Hi all,
I have a 20 gallon freshwater tank which is currently cycling and I`ve spent the last couple of months planning its stock. At the moment my plan is to stock it in the following order (with suitable settle-in times in between new additions and monitoring to ensure no ammonia/nitrite spikes).
3 platy
3 pygmy cory
8 Harlequin rasbora
3 otocinclus
A few either cardinal tetras or ember tetras.
I've researched extensively to make sure they're compatible and not over-stocking. But my question is about starting with the livebearers.
Assuming two female and one male, fry seem inevitable. If the odd one survives to adulthood then that's fine. I can offload them to the local shop. But am I likely to be inundated? I understand that fry which aren't separated from a main community tank will normally be eaten (I don't see anything wrong with this as it seems natural - people may disagree?) but if I start with just three platy, are they likely to keep their own population under control or should I start with the rasbora and tetras so there is more in the tank by way of other possible controllers (the otocinclus are herbivore so will be no help).
Thanks.
I have a 20 gallon freshwater tank which is currently cycling and I`ve spent the last couple of months planning its stock. At the moment my plan is to stock it in the following order (with suitable settle-in times in between new additions and monitoring to ensure no ammonia/nitrite spikes).
3 platy
3 pygmy cory
8 Harlequin rasbora
3 otocinclus
A few either cardinal tetras or ember tetras.
I've researched extensively to make sure they're compatible and not over-stocking. But my question is about starting with the livebearers.
Assuming two female and one male, fry seem inevitable. If the odd one survives to adulthood then that's fine. I can offload them to the local shop. But am I likely to be inundated? I understand that fry which aren't separated from a main community tank will normally be eaten (I don't see anything wrong with this as it seems natural - people may disagree?) but if I start with just three platy, are they likely to keep their own population under control or should I start with the rasbora and tetras so there is more in the tank by way of other possible controllers (the otocinclus are herbivore so will be no help).
Thanks.