40G stocking capacity

achilles

achilles

AC Members
Sep 22, 2005
22
0
0
Newcastle, Australia
Hiya, am planning a 40 gallon community tank (my first community tank). I'm planning for the tank to be moderately planted. I've come up with the following mix of fish, would it work okay and how many of each would you suggest?

I was thinking:
Silver dollars (maybe two)
Upside down catfish (maybe three)
Tetra (maybe five or six - not yet sure on which type)
Gourami (maybe two - also not sure on type)

Too much, not enough, what do you reckon? It may not be the most adventurous mix of fish but remember, this is my first community so adventure can come later ;)
 
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Drop the silver dollars and go with the upside down cats, 8+ tetras, and either a male/female pair of gouramis or a single male, since two males tend to fight.
 
I personally disagree with the species profile on this site, it says a tank of no less than 35g and that they should be kept in groups of at least 5. I think even that is too small, I would not put that many in any less than 55g+ and they would be the only fish except for some corys or something similar. They are really fast and shy and I too think they might hurt themselves once they were closer to full grown, (about 6").

I would do the gourami/s, the catfish and 10-12 of one tetra, they'll lookr really cool schooling, and one of the bigger gouramis might encourage the behavior. I have a very random mix in my tank b/c I combined 2 tanks which was never the original plan and I wish I had bigger groups of fewer species, it is just too random...
 
Thanks for that, I had wondered whether the silver dollars would be a bit big. Looks like I'll have to revise my plans - but that's okay! Heaps of time before I even get water in the tank - this one's still got my devil in it, he's moving to a bigger home as soon as it gets resealed so as you see no great rush...
 
Its always nice to have the time to plan things out and do it right!! I wish I would have thought things through better when I stocked my tanks :o !! Good luck
 
I totally agree SD fish can jump out of the tank if given the opportunity. My silver dollar is constantly jumping and hitting things in the tank when he gets startled. Mostly when the tank lights are off and someone walks by. I can literally hear him in another room. We have cut down on this by keeping the lights on in the tank when someone is home so he doesnt gets scared so much...


csm84 said:
silver dollars will outgrow a 40 gallon tank and they are very jumpy fish. they could possibly injur themselvs in too small a tank.
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