I want to start a fish tank I have a 10 gallon aquarium, what should I get

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Jenny

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and how do I start it? I really want some pretty fish, I'm not really a cuddly person, but I like having cool pets. Fish are awesome.

I want an Angel fish, and some cool tropical fish. On the cheap side hopefully.

Thanks
 
Angel fish are too big for a 10 gallon. They need bigger tanks. Guppies are good tropical, lively, and colorful fish.
 
1st thing you need to do, what many people dont is RESEARCH!!! Read, read, read, read then read some more. Do a freshwater tank, Understand how the nitrogen cycle works, understand basic families and species of fish, basic water chemistry and what fish you should be keeping at first (like guppies, platies, etc) and what fish you need to stay away from for a while (cichlids{including angelfish}, pacus, arowanas, etc). Check out these sites and read up on some beginner articles aimed at getting you started off in the right direction, fishlore.com badmanstropicalfish.com firsttankguide.net and aquariumlife.net Some good fish to look into for your first tank (and it being a 10gal) is guppies, platies, swordtails, white cloud mountain minnows, corydoras, tetras and rasboras
 
Fish Tank Essentials!

SUPPLIES- First Trip
*** You will need to set this up 1-3 days before you have any fish to make sure everything is ok with pH, ammonia, everything running clearly….!
?Gravel- There are around 100 million colors and styles- Most are $3-6
?10 gallon tank- Go to Wal-Mart=$11
?Food- I use Tetramin tropical community- usually around $4 for a large box
?Net- $3
?Artificial Plants- Go for cheap ones, they work fine- your best bet is 1 small, one med. and 1 large – around $15 if you are a smart spender ?
?Heater- Make sure it is for a 10 gal. tank- around $15
?Ammonia and pH test kits- Make sure the pH one includes pH up and down, and you will need to get a bottle of ammonia control- around $15
?Air pump and tubing- make sure it is for a 10 gal! -Less than $10
?Filter- Make sure you get extra cartridges for the filter, make sure it is a 10 gal! – Filter/cartridge pack of about 8 cartridges - around $25- 30 I think….
Optional-
?Backdrop- Very pretty, dresses it up, light colors look nicer! - $3
?Magnet Algae cleaner- like in my tank – around $5
?Breeding net- Like my 2 breeders - $4


FISH! - 2nd trip
-Around 10 for a 10 gallon- Fish cost- around $35
Recommended:
** 2 Guppies, 1 male 1 female
** 1 Female molly (any type) and 2 of my babies
** 1 Chinese algae eater like mine
** 1 tiny snail (If you think they are as fun as I do…)
**1 or 2 platys
** Ask the people at the store for other choices to go with your TROPICAL COMMUNTITY TANK, NON- AGGRESSIVE
------ I suggest Swordtails, Balloon belly mollies, more guppies or mollies (depending on which you want to breed), Zebra daimyos, and certain types of Tetra and barbs (I do NOT recommend the last 2…)
AGAIN! BE SURE TO ASK AT THE STORE IF THE FISH IS RIGHT FOR A TROPICAL COMMUNITY TANK, NON AGGRESSIVE! Yes, you can tell them the fish you have and have them determine.

If you have any questions, E-mail me!

Good Luck , fish are great!!!
 
That's great that you want to get some little swimmers!
Though..... an angel fish is WAY to big for a tank like that. Tropical fish need a saltwater tank.
You can get guppies, though!
They are beautiful, and easy to care for. You need to get some gravel for the bottom, a small piece of tank decor, and some plants, and a filter.
I would suggest a Whisper 10 gallon filter, they are quiet and keep the tank clean.
Please answer my question?
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AotZOi3fjj7iXWBMpugYGyTsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20081110170026AA9IlQM
 
You will need to cycle your tank first. See the site below on how to cycle a tank!

Angelfish, as stated above are not suitable for a 10 gallon tank, as full grown ones need 15-20 gallons, minimum, as they grow to be 6" tall! You could get two female Betta's, make SURE you ask in the store. Attached are some pictures, so in the store, it is pretty easy to tell which are which, based on these pictures. Do not get a male and a female, as the male will rip her to shreds. It is only good for a male and a female to be together to spawn, but then after the eggs are laid, and fertilized, etc, they should be separated again, since the male will eat the eggs, and attack the female. The female will also eat the eggs, so it is advised that you raise the young in a separate tank.

Anyways, back to your question, you can't really keep that many fish in a 10 gallon tank, but what you can keep, apart from the Betta, is guppies/platies/swordtails, which are live-bearing fish! This means that they give birth to live, swimming babies, instead of eggs. In your tank, you can keep maximum three, either all females, or all males, if you do not want millions of babies, as guppies mate, and give birth every month, if kept healthy. I suggest you only keep two Guppies in a 10 gallon tank, as they will do a lot better with five gallons each! You should not get one male and one female, as males need three females to one male, to breed.

Another popular option is cory catfish! You could get 2-3 of these, as they grow to be about 2.5"-3". They are very adorable, and help clean your tank free of algae!

You could do neon tetra's, or cardinal tetra's, just go to your local pet store - they usually have them everywhere. You could put about four of these in your tank, as they like to school, and need more than 2 gallons each, do not put more than four in your tank.

Good luck!
 
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