View Full Version : overstocked??
steffi0122
12-07-2003, 9:03 AM
I was told that i may be overstocked. I am fairly new at this and i was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas as to how to organize my aquarium as to what to keep and what not to. i have a 5.5 gallon tank with a pleco (that i intend to keep small btw-i know someone that will trade me for a smaller one once mine gets too big) a cory, 4 dwarf rainbows, 4 platies and 2 dwarf frogs. I also have a betta that is not currently in the tank because i am treating him for an illness, but i was hoping to introduce him to the equation eventually. Does anyone have any suggestions on what i should keep and what i should not? Also i have to eventully put the betta into the tank b/c my house gets too cold for him when he is in a bowl. I only have the one tank with a heater and getting another one is not an option right now. Hope someone can help!
pinballqueen
12-07-2003, 9:26 AM
"May be overstocked" is not the term I would use for this situation... "Are very overstocked" suits a bit better I think.
Those fish sound about like what I would put in a 10 or a 20 gallon, except the pleco, who belongs ultimately in a pond.
I will offer a couple pieces of advice. First, definitely overstocked. Livebearers like platies will take over even a 55 gallon tank if you don't keep the fry culled, so unless you're really set on having livebearers, I would get rid of anything that has the potential to breed in that close of an environment. Also, your cory is lonely. Cories are schooling fish and prefer company of their own species, in at least groups of 3. This would mean, however, that you wouldn't be able to keep much else in a tank of that size. Cories and the betta would be about the extent of it. Kudos for not putting the sick betta into the tank, though!
It's always better to stock a little light, because your fish will be much healthier. Unfortunately it's very hard to lightly stock a 5.5 :/ You might want to be giving consideration to either rethinking your stocking or getting a larger tank.
My 5.5 is a fry tank, but I used to have 3 albino cories and a betta, and I have also done a 5.5 with 6 neons in it (taking care to overfilter without overly agitating the water), but I don't ever recommend neons to someone without a lot of experience with fish, as they are really really fragile.
Hope this helps :)
steffi0122
12-07-2003, 10:42 AM
First thankyou for your help...one more question though. Since i needto put the betta in the tank what would you suggest i keep with him? I was told that platies would be fine...and i really like them the best...but what do you think? I don't really want a tank full of corry's...and i love the dwarf frogs....i just don't know what i should do....
Anouther question...how should i go about disposing ofthe fish that i decide that i don't want? It seems sort of cruel to pick and choose....
Often you can take fish to fish stores who will take them back. Of course they might or might not give you credit for them but this is the best route.
Bettas might do okay with platies , not sure there. They do well with cories and white cloud minnows IME.
Yeah, and that tank is very overstocked and will probably lead to fishy deaths, especially if you ever loose power for awhile and the filters can't run.