g with 5 danios, 3 Harlequin Rasboras, an otto, two nerite snails, and an amano shrimp. They all get along great. The shrimp is especially fun to watch.

[hunterlook]

Originally Posted by DieFranz

Two otocinclus catfish would fit the bill if you want them to hang out in a different area than the danios. I have a 10g with 5 danios, 3 Harlequin Rasboras, an otto, two nerite snails, and an amano shrimp. They all get along great. The shrimp is especially fun to watch.

I was leaning toward those but I've seen alot of people say they should be in at least groups of 5. Do you have any social issues with yours or do they still socialize?

[Psycofc1]

I keep 4 oto's in a 15 and they play nice with everyone haven't noticed any issues

[DieFranz]

I just have one oto and he seems content to just hang out and eat bio-slime and algae off of plants. He swims with the rasboras sometimes. He seems to nap a lot, too, like a real cat... I don't know how I'd know if he was lonely, but he's active and seems happy, and the danios don't pick on him or anything.

[hunterlook]

Originally Posted by Psycofc1

I keep 4 oto's in a 15 and they play nice with everyone haven't noticed any issues

Great news, I think they'll be my next fish then!

Originally Posted by DieFranz

I just have one oto and he seems content to just hang out and eat bio-slime and algae off of plants. He swims with the rasboras sometimes. He seems to nap a lot, too, like a real cat... I don't know how I'd know if he was lonely, but he's active and seems happy, and the danios don't pick on him or anything.

My Danios are insane, they remind me of elementary schoolers at recess lol. I'm glad there aren't many issues with them picking on him. Can't wait to pick 2 of these guys up!

[DieFranz]

Otos are energetic little guys, and great tank cleaners. My plants, especially anubias, are spotless! I think you'll like them. A lot more mellow than those danios, that's for sure! My LFS said that if you have 5+ danios they will usually leave the other fish alone and just squabble with each other. That seems to be true, at least in my tank.

[okapizebra]

You could do pygmy cories

[hunterlook]

Originally Posted by okapizebra

You could do pygmy cories

I considered those but my LFS hardly ever carries them

[okapizebra]

Yeah, they're definitely not easy to come by... Perhaps you could ask your LFS if they'll order them for you? I've heard of many places doing that.

[hunterlook]

Originally Posted by okapizebra

Yeah, they're definitely not easy to come by... Perhaps you could ask your LFS if they'll order them for you? I've heard of many places doing that.

Ah, good idea! I'll check with them next time I'm in there.

[okapizebra]

Good luck!