Small tank stocking

L

Lady Friesian

AC Members
Sep 26, 2006
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Hi,

I have an empty, cycling (w/ammonia) 6 gallon tank and wondered if you guys could give me some advise on the stocking density I’m planning. It’s an Eclipse system with a bio-wheel, and will have lots of fast-growing live plants. I don’t have any of these fish yet, but I want to get:

5 khuli loaches
2-3 cherry barbs

From my reading, these are very compatible and won’t get that big (I think the khulis at my LFS are the smaller, 3 in. species), but I’m a bit worried about the waste given off. I have one planted 5 gallon tank already (shrimps and snails) which has been running well for over a year. Living in a college dorm, a larger tank isn’t an option (needs to be able to come home with me for long breaks).

Any advice would be appreciated!
 
WHOA! That would be a NO for both the kuhlies and the cherry barbs. Too many fish and both species that need room to move.

My recommendation would be 1 or the following...

1 betta AND 1 snail or a few cherry/amano/ghost shrimp

I'm quite sure other people will respond to this post with their own ideas, but in my opinion, this is your best option for a 6g tank.
 
No snails or shrimp are allowed at my college...I guess I didn't make it clear that I had to leave my shrimp/snail tank at home for that reason. Anyway, I'd be afraid that most fish (ei. betta) would harass or kill the shrimp.

I was under the impression that kuhlis didn't need much space to swim, as long as they felt secure with lots of plants and driftwood and were kept in groups. They are roamers? (I also picked the cherry barbs since they don't school and like to hang around the plants, and require similar conditions).
 
I'm sorry to post again, but I'm confused. When I wrote at first, I thought my stocking numbers might be wrong, but that the species chosen would be fine.

From the reading I've done (lots), the general agreement seemed to be that both kuhlies and cherry barbs would be good for small tanks. They're not the kind that swims rapidly and in schools, like danios, white clouds, tetras, etc., which I agree need a larger tank. Watching them in tanks at the store, they weren't nearly as active as other species (including cherries in a big display tank).

Personally, I would never mix red cherry shrimp with a carnivorous fish like a betta (or other shrimp, for that matter, but the cherry shrimp are smaller). The betta can easily nip pieces off.
 
Lady Friesian said:
I'm sorry to post again, but I'm confused. When I wrote at first, I thought my stocking numbers might be wrong, but that the species chosen would be fine.

From the reading I've done (lots), the general agreement seemed to be that both kuhlies and cherry barbs would be good for small tanks. They're not the kind that swims rapidly and in schools, like danios, white clouds, tetras, etc., which I agree need a larger tank. Watching them in tanks at the store, they weren't nearly as active as other species (including cherries in a big display tank).

Personally, I would never mix red cherry shrimp with a carnivorous fish like a betta (or other shrimp, for that matter, but the cherry shrimp are smaller). The betta can easily nip pieces off.
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ive had betta with all types of shrimp and never had any problems. first, they wont even try to nip or eat anything that wont fit in thier mouths, second, being your tank will be heavily planted the betta will rarely come across the shrimp because theres so many hiding places, third, shrimp can actually swim faster than male bettas.

and on a side note, shrimp are one of the best things you can add to a planted tank as they help keep it tidy.
 
Some betta will kill shrimp, but some are just meaner then others. The six gallon size is just really too small for most fish. You could get some ember tetras--they had them at my lfs and they are really stunning. They are also quite small.

I can understand wanting something different then a betta--they have become very common. I bet a single paradise fish would work well. They are related to gouramis, and are really stunning in their colors. More subtle and natural then betta in my opinion.
 
I JUST had a 5 gallon tank, and sold it for a all glass 30 gallon, and I'm LOVIN' it!

So, everyone is directing you correctly. You WON'T be able to do much with a 6 gallon, but since thats all you'll be able to have I suggest you get yourself 1 Red Fire Gourami or 1 Neon Dwarf Gourami, 1 small bottom feeder like a cory or something and a African Dwarf frog and be done with it, anymore and you'd be overstocking, trust me it doesn't take long.
 
one cory alone will be a very sad and lonely cory. Just take good care to clean the tank frequently and you don't need a bottom feeder.
 
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