Fully Cycled 60L Tank... What Are My Stocking Options Now?

[eaglesaquarium]

With any livebearers, they need to be in proper ratios. Either 2+F for every male or 4+ all males. Just getting more males if you already have females is a problem. The males will just harass the few females to death.

 

[Fishcakes]

With any livebearers, they need to be in proper ratios. Either 2+F for every male or 4+ all males. Just getting more males if you already have females is a problem. The males will just harass the few females to death.

No I don't think we'll get any males. We're not very keen on having more fry, we've just had to give some away and it was heartbreaking as we raised them! I think our ratio of livebearers is pretty spot-on, 1 male molly to 3 female platys. If the molly was more laid back he'd be swimming on his back. Never seen him harass any of the platys.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Mollys and platies don't interbreed. The platy females could still drop fry though. They can store sperm for about 4 months. So, unless you've had them that long, they could still produce more.

 

[Fishcakes]

Mollys and platies don't interbreed. The platy females could still drop fry though. They can store sperm for about 4 months. So, unless you've had them that long, they could still produce more.

I know they can't interbreed, its why we picked them so we could be sure what type of fish the fry were. Our LFS won't accept any mixed breeds and that's the only local place which will accept fry (we'd have to travel almost an hour each way otherwise). We've had 2 batches of fry, so we are looking out for signs one of them is pregnant but as yet no signs, the most recent time they gave birth was a week ago and we've had them for 2 months.

 

[mrscullen5373]

In my opinion corys are a non starter in that tank. Sorry! I am surprised no one else has mentioned that bronze corys are too big for a 15 gallon. They grow to about 8 cm and to have six of them in there alone would cause problems. If you think about it lined up head to tail 6 bronze corys would almost be the whole length of your tank! Assuming that your tank is 60x30x30cm
The only corys you could fit it there happily would be some pygmy corys. And at a push some pandas.
I know how frustrating it is when stocking a 15 gallon. Most people recommend that size as a good beginner tank size, I find it to be a betweenie size in that it is too big for just a few fish (it would look to sparse and empty) but as the same time its not big enough!

My first ever tank was 15 gallon. I started off with platys and guppys and sure enough they died one by one over the period of a few months, no matter how hard I tried to keep water quality good.
When I first stocked this tank with those fish one of my LFS told me the only fish I could have in that tank were platys guppys and mollys. When i asked about other fish they were very dismissive and said that even though there are some smaller fish, they are egg layers which you need a bigger tank for!
When all my fish died they said it was my fault even though they were the ones who said 25 fish were fine! I was stupid and nieve enough to trust them before doing my own research. Since then that shop has gone and I now go to a different LFS.
When I discovered that I could have 'nano' fish in my tank it was like a dream come true. The idea that I could have more fish for less bioload was brilliant. Of course now I know its not that simple but all turned out good in the end.

I suggest looking through nano species lists and getting some of them instead. Your tank will look much better, less maintenance and you won't regret it I promise.
Feel free to ask me any more questions hope this has helped x

 

[mrscullen5373]

Sorry for such a long post!

 

[Twinklecaz]

+1 for the nano fish. Now my Green Neons are their full size they're really eye catching against the green of all the plants. and I've only got 7. I often wonder/think how fab it would look if I had say 15-20 of them in there and no other fish.

 

[mrsblack10272]

+1 Nano fish
I have a 15 gallon with 12 Celestial pearl danio and 8 pygmy cory
SUCH an amazing sight!

 

[Twinklecaz]

Ah I bet that does look good. You got photos?

 

[mrsblack10272]

Ah I bet that does look good. You got photos?

Sorry! Wish I had.
Too many fish tanks ........ not enough money for a camera adapter

What type of fish are the shiny blue ones in the picture on your post?
Have you got any pictures of sparkling gouramis?

 

[Twinklecaz]

Those are my Green Neons. Lol not a very good camera so they prob look like something else.

Not a great photo but I took this of one of my Sparklers the day or day after I got them:

 

[mrsblack10272]

Wow so pretty!!!
Where did you get them from at what price?
Oh and what male to female ratio x

 

[Twinklecaz]

No idea about the ratio reallly, I've never been able to sex them properly but I suspect I have all males!

I got them from my fav LFS in Hailsham, East Sussex but really can't remember the price. I don't remember them being expensive which for me means there were under £5 each lol!

 

[mrsblack10272]

Great so would you say 6 is a good number?

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yeah definitely, never had any probs with them and since they've all been together they're quite confident fish too.