(2) Pleco, (7) Black Loaches, (1) clown loach, (1) Ranbow shark, (2) platty, (1) vampire shrimp, (1) Green Tiger Barb, (1) Gourami, (2) Blueberry Tetras, (1) Blackfin tetras, (4) Cherry barbs
Am I OverStocking My 55G
- Thread starter l.MetalHead.l
- Start date
Yes, you are. If those are common plecos, they get to 18" and your tank is only 13" deep. Same goes for the clowns and the sharks.l.MetalHead.l said:
IMO a 55 just doesn't have enough depth for any fish that grows over 8".
You are also overstocking your 15g. Goldfish need a minimum of 15 gallons each, even when they are small.
Roan
you've also got a lot of schooling fish in there at low numbers, the barbs and tetras! They school for safety and with those other big fish in there, they're gonna be very stressed. As for the others i'm unsure. Hope this is all helping.
i think it would be overstocked by the plecos alone once they are fully grown. you really need to consolidate those schooling fish also. its not really fair to keep one single specimen of a schooling specie by itself. i would at least get rid of one pleco if not both and try to keep just 2 or three SPECIES and at least 5 of each of them.
I'll go against the crowd and say that you're not overstocking. Yes, plecos will get big, but it'll take a while before they outgrow your 55. When they get too big (or stop eating algae) give them away or take them back to the LFS. Just because they will likely be unhappy when they grow past 8-9" or so doesn't mean you can't enjoy them now.
I disagree, and will go as far to say as that attitude is a big problem among fishkeepers and causes a lot of harm to fish that could otherwise be spared it. When you buy a fish, you should not think of it as a "rental" for a while, you should buy it with the intention of keeping it as comfortable as possible for its entire life. If you can't house a pleco when its fully grown, don't buy one. Whats going to happen, it gets 9 or 10" long and you bring it back to the LFS, they agree to take it in and sell it, and it will sit in a 15gal tank for a few weeks or months until it dies, or by some off chance someone who can actually house it correctly buys it. I just don't feel its right to buy a fish you knowlingly can't keep for very long, so you house it for a while then toss it. These are living animals, not rental scooters.
But anyway, :OT:
I would say its overstocked, I'd get rid of the plecos while they're small, and the sharks, and fill out the schools of barbs and tetras.
But anyway, :OT:
I would say its overstocked, I'd get rid of the plecos while they're small, and the sharks, and fill out the schools of barbs and tetras.
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I agree... Would you get a puppy just to get rid of it when it becomes a dog? Anyway, it is much easier to find homes for plecos when they are small. And if you keep them, you run the risk of keeping them too long and stunting their growth. I made my BF get rid of the pleco he brought home for the same reason. 55g is just not big enough for a common, however, there are specific plecos that are small and do stay small. You might look into one of those.sploke said:
beatle said:
Flat out wrong. Plecos grow FAST when fed properly, and aren't slow growing like some species, so stunting damage could occur in the first two years.
I also see some inappropriate mixing. You should post asking for suggestions BEFORE overstocking, right now that tank is a mess.
(2) Pleco - overstocked with these alone. grow to 18"+ when properly cared for.
(7) Black Loaches - ? weird name
(1) clown loach - should be kept in "pods" (small schools) of 6+
(1) Ranbow shark - OK
(2) platty - appropriate for tank size
(1) vampire shrimp - filter feeder, frequently starves in captivity, for expert aquarists (which you're not, yet)
(1) Green Tiger Barb - also should be in schools (I know, I have just one)
(1) Gourami - what kind? Some grow out to 12" which is not compatable with 55G
(2) Blueberry Tetras - dyed fish. You shouldn't even buy them, they don't last long
(1) Blackfin tetras - should be in a school
(4) Cherry barbs - OK, but with your green barb might nip fins on other fish.
I suppose you have your own experiences. I have mine. My plecos were fed veggies and algae wafers and growth was very slow, even in larger tanks. My 7" pleco was 2 1/2 years old, my 11 inch was 4 1/2. If you've had plecos that grow faster or slower, it may be genetics. I have a few yellow labs in my 90g that seem stunted while other fish are growing like weeds.
As for my fish "rental," I suppose it's my job to see that every fish that leaves the LFS goes to someone capable of keeping it? My plecos were healthy and happy when I gave them back to the LFS. I feel better about giving them away knowing that they are still being treated with respect. As to who buys them and what tank they put them into, harass them about their purchase, not me. What about when I finally decide to leave the hobby? Should I just grin and bear the maintenance chore until my fish die, or should I give them to people capable of taking care of them? I'll take the latter, as I honestly care about the fish. I'd think most of you would too.
As for my fish "rental," I suppose it's my job to see that every fish that leaves the LFS goes to someone capable of keeping it? My plecos were healthy and happy when I gave them back to the LFS. I feel better about giving them away knowing that they are still being treated with respect. As to who buys them and what tank they put them into, harass them about their purchase, not me. What about when I finally decide to leave the hobby? Should I just grin and bear the maintenance chore until my fish die, or should I give them to people capable of taking care of them? I'll take the latter, as I honestly care about the fish. I'd think most of you would too.