[meowschwitz]

How many CPDs can I put into a heavily planted 10 gallon with shrimp? I also want to keep several sparkling gourami, but I think that'll be too many fish.

 

[fishyspots]

I have 12 CPDs and 4 red wag platys in my 10g tank and plan to add yellow shrimp. They are tiny and don't seem to have much affect on the bioload.

 

[TactusMortus]

You would be amazed how small they really are and to give you an idea even in a 10 gallon heavily planted tank. You will probably rarely even see them. I never see any of the 20 that are in my 120 gallon tank.

 

[discuspaul]

Don't know how large the sparkling gouramis get, but if they're only around 1" or so, I would say you could keep a couple of those, along with say 8 - 10 CPD's, and some yellow shrimp. Good filtration and weekly, or so, wcs should do the job.

 

[atom]

I suspect the sparkling gouramis might eat your shrimp.

 

[meowschwitz]

Will the gourami really eat my shrimp? I guess I'll stick with a dozen or so CPDs then.

 

[koldsoup]

I would stick with the CPDs. I absolutely love them. It's true though, that they will most likely be hiding most of the time. With that said, I have 5 in a 20L and see them quite often, mostly during feeding time. It all comes down to their personalities I guess.

 

[AshleyMac]

After a few months my CPD's are out almost all of the time. The tank 10g and heavily planted with an open area in the front middle. I made a few coconut houses for them that sit right along the edge of the open area- pretty much overgrown with moss and sag. Having a place they can get to super quick seems to make them a lot more brave. I keep them with shrimp and ottos only. I only have six because they stick to the bottom and I have soooo many shrimp (who also like to steal the fish food)

They are extremely skiddish, though they are fast swimmers - I would agree to skip the gourami if you are set on CPDs

 

[Noahma]

I suspect the sparkling gouramis might eat your shrimp.

Sparkling gouramis are pretty small fish, they reach maybe 1.25" at adult. Both the sparkling gouramis and CPD's will eat baby shrimp if they can catch them. Establish the shrimp in the tank for a few months first so they can learn the hiding places, and provide some moss of any kind, that the babies can hide in.