Overstocked?

[sdb]

I keep reading that cories should have buddies. I have one. I would like to add more for him to play with, but don't want to overstock my tank. I have a 20 gallon unplanted, and in it is 3 zebra danios, 2 strawberry tetras, 2 serpae tetras, 2 swordtails, 2 platys, and 6 neon tetras (should be 7, but I can't find one ). Plus the one spotted cory. Do I have room to add a friend or two for my cory? Or am I at my limit (and hopefully not over!). I know some say an inch per gallon, but I don't know about the accuracy with that since they're all growing and have different needs......

 

[Aqualung]

IMO you are a bit overstocked, so I wouldn't add any more fish. On the other hand, it would be good to add more cories. Would finding a new home for a few of the fish be an option?

 

[pinballqueen]

Inch-per-gallon doesn't really apply to most tanks because it doesn't take into account body mass, aggression level, or activity level.

Swords/platies get to be a few inches long apiece, and cories can get up to 4. Danios are very active, as are neons, so you've got a lot of fish running around in a traffic jam in the top third of your tank.

I do agree that cories like to be kept in at least 3's, but you will definitely need to get rid of some of your existing stock to do that. My personal tastes would say do away with either the neons and the livebearers, but that is my opinion. (Livebearers for adding more to your stock because they breed, and neons for being so delicate...) Regardless of whether you replace them with cories, until you have a larger tank, I would still make those suggestions because it is always preferable to understock than overstock.

You could grab another tank to put your other fish in (Which is how I got into having 3 tanks in the house and needing 2 more )

Take care!

 

[LongTime]

I would cut the neons and the livebearers for the reasons given. Then I would had 1 to each of the tetras so they have more of a school. Next, add a cory.

 

[happychem]

I would choose one variety of tetra and bring its stocking up to 6. Whether or not this means keeping the neons or one of the others.

Then I'd choose one breed of livebearers. Sword or Platy.

Now you've cut 4 tetras, i.e. small fish and 2 bigger fish that breed. You now have room for a couple more cories.

Bonus, you still get to watch the livebearer breeding ritual, which can be kinda fun when both M and F are into it, and more like a game of tag when one (usually the F) isn't.

Then you get live foor from the fry, or an excuse for a fry tank...

 

[LongTime]

Originally posted by happychem
I would choose one variety of tetra and bring its stocking up to 6. Whether or not this means keeping the neons or one of the others.

Then you get live foor from the fry, or an excuse for a fry tank...

The larger the school the better as long as you don't run out of room. One thing about the livebearers. Some kids get upset when they find out the babies become food. When I worked in a pet store I had more than one adult whose purchased a tank for fry because of a child's tears.

On the other hand, it may help convince your tenderhearted wife to let you have another tank to rescue the poor little babies. That way you can go for the 30 and keep the 10 for a fry tank. Maybe you could even get a 20 for a fry tank since the babies are "so cute."

 

[sdb]

Wow, lots of options, thanks! I do have a 10 gal set up with a male betta in it, and I was hoping to put the neons in it eventually when it cycles (it has filter/heater), plus a few cories. I also have another 10 gal empty, no lid, filter, nothing, that I was hoping to eventually set up. Plus I am hoping to buy a larger tank (33g+) in the near future, so I'll have some options for sure, but it looks like there's nothing I can do for now, since whatever tanks I do set up will need cycling. I'll have to wait, but since all my fish are still small, I should be ok for now, and my cory will get his friends eventually! Thanks for the advice!