I have a 30 gallon long tank, it currently has 7 neon tetra, 1 moonlight gourami and 1 common pleco. It is looking very empty at the moment and was wondering if any one had any suggestions as to what I should put in it.
not only do commons get big, but they are also take up a huge portion of a tank's bioload. dont add anything else until you get rid of the common pleco or move it to a much bigger tank.
Thank you for your advice on the pleco. However, the pleco is currently only 3 inches long and in a 3 foot tank I currently don't see that as a problem, all levels are stable and normal so he doesn't affect the tank in any way so for the time being he is staying where he is, when he gets bigger I will look into taking him out o fhte tank. I do like corys, think that they are quite cute but I would like something in the middle of the tank. That is where it is looking quite empty.
I think what they are suggesting is that in the long run your pleco is not going to work, so why prolong everyone's misery why not rehome him now. It isn't really fair to have him grow up in an unsuitable environment.
Then you could get corys instead, which will do what you had the pleco for, plus they can be long term inhabitants (till death do you part type thing rather than till you get too big to be in here), which I would say is only fair.
The corys' will wander around quite nicely and make the bottom and mid of your tank look pretty busy. I have 7 in a 55 gal and they make it REALLY busy. And if it is middle you are wanting, the rasbora are what you want. They can be really attractive fish too. I have 5 harlequin and 6 brilliants. They all school together in my tank.