1 inch a gallon or no??

[fishcatch22]

Setting aside all issues of territory, water chemistry etc. the inch-per-gallon rule works for fish of 2 iches or so in a 29gal tank. Otherwise it doesn't work. You could comfortably keep species like neons at a greater density than one inch per gallon, provided you have a big tank (wouldn't work with smaller tanks, say under 29gal). On the other hand, you can't have five eleven-inch fish ina 55gal. This is because the (leaving aside territoriality, swim space etc) bioload of an eleven-inch fish is much much more than the bioload of 11 one-inch fish (it's closer to the bioload of a couple hundred). But even this assumes the fish are of the same proportions and have the same habits, which is of course not the case. Big fish which don't move use less energy and therefore less bioload, and vice versa.

BTW, fishcatch 22, your avatar is terrifying

good point.

are you being sarcastic?

 

[desertgoldhound]

I use the one inch per fish rule only at the start and this is thinking full sized fish. I then adjust based on fishy behavore, and how water chemistry is. I have had to remove fish and been able to add fish but have never been able to stick with the 1" per fish rule. Your first reply was a good reply and I totaly agree.

 

[momar]

Originally posted by fishcatch22:
are you being sarcastic?

deadly serious. the eyes look kind of manic, and the fins are all claw-like. It's rather creepy. But good nonetheless. :joke:

Back on topic, in herbert Axelrod's Mini-Atlas of Freshwater Aquarium Fishes, Dr Cliff W. Emmens gives the best stocking rule I have seen. It is based on the idea I said before that a 1" fish is 1/8 the weight of a 2" fish and therefore uses up 1/8 of the oxygen and produces 1/8 of the waste. But it's still only a rule. The best rule is common sense. Don't put pirannhas with your prize goldfish. BTW if you ever see the book, get it. It's great for identification and for explaining this rule.

 

[pokagon55]

I think that any type of info. that the beginner can get their hands on is a good idea and the inch per gal. is good for the beginner so they do put in a ton of fish in a small tank. The other day at Meyers, a lady was getting 20 fish for a ten gal. tank. The lady at the store said "I think it is 1 inch per gal. on fish so you have to many" Well the lady just blinked for a min. and said "I didn't know that" and put 11 of the fish back. So that rule is ok if used . :dive2:

How ever this is not to say that it is correct info. but still a good beginner rule.

 

[fishcatch22]

How ever this is not to say that it is correct info. but still a good beginner rule.

no, it is not. it may have saved some fish that time but she still walked out of the store with 11 fish and unless those are neon tetras or some other tiny schooling fish shes in for some trouble. not a good rule at all, no matter waht your experience level is.

 

[Rallysman]

So I can't put a 29" Pacu in a 29 gal tank

 

[pokagon55]

no, it is not. it may have saved some fish that time but she still walked out of the store with 11 fish and unless those are neon tetras or some other tiny schooling fish shes in for some trouble. not a good rule at all, no matter waht your experience level is.

Before you go jumping the gun here, re-read what i said...OK! She walked out with 9 fish. And at that time some fish were saved so that is great as there are others that don't, so any rule that saves a life is a good thing therfore it is a good RULE to follow. BUT! it is just a RULE you knob! Most all beginners go into a fish store or other and by whatever they fancy. There is nothing wrong with someone giving info. like this. This RULE has to do with just basics and for most they need all that they can get. Do you honestly think that any one beginner is going to heed to someone saying that fish have to have space? Maybe some but most do not. They have thier ten gal. and want fish and as many as it can hold, so nothing wrong with this rule used as a tool. We all know that she will have trouble with all the fish that was bought but try and tell HER that and what you will get is a dirty look and comment like " I know what I am doing"

I am in no way disagreeing with the fact that this Rule is incorrect but people that get into this hobby need some place to start. And as we go we all learn the correct way to keep fish.

 

[pokagon55]

"but one of the most important factors is almost always overlooked. the number and size of fish that one maintains in a tank should be predicated on the "biology" and behaviour of those fish".


I agree with this 100% but try and explain this to the person that knows nothing about fish in the first place and then try and give then a biology and behavior lecture :rant2: Man, do they go nuts.

 

[fishcatch22]

Before you go jumping the gun here, re-read what i said...OK! She walked out with 9 fish. And at that time some fish were saved so that is great as there are others that don't, so any rule that saves a life is a good thing therfore it is a good RULE to follow. BUT! it is just a RULE you knob! Most all beginners go into a fish store or other and by whatever they fancy. There is nothing wrong with someone giving info. like this. This RULE has to do with just basics and for most they need all that they can get. Do you honestly think that any one beginner is going to heed to someone saying that fish have to have space? Maybe some but most do not. They have thier ten gal. and want fish and as many as it can hold, so nothing wrong with this rule used as a tool. We all know that she will have trouble with all the fish that was bought but try and tell HER that and what you will get is a dirty look and comment like " I know what I am doing"

I am in no way disagreeing with the fact that this Rule is incorrect but people that get into this hobby need some place to start. And as we go we all learn the correct way to keep fish.

I know exactly what you are saying and I read your post in detail the first time. you are saying that its a good of beginners rule because although inaccurate, it stops them from messing up big time. but they still mess up. herein lies the problem. what if she went home with 11 1" pacus? that did not save their lives at all and condems them to a terrible death and it will be a much bigger problem for her than if she walked out with say, 20 neon tetras. her tank would still be OS but it wouldn't be all that bad and she could fix it easily. I have very few people retort at me like that, and those that do are the kind that retort at anyone telling them they are wrong.

the best way to start this hobby is with nothing but accurate info.

 

[pokagon55]

I know exactly what you are saying and I read your post in detail the first time. you are saying that its a good of beginners rule because although inaccurate, it stops them from messing up big time. but they still mess up. herein lies the problem. what if she went home with 11 1" pacus? that did not save their lives at all and condems them to a terrible death and it will be a much bigger problem for her than if she walked out with say, 20 neon tetras. her tank would still be OS but it wouldn't be all that bad and she could fix it easily. I have very few people retort at me like that, and those that do are the kind that retort at anyone telling them they are wrong.

the best way to start this hobby is with nothing but accurate info.

First off you said that she left with 11 and it was 9. Do your math. Next most beginners do not want big fish, they want small fish unless they are men then they would have a bigger tank in the first place.Next it is not about the if's it is about the moment and the fact is that some fish were saved buy this rule so hurray it worked. be as it may that it is a wrong way none the less it was good info. at the time. ( wear were you when this happened to tell then they are wrong?) i like the fact that people tell me I am wrong and prove it, it means that I have learned something but the fact remains you have not proven that this rule is wrong, only that you are right and that all people in the world should hold hands and smile. Sorry, this world is not like that and there are other that will retort you. It was a good idea to give this info and I still say that it is a good rule just as a basic tool to go by. Just by you saying what about 11 pacu's show that you are a knob. :joke: