28L Tank Stocking

[gemz]

Hello,
I am new to fish keeping, I have a 28L tank with 2 Dwarf Gourami and a baby Albino Frog

I know not to over crowd my tank but I am keen to put a few more fish in...is this ok and what fish would u recommend?

Thank you
Gemz x

 

[frothhelmet]

You are not overstocked with these animals in a 30l. However, dwarf frogs have a reputation for being messy eaters, so just be sure they eat all the food they are fed. It might help to add some snails to help clean up after them, like MTS or ramshorns. hope that helps.

 

[gemz]

I have noticed he is messy lol however I feed him bloodworm (not every day) which the fish love as well

I did want a snail but my local shop didn't have any left keeping my eyes open though

Could I have 1 or 2 more fish in there?

Also off topic slightly but my male gourami (I'm assuming he's male) is pacing the front of the tank, any ideas why?

Thank you

 

[manxjason]

Personally I don't recommend anything under 60ltr for livestock other than fry or shrimps.

Just ensure your frog is definitely a dwarf. If it has black 'nails/tips' on the end of his rear claws then it's an african clawed frog, which would need a much bigger tank (200+ ltr to thrive. An ADF will eat your Dwarf Gourami once he's big enough

 

[Livewire88]

I would say that you are overstocked, a 28L tank would be good to keep maybe a single Betta but not 2 Dwarf Gourami and a baby Albino Frog, let alone add more fish! This may explain why one Gourami is pacing up and down the glass as it does not have enough space.

Of course this is just my opinion

 

[gemz]

When I bought the fish I chose the frog 1st (which by your description is an ADF) and was told the gourami would be fine with him and vice versa

As for the pacing, I've noticed the female does it as well so its not just the male, a friend said they may be begging for food (do fish do this?) I feed them twice a day!

I'm not overly worried as they seem happy enough, just want to ensure I'm caring for them properly and trying to figure out there behaviour

Thank you for all your advice

 

[Essjay]

I am a bit concerned about your frog. As far as I'm aware, albino frogs are clawed frogs not dwarf frogs. These get big, will outgrow your tank, and may well eat your gouramis. Does the frog have webbed front feet or not? Are its eyes on the top of its head or at the side?

Webbed front feet and eyes on the side = dwarf frog
Non-webbed front feet and eyes on the top = clawed frog.

Frogs should only be fed live (or frozen/dried live) food like bloodworm as a treat. Their staple diet should be special frog food like HBH (USA) or zoomed (UK) frog food.


And I agree with livewire, a 28 litre tank is too small for a pair of dwarf gouramis.

 

[gemz]

Essjay,
His front feet are not webbed more like fingers, back feet are webbed...I'm confused as to why the bloke in the shop would say they would be fine together I understand he will grow and get bigger and as and when I will get him a bigger home. He seems fine with the fish and vice versa, they just do there own thing!
I do feed him bloodworm

 

[Essjay]

Unfortunately you are learning the hard way that some shops are either ignorant about the stock they carry or will lie to make a sale. Don't believe anything any of them says till you have more experience; research any fish on-line before buying and you will avoid any future problems. When you have had more experience, you will be able to tell which of your local shops can be trusted and which can't. Until then, assume none of them can be trusted.

Both types of frog have webbed back feet but only dwarf frogs have webbed front feet. If you head down to the invertebrate, amphibian etc section of the forum you'll find a pinned thread on frogs and advice there on the kind of tank a clawed frog will need in the future.
Specialist frog food is best for frogs. I use zoomed frog and tadpole food for my dwarf frog, I had to get it on-line as I couldn't find a shop that sells it. I think there is another make too in the UK, but I haven't seen that in a shop either. In the USA, the one to get is HBH frog food.
Since it seems you have a clawed frog rather than a dwarf frog, when it gets bigger it'll be able to eat reptomin sticks.