Overstocked Or Ok

[iroc]

My 20 gal community tank has the following in it

5 blue neons
6 black neons
5 black skrit tetras
1 drawf Gourami
1 platty

All the tetras seem to school together and the platty and gourami like to be alone

is this to much for that tank?

 

[my fat fish]

i would say no as neons are nice n small and alsong as u have a few planted areas ur gourmie should be fine n all tho others might think diffrently

 

[three-fingers]

If the stats are fine and the fish look happy, then you are fine .
Traditional stocking rules are always a good way to go, but its definitely possible to fit in quite alot more fish than they allow .
Under-stocking is always safer.

 

[iroc]

Yea my stats are all ok, and the tank is very well planted with LOTS of hidding areas........


thanks for the replys

 

[Tolak]

I would say that stocking is good. If the tank has been running like that for a few months I would add some bottom dwellers, such as a nice group of corys. The tetras don't produce much waste, and the bottom seems empty.

 

[pinkdolphin_113]

wouldn't the platy need someone to hang out with? a group of corys would do great in a tank with the stock you have. and, correct me if im wrong but doesn't a dwarf gourami prefer a female in the tank too? x

 

[Griz]

I also think your stocking is just fine.

 

[Shaker]

I agree with Tolak, a nice small plec, ( i.e Rubbernose, L260 Queen Arabesque, L134 Leopard Frog all stay under 5" ) or a group of 5 or so Panda Corys would look good.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

fine as you are

to work it out yourself take the adult size of the fish in inches, add them all up, the total should be roughly equal to the number of us gallons your tank holds.

if you want to add more fish you could go with a few bottom dwellers as they'd be out of the way of the other fish so wouldn't significantly reduce the room the other fish have. small group of cories would be a great addition

 

[iroc]

wouldn't the platy need someone to hang out with? a group of corys would do great in a tank with the stock you have. and, correct me if im wrong but doesn't a dwarf gourami prefer a female in the tank too? x

I think your right on all accounts, the issue with the platty is that I really don't want anymore, at one time before the tank was cycled I had 5 and 4 died. This one has kinda latched on to the gourami, and the 2 of them playfully swim around the tank together. If and or when some of the other fish pass I am thinking to get another gourami however I don't know what sex this one is or how to tell to ensure I get one of the oppsite.

I would love to get another plec for this tank and the other one I have was moved to the 55 gal and just seems sooooooo happy there I couldn't stand to move it back. Some time in the near furture i am going to make sure I get all areas covered, but the way the tank is planted right now I wouldn't want any corys becuase all the fish I have swim in all areas

see sig for pics of tanks.

 

[iroc]

so I got 2 rubber lip plec's for the 20 gal yesterday and got the gourami a pal and moved both of them to the 55 gal.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

wouldn't the platy need someone to hang out with? a group of corys would do great in a tank with the stock you have. and, correct me if im wrong but doesn't a dwarf gourami prefer a female in the tank too? x

I agree, platys are very sociable fish and it is not fair to keep them on their own- its just as harsh to keep a platy on its own as a cory, neon or even danio on its own etc. The other factor you need to take into consideration is getting the right gender ratio for your group, i strongly advise Iroc takes a look at the pinned articles in the Common Livebearers section of the forum.

 

[iroc]

Problem with the platy is i don't want anymore and the lfs won't buy back platies

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Problem with the platy is i don't want anymore and the lfs won't buy back platies

Well you bought it, and if you cannot rehome it to someone else who will look after it responsably, then you yourself should take care of it responsably- and part of that is attending to its basic needs like giving it other platys to socialise with. On its own it will become stressed and have greatly increased chances up picking up desease, which if it does, could threaten the rest of the fish in the tank. Why don't you want anymore platys?

 

[iroc]

Problem with the platy is i don't want anymore and the lfs won't buy back platies

Well you bought it, and if you cannot rehome it to someone else who will look after it responsably, then you yourself should take care of it responsably- and part of that is attending to its basic needs like giving it other platys to socialise with. On its own it will become stressed and have greatly increased chances up picking up desease, which if it does, could threaten the rest of the fish in the tank. Why don't you want anymore platys?

I see all your points, and you are right. I don't want anymore platies mainly becuase I don't want to deal with live bearers, nothing against them as fish. Let me see i guess I could move the golden gourami back into the 55 gal and get 2 more, the one I have is female so a male and anther female would be the correct way to do it?