any benefit to add fish 1 or 2 at a time ?

R

rainbo

AC Members
Feb 3, 2005
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Switzerland
Hi

I'm completely new to keeping fish. I set up my aquarium at Christmas, did a fishless cycle which completed after 4 weeks and I have decided (after hours on the internet) on the following fish stock:

22 gallon (85 litre)
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group of ottocinclus catfish (3 - 5)
group of Rainbow fish (probably neon dwarf variety) (at least 5)
1 pair of cherry barbs or Glowlight Tetras (maybe)
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My question relates to how best to add these chosen fish to my new aquarium. I made a start earlier this week by adding 2 ottocinclus catfish, thinking that it would be best not to add 5 or 6 at once, although it is my plan to have a few more.

In a nutshell, is their any benefit to adding a group (shoal) of fish gradually, one or two at a time and if so, should I add males or females first (where these fish can be sexed correctly, like with the Rainbows)?
 
Even though I have never done a fishless cycle, the idea is that you can add the entire stock of fish as soon as the cycle is finished. How long did you wait after cycling before you put fish in there?
 
Thanks for your reply!

I finished cycling, added plants, waited 1 week, did a 50% water change, and 2 days later added 3 ottos. I keep reading that it is best to be patient and not add too many fish at once. This is fine, I'm not in any rush and I guess I am enjoying the visits to my LFS, choosing my fish etc. I am pretty much decided on Rainbow Fish as the main shoal in the tank, since my water is hard and alkaline, but I wasn't sure if adding 5 or 6 at once is the best way. I am planning on a group of 3 males and 2 females.
 
adding fish slowly is a great way to help limit causes of disease and allow fish to set up territory and prevent swings in bioload changes ie fish poo food waste etc. I always add fish slowly and pick out my next purchase from list of what I want for that tank as I find the particulars I want picking each fish
 
Thought I'd jump in with a question of my own. I'm planning on buying several gouramis for my yet to be cycled 55 gal. My question concerns their tendancy to be terratorial. I'm going to stock the following and would like some advice about gradually introducing two at a time spaced over a few weeks. I staying with more peaceful varieties and dwarfs.

Will the first ones stake out territories and attack the new comers that arrive every other week or so?

Pearl gouramis
Dwarf Neon gouramis
Dwarf Fire or Sunset
Sparkling Pygmy
 
rainbo--adding otos' first can be risky, since they need lots of algae to graze on. Watch them closely, and be ready to supplement them with fresh veggies. I also would not go with a pair of barbs--in small groups, they can be very nippy, and a single male will terrorize a single female to death.

Regben: A lot will depend on the individuals, but you are likely in for some serious fights. Gouramies often get along fine as juveniles, and then become increasingly territorial as they mature. I made the mistake of having a pair of dwarves in a 40. They were fine for about 6 months. Then, the larger began chasing the smaller one endlessly, and kept him from feeding. I had to split them up or lose one fish. If you can get females, a single male with 2-3 females of the same type is a much better mix.
 
I'm still new to this lark, but i was under the impression that once you had finished fishlessly cycling a tank you had a bacterial colony(ies) that could cope with a waste load way above your maximum fish load, but that that colony would die back to the size necessary to deal with your fish's requirements. Therefore, if you add fish too slowly, you risk having too few bacteria by the time you finish stocking, hence getting ammonia and nitrite spikes while your colonies grow again.

It sounds like your doing a safer version of a fishy cycle after a fishless one, rather than taking full advantage of the benfits of the fishless process.

I may be wildly wrong, but i don't think i am. Anyone?
 
OrionGirl ....
Thanks for the advice. I am watching the ottos closely (mainly because they are my very first fish!), and they do seem extremely content, scavenging on the tank walls, filter casing, heater, stones and plants.
A question though: the LFS sold me some pellet food in a pot which I have given them occasionally but they have not noticed it at all and it just disintegrates on the bottom. Is this because they are not used to this type of food, or it is not the best type for them, or they are just plain not hungry (ie, they have enough algae)? You mentioned green food, which I haven't tried yet but will look into (thanks).
 
Monkey44 ...
This is an interesting one. I had not read (yet) that after fishless cycling, the bacterial colony would be sufficient for a waste load way above maximum, but I'm really new to this (Xmas '04').
I had read that regardless of the cycling method, it was always best to add fish slowly - only a few per week - so that the bacterial colony has time to continue growing in accordance to the increasing production of fish wastes. Which is one of the reasons I asked my original question about how to add fish, that need to be part of a group, slowly (just a few at a time).

Since I am currently working with the latter scenario, slowly adding stock to my new aquarium, I would be really grateful if anyone can give us a definitive answer as to which one is correct.
 
A tank that has been fishlessly cycled can be fully stocked immediately--with the ecxeption of fish that require an established tank to provide it with a food source. If the tank has been fishlessly cycled, then had 2-3 fish added, within a few days the bacteria bed will have died back to lower levels, and future additions should be made gradually, a few at a time over the course of a few weeks.

Oto's seldom take prepared foods. I would quit adding them, as they will increase pollutants.
 
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