How many fish can I fit in here?

[pat123123]

Vaderbanger is basically encouraging you to deprive pleco's of proper food -- partially starve them -- in order to stunt their growth so they SEEM like a smaller tank will be adequate to fulfill their housing needs.

Small tanks do not have enough algae growth in most cases to support more than the tiniest of plecos. They MUST have additional food supplementation -- algae wafers, variety wafers, etc. -- in order to remain healthy and grow properly. Expecting them to just "graze" on bits and pieces of leftover food that other fish miss and the little bit of algae that is growing in a tank is a starvation diet for plecos.

 

[Gambusia]

I've got a 20 gallon high chock a block full of algae but I know that tank is too small for a common pleco.

I suggest you leave the 3 fish in the 20 gallon high and add no more.

Allow them to grow into the 55 gallon you say you want.

 

[dorkfish]

I think I'me gonna trade the plecos in. I wanted to keep them and get a big enough tank for them(so the woudnt end up in something this size or smaller) but just can't afford it. so here is my stocking list I plan to have once I am done.the tank is 20g tall(24x12x18tall). please say if this is too much fish and wher I should have less fish or if it would be ok to add more.

mollies x2, rainbow(think it's M.australis?)x1,neons or rummy nosesx8-9,male bettaX 1, ottosx5 and corydoras sp.x3

also I should have a 55g up and running within 2 months, and the rainbow will move to that tank and I'll get some buddies for him/her(more rainbows).

 

[Rbishop]

you know the rule 1 inch per gallon . . i love that rule . . . i should follow it . . . hmm . . but yes it also depends on how often you do water changes . . if you decide to go over the 20 inches then just do more frequent water changes until you get a bigger tank . . . sounds like a plan

Please do not tell me you actually believe that? water changes will not compensate for the stunting that will occur.

Dork...please do not get any more fish for that tank. Save the money for what you would have spent on the fish for a larger tank.

Vader...guess I have lots of b.s. in my tanks if you count the two 11" plecos in the 125 gal...oh yeah, they are 11 months old...got them @ 2".

 

[Zeromason577]

Please do not tell me you actually believe that? water changes will not compensate for the stunting that will occur.

Dork...please do not get any more fish for that tank. Save the money for what you would have spent on the fish for a larger tank.

I agree, a 20G high has a smaller foot print, so the 1"-1gal rule doesnt really apply.

stick with the fish you have, and when you decide to get a larger setup, then buy more fish that you want.

 

[icka]

it is never ok to stunt fish, in fact it is killing me but i HAVE to get rid of my 4 balas. When I got them I was a fish moron, now I know better and they must be moved soon...I never hold back food so that I can keep big fish in small tanks. That is stupid, wrong, and a million other things I cant say. A trio of rainbows can go into a ten gal to spawn but that is it, I keep mine in a 55gal. Save up your money, check your local newspaper. I have found MANY GREAT deals in mine. I got a 55gal and a 30gal plus fish, plus all equipment, plus wood stands for 100 dollars. It is worth waiting.

 

[Rbishop]

I think the 1" rule applies less than 1% of the time.

 

[dorkfish]

the tank actually is'nt mine, I am volentaring to take care of it and it is set up at a nursing home nearby. I just found out today that nobody actually knows how the plecos got in there(must have been a visitor giving a "donation" without telling anyone). my parents are paying for the 55g so I don't have save up any money or look in the classifieds for any thing( actually, we found a fish store in the states that sells there NEW stuff cheaper than anything weve seen in the classifieds) and I should have it up and running and ready for the rainbow to move into within a month. The plecos are being brought back to the fish store today, considering how I can't put any more fish in here with them in there. I personally think the list in my previous post is fine and if I have to I'll make a holding pond of 50g or more for the rainbow until I get the 55g going.

this is the planned stocking list previously posted:

mollies x2, rainbow(think it's M.australis?)x1,neons or rummy nosesx8-9,male bettaX 1, ottosx5 and corydoras sp.x3

 

[Roan Art]

Just keep in mind that Melanotaenia splendida spp. rainbowfish grow 5-6".

Roan