New Stock Plan

[jcabs100]

I was thinking to have this as my new stock plan any thoughts from you guys....

4 Bolivian rams (already have 3)
3 female blue gourami (already have them)
1 male gold gourami (already have)
6 serpae tetra (adding)
6 black skirts (maybe)
3 albino cories
3 panda cories

My tank is more then cycled my filtration is for a 70 gallon tank I have a 55 gallon tank with 2 amazon swords 2 anubias plants...I will be adding more plants...what are your guys opinion on this stocking?

 

[SamLovesCorys]

Aren't serpaes a bit nippy? Maybe not a good idea with Gouramis.

 

[KittyKat]

Serpae tetras are nippy, but mainly when kept in smaller groups (like 6), I have found them to be fine when in groups of 10+, which is a good number to aim for anyway because they are a schooling species.

The Corys and tetras should all ideally be kept in groups of 10-15+ per species, and at least 6 per species as all four of them are schooling and it is not fair on them to keep them in smaller groups.

You will need to be very careful when adding the fourth Bolivian ram to make sure that you have no more than two males and that there are no territory problems. I do recommend that you add any new rams at the point when you move the fish from the old tank to the new tank.

 

[jcabs100]

Serpae tetras are nippy, but mainly when kept in smaller groups (like 6), I have found them to be fine when in groups of 10+, which is a good number to aim for anyway because they are a schooling species.

The Corys and tetras should all ideally be kept in groups of 10-15+ per species, and at least 6 per species as all four of them are schooling and it is not fair on them to keep them in smaller groups.

You will need to be very careful when adding the fourth Bolivian ram to make sure that you have no more than two males and that there are no territory problems. I do recommend that you add any new rams at the point when you move the fish from the old tank to the new tank.

There is no new tank and I'm just "restocking"... as for the serpaes ive heard they can be nippy but would they really nip at a fish bigger then them maybe ill but 8 serpae I really don't want to be over stocked...I could add 8 serpaes and 8 black skirts as for the cories I'm not 100% sure yet

 

[jcabs100]

I was thinking now how about I add 10 serpae tetras and 10 black skirt tetras with the current stock that I have which is again would I be overstocked or would it be perfect?

3 Bolivian rams
3 female blue gouramis
1 male gold gourami

Adding serpae tetras x10
Adding black skirt tetras x10
Adding albino cories x3
Adding panda cories x3

I really dont want to be overstocked that is my main concern

I have a 55 gallon tank with lots of wood and I will be adding more plants

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Seems fine, but the serpaes may nip gouramis. If you want, add 20 black phantom tetras. Not nippy, with great color too.

 

[jcabs100]

My gouramis are pretty big do you still think the serpaes will still go for my gouramis...my gouramis arent timid either

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Serpaes are fast. They could catch gouramis and nip their fins. Again i reccomend black phantoms.

 

[jcabs100]

Serpaes are fast. They could catch gouramis and nip their fins. Again i reccomend black phantoms.

I'm looking too have 2 species of tetras not just one

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Lemon tetras and phantoms look awesome together, you could do 10 of each.

 

[jcabs100]

Lemon tetras and phantoms look awesome together, you could do 10 of each.

Unfortunately I live in new York and we're very limited on tetras I've had neon didnt like how it looked I've had cardinal also didn't catch my eye I saw serpaes and black phantoms and said why not I'm not sure what other tetras my lfs have but I know it's very limited

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Serpae are nice. Heres antrick. Get black phantoms, but 10 females and 10 males. Males and females look like different species of fish, very interesting. Males also flare their fins at one another if there are females present.

 

[jcabs100]

How about harlequin rasbora they look similar too the serpae

Are black phantoms the same as black skirts ?

 

[KittyKat]

There is no new tank and I'm just "restocking"... as for the serpaes ive heard they can be nippy but would they really nip at a fish bigger then them maybe ill but 8 serpae I really don't want to be over stocked...I could add 8 serpaes and 8 black skirts as for the cories I'm not 100% sure yet

Sorry, misread about the volume, as you mentioned two; it makes little difference that your filter is rated for a larger tank because it does not add that much volume or surface area to the total. It would have made a bit of a difference if it was rated for a tank that was say… double the volume, but then your tank would look more like a washing machine What are the dimensions of your tank?

Adding albino cories x3
Adding panda cories x3

I really dont want to be overstocked that is my main concern

Your main concern should be about what is best for the fish. What you are suggesting there is not. If you do not want many Corys, just go for one species instead of two and your fish will be much happier!

How about harlequin rasbora they look similar too the serpae

Are black phantoms the same as black skirts ?

Harlequin rasboras are a great choice for this tank and 100% compatible with all the fish.

The two species you are talking about are Gymnocorymbus ternetzi and Hyphessobrycon megalopterus. Between the two, there are probably around 10-15 common names for those species.

 

[MBOU]

Serpaes wont hesitate to nip fins on fish ten times their size if they think they can get away with it!

That said, of all the gourami species, the blues/opalines and the golds tend to be good at holding their own.

I would say that if you want serpaes, you should not get the Black Skirt Tetras (i know them as Black Widows Tetras) and just go for 15 Serpaes. That way in such a good shoal, they wont be so bad, if you cant do those numbers, i wouldnt bother getting them because sooner or later they will cause you problems.

Should try and see if you can find the Red Phantom Tetras, they look just like Serpae tetras but are completely docile. A nice shoal of either red or black phantoms or a mix of both would look great!