6 gal Eclipse...

C

ciaong

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Apr 6, 2005
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Hi all!
A couple months ago, I posted about stocking a 6 gal Eclipse. (rich311k and winterwind-Thanks for warning me off the botias) I went with 5 cherry barbs, 3 pygmy cories, and 2 otos. (The otos eat their supplemental algae wafers and zucchini, so the lack of algae doesn't seem to bother them.) I asked (on another forum-forgot which) if this was overstocking, and the consensus was no. The tank has been set up for several months and appears stable. However, I would still like your opinions on a couple questions.

1) Is it overstocked?
2) Do cherry barbs hide more with more cover? Ever since I added driftwood and live plants, they prefer to hide in the plants.
3) Are there any showcase fish I could add without overstocking (if the tank isn't already)? Or would it be better to add another trio of pygmy cories?
4) If I got rid of the cherry barbs, what kind of showcase fish would you recommend? (Other than bettas-I already know about them ;) )
5) Does anyone have a method for cleaning debris from moss? (Leftover algae wafer tends to get caught in the taiwan moss...I suppose I could always flounce it out lol)

Thank you for answering my questions!
 
In my opinion, yes you are overstocked. The cherry barbs will be 2 inches full grown if they don't stunt, and 5 of them is too many for a tank that size.

If you got rid of the barbs you could probably add a betta and 2 more of the pygmy cories - there aren't really other "showcase" fish who would thrive in a 6 gallon. With a betta, 5 pygmy cories, and the 2 otos you would be at the stocking limit. All this is assuming you'll keep up regular water changes.

For cleaning debris - try a turkey baster. ;)
 
I would agree. A 10 gallon is really the absolute min for cherry barbs and really any small schooling fish.

A betta or single dwarf gourami would be a nice replacement showcase fish along with a couple of more pygmy cories.
 
I do agree with you guys-in general 2 inches is too big, but do you think these conditions will cause stunting/internal organ issues? (Btw TKOS and webcricket-have you guys kept cherry barbs before or are you going on general knowledge?) I've had the tank for several months, and I'm worried that the damage has been done :( The females are about 2" the males are 1.75".
I had thought they would not require as much room because 1) they aren't really schooling fish and 2) swimming style doesn't require large open spaces. (For example, I assumed a 2" danio needed much more "running space" and hence longer tank than a 2" cherry barb.) They appear active as ever, just shyer (though I read that they prefer shadows anyhow-could explain their behavior) and they do come out when I'm not in sight.
I would also like to know, for future reference, how the cherries are overstocked. Are they physically overstocked or water-quality overstocked? What are some signs of of physical overstocking? (Water quality signs are obvious.) In my tank, the cherries appeared to have enough room to explore and loosely shoal (ie. cherries not constantly swimming up and down tank/interrupted while swimming by tank wall/squished in corners) so I guess observations shouldn't be used to judge stocking limits? When I tested the water, the parameters seemed fine as well. I would like to avoid this mistake in the future, so any pointers would be appreciated. Thank you.
 
While there are exceptions to every "rule of thumb" guide, they are useful to give you a rough idea of where to start.

At 1" per gallon, adult size (and taking into account that fish that are wider or deeper bodied than a minnow count as multiples--ie a gourami counts about 3x a similar length danio as it is wider and deeper in the body), you're overstocked.

For length, since fish swim more along the length than the height or depth of the tank, I generally start at a minimum of 5x the length of the adult size of the largest fish in the tank as the minimum tank length. A 3" barb would require at least 15" in length. That's for a single fish of that type, if you add more, you should increase the length by another 10% for each fish added of that size/type.

While observations of your fish can give you alot of good information, your observations are only as good as your knowledge of the fish. I've lost track of how many times I've heard someone say their fish was "playing" when they were actually flashing, trying to scrape off parasites, fighting, or neurotically pacing the tank limits. Or "shy" when they were actually overstressed, hiding due to severe compatibility issues, injured or ill, or in such cramped quarters that they gave up and quit even trying to swim around.
 
Wishful said:
I've lost track of how many times I've heard someone say their fish was "playing" when they were actually flashing, trying to scrape off parasites, fighting, or neurotically pacing the tank limits.
Click to expand...

You are so right! Months ago, my betta was insanely "pacing" his 3 gallon tank and many people said that this was normal, playful behaviour. For many people, 3 gallons is considered more than enough for a betta. I wasn't convinced so I upgraded to a 5 gallon--betta is still pacing. Finally, I gave this 3 inch fish a full 10 gallon tank and guess what? No more pacing.
 
Thanks for your responses, guys. I guess I'll split the group temporarily until I get a larger tank.
 
I have 6 fancy male guppies in my 6gal eclipse. I used to have a betta, but when he died, I wanted something different (yet colorful). In all my years of keeping fish, I have never had guppies (don't know why)... but now that I have some, I have to say that I will always have them either in their own tank, or in a community tank.

They are really fun to watch. They have so much energy, and are just as colorful as the betta imo.
 
I have a 6gallon eclipse. Right now I have a male and female cherry barb (as I had researched and read that they are suited to being in pairs ... as they do not school similarly to other barbs.) I also have one very very small baby guppy (he will be moved to my sisters tank eventually, when he starts to get bigger.)
Actually today I just found a cute teeny little cherry barb fry in my tank (I've only had them for a few weeks so this is a suprise... and I never saw any eggs.)

Anyway ... I certainly would not get any more grown cherry barbs as mine frequently swim the length of the tank and explore ... I would see it as overcrowded if there were any others. the only fish I would consider adding for my tank are a few pygmy cories.
so
1. yes I think your tank is overstocked.
2. They might be hiding because there isnt alot of room? Im not sure but I have driftwood and plants and do not have this problem.
3. Maybe if you stuck to less cherry barbs they would be a little more interesting to watch. Or you could get rid of all of the cherry barbs and keep one very nice betta. The Betta would likely be alright with either the cories or the ottos (but all of those fish together might be pushing the bioload.)
 
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