How many fish is too much?

[NuggetChops]

Hi I have 120l tank plenty of hiding places live planted, lava rock and drift wood. I’m just wondering how many fish roughly I can have. I do already have a few I just wanted to check if I should stay as I am, could add a few more or need to upgrade to a bigger tank.

My community current has:

2 pearl gourami
2 golden gourami
2 dwarf goirami
5 Scissortails
4 red eyed tetra
4 cory
1 rainbow shark.

Parameters are all within range I check these religiously. All seem to be thriving lovely colours all seem healthy. TIA

 

[GaryE]

There's no formula, and trying to find one is a wrong approach. The fish we want and get are the ones that determine what else we can do.

You have a nasty bottom owner in the rainbow shark. It eliminates the possibility of safety for the Corys or any other low level of the tank fish. The majority of rainbow and red tailed 'sharks' attack tankmates at night. They're neat looking, but they'll ruin a community tank.

You could probably slip in 2 more species of midwater shoalers, as long as you do weekly partial water changes to support them.

Normally, I would say 4 Corys aren't enough, as they are social fish that like to be in groups of around 10. But with a shark, those 4 are in for some bad nights.

 

[Coryking]

Hi and to the forum. Your tank isn't overstocked however I wouldn't get many more fish, try to stick with smaller schooling fish like tetras, rasbora, barbs. You could probably increase the numbers of red eyed tetra and cory's just make sure there the same species. Are the gourami's aggressive to each other? Gourami's are best kept either as an individual or in groups of three (two females one male) of their own species.

 

[NuggetChops]

Thank you for your response. That’s actually excellent to hear as I was hoping to add some cardinal tetras to my community we always had these when I was a kid so some nostalgic value there.

Really I wasn’t aware of that with my gourami. But yes they are seem to be the best of pals had the tank up and running now around 8 months and they’ve all been peacefully cohabiting from what I can see but that is something I will definitely keep an eye on.

 

[NuggetChops]

There's no formula, and trying to find one is a wrong approach. The fish we want and get are the ones that determine what else we can do.

You have a nasty bottom owner in the rainbow shark. It eliminates the possibility of safety for the Corys or any other low level of the tank fish. The majority of rainbow and red tailed 'sharks' attack tankmates at night. They're neat looking, but they'll ruin a community tank.

You could probably slip in 2 more species of midwater shoalers, as long as you do weekly partial water changes to support them.

Normally, I would say 4 Corys aren't enough, as they are social fish that like to be in groups of around 10. But with a shark, those 4 are in for some bad nights.

Hi I understand why you are saying with regards to my rainbow shark (affectionately named jaws). However i did research the breed I know there temperament however that this varying fish to fish. Jaws is quite chill. He’s been happily cohabiting with my community for 8 months. Not one fish has perished in that time. Jaws is kitted out and my top priority was ensuring ample hiding spots to reduce the risk of aggression. This is why I chose rainbow over red tailed shark as red tails are generally considered the more aggressive of the two.

But thank you for the advice. I wouldn’t look to really add any more bottom feeders looking towards some cardinal tetras.

 

[GaryE]

Rainbows can sometimes be okay. I'm glad Jaws is of that sort.

Cardinals do like the bottom of the tank though. Mine have rarely ventured beyond the bottom half of the water column.

 

[NuggetChops]

Rainbows can sometimes be okay. I'm glad Jaws is of that sort.

Cardinals do like the bottom of the tank though. Mine have rarely ventured beyond the bottom half of the water column.

Noted thank you. I’ll have a research. Just happy I can add a few more final members of the community.

 

[GaryE]

There's no such thing as a final addition in this hobby...

 

[NuggetChops]

There's no such thing as a final addition in this hobby...

Yes I’m starting to sense that

 

[MuddyWaters]

There's no such thing as a final addition in this hobby...

Amen!

 

[fishorama]

We kept a rainbow shark we called Mako Jaws of Death. He was beautiful! But he also slammed corys into the substrate with dire results sometimes. It can help to have 2 or 3 "caves" for Jaws to call his own. Corys don't really understand the territory thing & that upsets the shark.

Keep a eye on your gold gouramis, they can be punks chasing other fish. So can dwarf gouramis but in a smaller way. Can you tell their genders yet? Females are less aggressive usually. Pearls are not often anything more than mellow but the other gourami species may pick on them.

I would add to tetras, 4 just is not really enough for schoolers to feel happy.

I'm assuming some of your fish are not adults just yet. Be careful, things can change as they grow. Have a plan if that happens.

 

[NuggetChops]

We kept a rainbow shark we called Mako Jaws of Death. He was beautiful! But he also slammed corys into the substrate with dire results sometimes. It can help to have 2 or 3 "caves" for Jaws to call his own. Corys don't really understand the territory thing & that upsets the shark.

Keep a eye on your gold gouramis, they can be punks chasing other fish. So can dwarf gouramis but in a smaller way. Can you tell their genders yet? Females are less aggressive usually. Pearls are not often anything more than mellow but the other gourami species may pick on them.

I would add to tetras, 4 just is not really enough for schoolers to feel happy.

I'm assuming some of your fish are not adults just yet. Be careful, things can change as they grow. Have a plan if that happens.

Yes that was my main priority with jaws I’ve given him plenty of hiding places he seems to favour the ship wreck (we call it his houseboat) and he’s laid claim to the army helmet (aka the holiday home ) it’s also heavily planted so plenty of places. So far so good.

TBH I actually never considered gender I’m really quite new to this we had fish in childhood and I started up again a few years ago but it’s only the last 8 or so months I’ve really immersed myself in the hobby. All my gourami are pretty chill tbf maybe they’re all female?

Part of the reason for me joining the forum was for helpful advice like this as I wouldn’t want to do anything harmful due to ignorance. I’m really trying to broaden my knowledge.