is my tank overloaded?

[ticklemepunk473]

I have a 30 gallon tank with 3 pictus cats, 3 tiger barbs, and one rainbow shark an amazon sword and some moneywart. I am bringing in some more plants small foreground plants since mine are tall and don't really provide much shelter. so I am wondering if my tank will be too crowded? I knwo that the pictus cats will be bigger eventually but I am going to upgrade to a 55 gallon within a year or so. Anyway I didn;t think that 7 fish was a huge number to have in there but I am not sure. I have a 10 gallon that I could move the barbs to if I need to but they seem to be having a good time so far.

[blitzen25bm]

how big are your fish? do you have good filtration? how often do you do maintence

[ticklemepunk473]

I have good filtraton. My pictus are only 3 inches each. My tiger barbs are small too only about an inch or less. The rainbow shark is smallish about and inch and a half I would guess. I do regular maintenence and have had no problems with algea or anything like that.

[ConMan]

My only advice to you is to get 3+ more tiger barbs. They are more interesting in a larger school, and they become aggressive more exclusively to each other than to your other fish.

The tank upgrade will obviously affect the # you can handle. I don't know if pictus will get big enough to eventually eat your barbs, but maybe someone else will have prior experience.

Good luck!

[MrGoodbytes]

I agree exactly with ConMan and was just about to suggest the same thing. They will be more comfortable and behave more naturally with larger numbers (this goes for any schooling fish).

Graeme

[ticklemepunk473]

hey but if I put in two more barbs wil my tank be too full? It is only 30 gallons and that is 9 fish. will that be too much?

[Ghetto2k4]

Yes your tank is full now b/c u got 3 pictus cats in the tank + your other 4 fish and u got to look at there max size to see if u goin to have room for them when they get the full size too

Max size for Pictus Cat will get 6" or bigger

[SnakeIce]

yes pictus get to a good size but it is the rainbow sharks that can out grow even a 55, I dont' know how big they can get but I know of some that were 8 inches and still growing

[OrionGirl]

Rainbows are different from black sharks--they stay smaller and are a tad less aggressive.

The 30 will work for a while, but in the long run you will need to upgrade for the pictus. If you don't already have some, you may want to add some decorations the fish can hide in, instead of just plants. Rocks, wood, etc.

[ConMan]

Yeah, I have never seen a red tailed black shark or a rainbow over 5". Now Black, Irredescent and Bala's will all be too big for a 55.

[Captain Hook]

I have an albino rainbow and it has stayed pretty small (around 4 inches) and does really well in my 35 gallon. Your pictus cats are the wrong fish for that tank. I would consider getting a small school of cories instead. They would be much better (size-wise) for a 30 gallon.

You would have plenty of room for like 3 more tigers as well.

[ticklemepunk473]

Well I am not getting rid of my pictus. When I get my 55 I will build the tank around them since they are my favorite. If you think it would be better to move my tiger barbs to my 10 gallon then I will. I am just wondering about my tiger barbs and I want to get a bigger school if that will make them happier.


By the way according to the species profile on this site, and I QUOTE: RE: Rainbow sharks "The aquarium should be no less than 25 gallons for an adult" and they consider an adult as 6 inches long which they give for the max size. Mine is only about and inch long right now. I don't think he is going to become 6 inches overnight and even if he did I have an extra 5 gallons on him :D

[Ghetto2k4]

when u get your 55 setup and cycle u can move your 3 pictus cats in there and u can get yourself 3 more tiger barbs for your 30 gal tank