Can I Add Any More Stock To My 12 Gal?

[CrazyDiamond88]

I recently finished cycling my 12 gall tank, dimensions are 40cm x 40cm x 40cm.
 
Residing there currently are my betta, Kasai, and 6 ember tetras.
 
They're perfectly fine with each other, and Kasai doesn't take no note of them at all.
 
I'm just wondering if I could add anything else to my tank, and if so, what?
 
I wouldn't mind adding some otocinclus or some pygmy corys (though I worry about them ripping up my plant carpet)...
 
Or is there anything else at all I could add without overstocking?
 
EDIT: I also have a MTS in there, as well as some hitchhiker pond snails

 

[paradiddle]

Personally, i wouldnt.
But if your readings are constantly fine, and you do want a cleaner, id suggest something like a bristlenose plec (youd need to do more water changes they poop lots lol)
Im also a fan of over filtration, so by all means if you think you can add another fish (make sure it can live peacefully with a betta) then get another filter and it will make life much easier!
 
But on the whole, im not one for seeing very "busy" small tanks, they are small so stocking should be kept small. i know there are people on this site that would keep only the betta in a 12G.

But if you lived close to me im about to give away a 55G that i dont have room for aha shame =./

 

[Discuslove]

i recommend otocinclus. Plecos will get too big the tank.

 

[CrazyDiamond88]

Thanks guys for the advice.
 
I'll look into the oto or plec.
 
I wish I lived in the UK x) I am on the otherside of the world.

Hm, the plec does seem very big.
 
I would like otocinclus. If I do decide to get some, how many should I get? Is one okay or do they need to have a small group to be happy?

 

[DerpPH]

how about bn pleco? they are small compared to the common. Oh and whiptails. They are mini plecos too! Or you can just buy nerites for the CUC

 

[KittyKat]

how about bn pleco? they are small compared to the common. Oh and whiptails. They are mini plecos too! Or you can just buy nerites for the CUC

 
They are still much too big for small tanks. I honestly don't know of any *commonly available* pleco that would be happy in a 40 cm tank.

 

[Discuslove]

Thanks guys for the advice.
 
I'll look into the oto or plec.
 
I wish I lived in the UK x) I am on the otherside of the world.

Hm, the plec does seem very big.
 
I would like otocinclus. If I do decide to get some, how many should I get? Is one okay or do they need to have a small group to be happy?

 
The otos also won't rip out your plants as well. They should be kept in a small group as they are fairly shy.

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Small group meaning 3+.

If you do want the oto's, make sure you have a mature tank and a good algae supply, oto's often won't eat prepared foods, so it is handy to put some rocks in a see through bowl or tank and leave them outside in the sun with some rotting fish food, you will get algae in no time with his method.

 

[Lillefishy]

If you've only recently finished cycling your tank then Oto's are not a good idea, they don't do well in new set ups & can starve to death as they can be hard to feed if there isn't enough algae in the tank for them, they're also happiest in larger groups of 6+

 

[DerpPH]

 

how about bn pleco? they are small compared to the common. Oh and whiptails. They are mini plecos too! Or you can just buy nerites for the CUC

 
They are still much too big for small tanks. I honestly don't know of any *commonly available* pleco that would be happy in a 40 cm tank.
 

 
 
Oh a 40 cm eh? red lizard whiptails are an option. They are compatible even in a 10 gallon. So are some of the "bulldog plecs"

 

[CrazyDiamond88]

Those red lizards look amazing. How many would one need to have?

If they are okay with my betta, I think I'll get a couple.

I'm just quite new to this and I don't really understand what the effects of over stocking are... So if it is a real problem for the fish if I add more, then I will avoid it.

 

[KittyKat]

 

They are still much too big for small tanks. I honestly don't know of any *commonly available* pleco that would be happy in a 40 cm tank.

 
Oh a 40 cm eh? red lizard whiptails are an option. They are compatible even in a 10 gallon. So are some of the "bulldog plecs"

 
Rineloricaria sp./L010A (red lizard whiptails) are another 4-5" fish and while I haven't kept this specific species before, I get the feeling that it needs a bigger tank as even resources that I consider unreliable recommend so. As for Parotocinclus jumbo, I recommend that they have at least a 60 cm long tank.
 
Specifically pleco wise, Soromonichthys stearleyi is the only one that I can recommend, but you're unlikely to be able to get hold of it. Otocinclus or similar are the best to go for, and I would recommend that you wait until you have a bit of algae before you get them and pay close attention to their feeding. I would personally prefer to have at least 6, but that number will be a more difficult to maintain unless they are eating algae based dry foods.

 

[CrazyDiamond88]

Thanks, guys, I appreciate the info.

I think the best thing for me and the fish would be if I just got two more ember tetras and that's it.
I don't want to push anything and I want the fish to be happy