Colorful Stocking Question

[Kasey06]

I have a 15 gallon Eclipse tank. It is up and running and in a couple weeks we will be ready to buy some fish. I am just curious as to quantity and variety suggestions others might have. I really like the looks of the guppies and platies among some others. I am just looking to have some decent color and variety. What would be a good number for this tank? Any suggestion? Thanks.

[Mgamer20o0]

you would be able to fit in more guppies the platies. platies are harder to sex then guppies. both with fill the tank full of fry if you go with a mix of females and males.

[doreenjoy]

Just a friendly reminder - if you haven't read the sticky "Before you buy fish", please do.

[Kasey06]

Here are some the fish I am interested in:
Swordtails, Platies, Guppies, Tetras, Raspboras.
Obviously with only a 15 gallon I won't be getting all of these. I am just curious as to whether these are all compatible with eachother and how many of each should be purchased. A lot of the reading I have done suggests with sowrdtails you buy 3, platies 2, guppies 3 and tetras 2-4 minimum depending on species. Is this correct? Within these fish I have listed how many would be the maximum I could stock and also have the greatest variety. I don't want to have all one type, I do want some variety but I also don't want to overstock. And with the guppies, platies I would buy just male or just female to avoid breeding, etc. Thanks.

[Kasey06]

Here is an additional question. From reading I know you don't want to add too many fish too quickly. How many is a good amount to start with. Out of the fish I listed in my last reply should I get just 3 swordtails to start with or just 2 platies and then slowly add some others? And within these are there aggression problems within the species? Like would it be wiser to get all male guppies vs. all female? I'd like to avoid breeding so I wouldn't buy a mixture. Tank should be ready for fish this next weekend. Thanks.

[fishman1979]

You would be able to do a nice school of tetras and ras' IMO.

As for stocking the first fish, from my personal opinion, it would depend on what you are adding. If you are adding something like a neon tetra, i would say 3-4 tops at first. If you were going with a platy i would say 2-3 tops at first. Again, thats just my personal opinion.

[Hooked Newbie]

Here is an additional question. From reading I know you don't want to add too many fish too quickly. How many is a good amount to start with. Out of the fish I listed in my last reply should I get just 3 swordtails to start with or just 2 platies and then slowly add some others? And within these are there aggression problems within the species? Like would it be wiser to get all male guppies vs. all female? I'd like to avoid breeding so I wouldn't buy a mixture. Tank should be ready for fish this next weekend. Thanks.

Have you read about cycling and cycled the tank? IME, female live-bearers are more peaceful than the males.

[tks4d2]

you want to stick to species that will stay small...I like rosy barbs, pearl danios, tiger barbs...some will need to stay in small schools do some research

[Hooked Newbie]

you want to stick to species that will stay small...I like rosy barbs, pearl danios, tiger barbs...some will need to stay in small schools do some research

The barbs are too large to keep in a proper grouping in a 15G.

[zachjohnson65]

don't rosy barbs and gold barbs stay small 1-3". And they are hardy.

[Hooked Newbie]

don't rosy barbs and gold barbs stay small 1-3". And they are hardy.

They are hardy and Tigers stay ~3" with Rosies getting longer, but both do best in groups of 8+.