Stocking Guide

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Beasts

Beasts
Jan 15, 2007
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Whatever happened to the one inch per gallon rule for fish stocking? I can understand the need to take into account the aggressiveness and territorial tendencies of your tank residents but it seems that most of the posts I read encourage a much lower density than this rule indicates. Just a casual observation but I wonder whether there isn't some simple rule that could serve as a guideline. Ultimate sizes would, of course, have to be the dimensions used in such a calculation. :huh:
Beasts
 
the inch-gallon rule doesnt work in any instances. it just doesnt. it doesnt take into account behavioral or space needs either.

an angel wouldnt last long in a 6 gallon tank, nor would a single neon in a 1 gallon. angels get to e six inches long and need tanks of at least 30 gallons to support them, and neons need to be in schools of six.

according to the rule, you can put an oscar in a 12 gallon tank. i dont think so. youve got a week before that fish starts to becomes stunted

the "rule" is garbage and should be treated as such
 
jm1212 said:
the inch-gallonrule doesnt work in any instances. it just doesnt. it doesnt take into account behavioral or space needs either. an angel wouldnt last long in a 6 gallon tank, nor would a single neon in a 1 gallon. angels get to e six inches long and need tanks of at least 30 gallons to support them, and neons need to be in schools of six.

according to the rule, you can put an oscar in a 12 gallon tank. i dont think so. youve got a week before that fish starts to becomes stunted
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As I said this would not be a hard and fast rule, just a guideline. One would, as I mentioned need to take into account ultimate size, territorial tendencies and aggressiveness. As you mentioned there is also a need for certain fish to have the company of members of their own species. But for someone new to the hobby (especially) it might be helpful to have such a guideline, with modifiers, as a stepping off point in their thought processes as they are stocking. Just trying to be helpful.
Beasts
 
the inch gallon isnt even a guideline IMO, because it can lead people down roads that will lead to disaster, especially those who are inexperienced. with this "rule" they can assume that they can throw in any fish that they want and they will ahve no problems, as long as they stay within the tanks's "inches"
 
jm1212,
You keep repeating what you feel won't work but you fail to offer any helpful or constructive ideas for people without a lot of experience. And you insist on ignoring my assertion that other factors have to be taken into consideration as part of the approach I am suggeating. Do you feel that people will simply ignore these other factors if you use a length per gallon guidance as a starting point? Can't those who have experience consolidate their knowledge into helpful guide lines for beginners.
Beasts
 
Beasts said:
jm1212,
You keep repeating what you feel won't work but you fail to offer any helpful or constructive ideas for people without a lot of experience. And you insist on ignoring my assertion that other factors have to be taken into consideration as part of the approach I am suggeating. Do you feel that people will simply ignore these other factors if you use a length per gallon guidance as a starting point? Can't those who have experience consolidate their knowledge into helpful guide lines for beginners.
Beasts
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that is exactly what they do. what i was saying is that when people use the "rule", they say that these fish must be able to live together because i have "x" ammount of inches left in the tank, regardless of water needs, aggression, of any of the factors you listed. how do i know? i hear it all fo the time at various LFSs.
if you know what you are doing and know what is reasonable and what is not, then i guess that you could have 20 neons in a 20 gallon.

even then, this "rule" also does not take into account tank size. a 20 gallon hex cannot support the same ammount of fish as a 20 gallon tall, which cannot support the same ammount of fish as a 20 gallon long.

the people working for the LFS dont help either, because they will tell you anything to get a sale.

i found a chart a while ago that let you plug the fish's behavioral needs, max adult size, temperature requirements, food preference (carnivore etc.), if they need to be in schools, if they will eat other fish in the tank, body shape, activity, etc. and it gave a pretty accurate tank make up if that is what you were wondering. it was much better suited to stocking a tank than the inch gallon rule.
 
Well, there we go! You don't know where one might find that chart, do you?
Regarding that LFS problem, my suggestion would be to encourage those LFSs where the sales people try to be thorough with their efforts to teach. And for hobbyists to learn to listen carefully and treat the animals in their care with some respect - a tough order I know, I used to own a couple of pet stores. We each have our favorite LFS and I never tire of mentioning mine. It's a 12,000 square foot fish only store called Aquarium Adventure in Columbus, Ohio (and elsewhere) where, no matter how obnoxious I get, the sales people won't give up on me! And they are quite knowledgeable. I drive more than 2 hours one way to shop with them - and I don't get paid for advertising for them!
Beasts
 
i always say the only rule is there is no rules. there are many factors that go into stocking levels. Beasts LFS should be better but the more fish they sell the more money they will make. if they all die and you come back thats great for them. what jm1212 says is also true. people get this idea of inch per gal and its very hard to get them to understand there is more then that.


as for your question i have seen a couple other guidelines to stock your tank but i am a very big fan of under stocking.
 
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