Did I Overstock My Tank?

[PunkRckrRyoki]

Hi, im new to this forum! ive had fish on and off for years but recently (like 6 months ago) purchased a 55 gal. tank on craigslist. it came with everything including a full grown bala shark, and full grown hi fin pleco. we then stocked it with 3 rosaline sharks and a pangisaus catfish and somehow aquired another 4"pleco. we then also purchased a new filter ( one for a 90 gal. ) everythings been fine in it, levels are fine and no ones ill but i dont think the smaller sharks and catfish are growing. i now feel like i got overly excited about the bigger tank and have over stocked it. from an outside perspective do you think ive over stocked and am stunting my fishes growth or are they ok?

 

[greenmumma141]

Yup, I think size-wise you are waaay overstocked for a 55 gallon...

To start with, a full size sailfin pleco is 18 inches. This fish alone requires an 8 foot tank, not a 55 gallon.

A pangisaus catfish gets 25+ inches. They should be in a 75+ gallon tank, and should be kept in groups of atleast 3.

I would rehome the sailfin, the shark, and the catfish. Keep the torpedo barbs and work from there. Did you keep the old filter that was fully cycled? If not and started blank slate with the new filter, you need to take a look at here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/ ...that should point you in the right direction for getting your new filter cycled properly so you don't run into problems.

a 55 gallon is a great size, there are a lot of options, you can add to the torpedo barbs and get a great school of them going, and what kind of pleco is the 4"?? if it's a common, they get pretty big too. I would suggest the rehoming, and figuring out your filter first, it's best to start out right so you don't continually run into problems.... GL!!!!!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

All of your fish except the unknown mystery 4" plec need a far bigger tank than a 55g, a 6x2x2 (180 US g) would be a minimum starting point...

A fully gown Bala Shark should be 30-40cm, they are active skittish fish that must be kept in schools of 6+, I would not personally put them in anything less than a 12x3x3.

A fully gown "hi fin plec" should be ~30-60cm (species dependent).

Pasgasius spp. are colossal sized fish, an adult would almost be as long as a 6-foot tank, it is disgusting that these fish are allowed to be captured and bred for the fishkeeping hobby.

Roseline Sharks (Redline Torpedo Barbs) are social temperate fish that are very active in the right setup. I had 6 in my 5x2x2 (150 US g) until late summer, they grew from 4cm babies to ~12cm adults over two years. Their tank should have lots of current (8-15x real turnover per hour), but more importantly, the tank should have a temperature than is ~20C on average. Far too many hobbiests buy these fish and put them in tropical tanks that stay at 24C+, which will shorten their lifespan massively to ~4 years instead of 7, when their tank temp should change through the seasons from as low as 15C in the winter through to a brief spell at 25C in mid summer.

 

[sadguppy]

I would certainly be rehoming most of them, particularly the pangasius!

 

[balajake]

Had a pangasius in 2003 . That fish should have been in an episode of river monsters. People aren't told just how big they get or how skittish they are

They grow fast too, really really fast.

 

[Mikey1]

it came with everything including a full grown bala shark, and full grown hi fin pleco.

the tank was already overstocked right when you purchased it

 

[PunkRckrRyoki]

i knew most the fish got big i just didnt realuze i would need that much of a bigger tank. ill be rehoming the fish to people who know what there in for and either getting rid of the tank as well or re stocking it with more suitable fish. thanks.

 

[greenmumma141]

Don't give up on the tank!! a 55gal is such a great size, easy maintenance once you get it cycled, and there's so many options with that size. Its hard that these giant fish you put in your care, but rehome them and start from scratch, easy peasy