My Tank (is it overstocked etc.?)

[SenorEel]

Hello y'all,

I was hoping you could all enlighten me with your expertise.

Here's what I have in my tank: 10gal w/ Overhang filter

2 - 2.5" Kilifish (not sure what kind... yellowish tint in their tails, they tend to stay at the surface, very slender and sleek, the guy at the fish store said they were really good jumpers)

4 - .75" Tetras (2 neon/ 2 other)

2 - 1" Fancy Guppies

1 - Small African Frog

1 - 2.5" Bamboo Shrimp

2 Small Snails

No plants in the tank, just three medium sized lava rocks towards the center.

Before I added the 2 guppies and Kilifish, I just had the 4 tetras and other stuff in there. THe tetras didn't really swim around much and liked to hide quite abit except for feeding (this went on for a year.) NOw that I added the other fish the tetras are much more lively and swim around quite abit!

thnks for help

- senor eel

[Stephen]

Senor... Honestly I'd say your tank is borderline overstocked. But I also think others might disagree. What kind of filter do you have on your tank and how many gph does it pump?

I'd say move the guppies and the frog to another 10 gallon tank and maybe add a few more guppies so there's a male and 3-5 females. This would keep your frogs belly full when the guppies spawn and would help to take care of the extra fish you may not want.

Is your frog a dwarf or a regular african frog? If it's a regular african it's going to outgrow a 10 gallon. I've read they get huge. The bigger it gets the faster any fish that can fit in it's mouth is going to vanish. You may want to set up a tank just for the frog.

You could also maybe get by with adding a cory or two to your current tank if you remove the guppies and the frog. Heck I'd say if your filtration is sufficeint you may be able to add a cory or 2 to your current tank without removing anything, but it then would IMO definately be overstocked. The frog and the guppies however would be my biggest concern. The guppies for their reproduction ability and the frog for the size it will grow to and it's appetite.

[SenorEel]

thanks very much for the reply!!

It is an african dwarf frog (to my knowledge). He is pretty small, I've had him for about 4 months now and on his steady diet of bloodworms he hasnt grown much at all (that i can tell).

The filter is a whisper i believe - its the standard one that came in the 10gallon package. I do, however, have another overhand filter (same type). SHould I add it to the tank as well? Would that help things out a bit?

thanks

[SenorEel]

GRRRRR...

Scratch that - I now only have *3* tetras as one of the Killi's killed and is attempting to eat one of my neons. The guys at the store said they would be fine... really annoying.

[Stephen]

I'm a firm believer in as much filtration as possible. I'm not sure of the package your speaking of... More than likely you got a tetra junior or 10 (I believe they are called). I'd add another if they are the smaller type. However if it's a full size tetra whisper I'd say it's sufficient.

Try to find some info on the internet with a search about the killifish. I think they like a little salt in their tank and some I believe are actually brackish. But don't qoute me on that. I've found native killifish around here in almost full sea water, I've also found them in fresh water. One of the rivers that flow into the Chesapeake bay is full of them and it's just shy of natural sea water near the mouth of the bay. It may not be wise to add salt with the frog.

[SenorEel]

Thanks for the help - I'll put the other filter on as well.

My overstocking question is rapidly answering itsself. THe Killifish killed my other neon tetra. Man, they're like sharks in the tank. It tried to eat both of them, but couldnt swallow them.

Thanks for the advice

[SenorEel]

well this sucks... im never going back to that fish store.

the kili's are attacking everything - the frog, guppies, the remaining tetras, - even the snails. The only thing they havent attacked is the shrimp, and i think thats just because of the sheer size.

[rich]

its because your killi fish dont have the room to establish the territory they need. they attck whatever they feel is gettingin there space, and in a ten gal thats not to tough. what kind of killi is it? some are fairly aggressive smaller fish such as tetra will become targets. are the killis a male and female pair? if so they will defend there space even more if there feeling the mating urge.

with what youve said id say yes your tank was overstocked. in a ten you should have just had the pair of killis and some sort of bottom type algae feeder or somthing more than half the total size of the killi ( so they wont fit in its mouth).

also dont ONLY listen to the people at the stores. sometimes they know what theyre saying and other times they just wanna pay rent. research all fish you are interested onlline before you end up with a tank of incompatable species.