Can We Add Livebearers?

[Mike83]

my mom has a 30 gallon tank with the following fish inside, she is running a emperor 280. Can she add any livebearers even though most of her fish are semi-aggresive, here is the list.

2 gold gourami
2 blue paradise gourami
5 tiger barbs
2 dwarf gourami
2 rosy barb
2 longfined rosy barb
1 blue gourami
1 opaline gourami
1 golden wonder killie

 

[Annastasia]

What kind of Livebearers were you thinking of adding?

I'd also work on the stocking though. All the Gouramis in there could get nasty as they grow. Especially the Blue, Gold and Opaline, as they are the same species and males usually become aggressive as they age. The Dwarfs and Paradises may also get some aggression or be aggressive. I'd sort that out before you get any Livebearers, especially since they might be picked on. And the Barbs need to be in schools.

 

[ArcticLancer]

I can't really say anything that hasn't been said, but I can stretch it out a bit ...

Basically, you probably shouldn't add livebearers. Gouramis can, and usually are aggressive fish (Granted, not the MOST aggressive, but none-the-less), and livebearers like guppies wouldn't be so well suited to the environment.

Mollies could be a different issue altogether, depending on the type. Mollies generally prefer a brackish environment, and that's only if they don't require it in the first place. Size would also be an issue, with some mollies getting fairly large. Though this would better serve them against the gouramis' aggressive tendencies, it would limit the number you could have greatly, and the tank does seem somewhat full already.
Swords could go either way. They're generally hardy, though a male will get rather possessive over any females around, and could end up turning on the smaller fish in the tank. Again, these ones can get somewhat large, so the number would be limited.
Platies are generally well natured, but like guppies, they're smallish in a larger environment. They're faster though, so ... Yeah, it could help out, but stress was the concern here from the beginning.

Ultimately, the point stands that you probably shouldn't add anything to the tank, for the reasons that it's well stocked already, and the fish you'd add may not fare so well. It would, quite simply, be a better option to raise the barb count before adding another species entirely.

Hope this elaborates and helps some.

 

[Mike83]

she has 9 barbs how much more?, she has a emperor 280 on a 30 gallon.

explain why in the pet store they have 50 fish in one tank with a problem? lol

 

[dwarfgourami]

explain why in the pet store they have 50 fish in one tank with a problem? lol

That one is perfectly easy and one that we find ourselves explaining at regular intervals on this forum. Oh well, here goes.

In the pet store:

they have super massive filtration systems

usually only stock juveniles who have not yet developed territorial instincts

only keep fish for a short time so they are too shellshocked to develop territories (a lot of the time fish seem fine with each other for weeks, even years, then one day you wake up to a massacre)

budget for a fair few deaths, more than any hobbyist would think acceptable

 

[Annastasia]

She has 9 Barbs but they are different species. Each species needs 5+ to be in a school. Before you add them, I'd deal with the Gouramis.

 

[Mike83]

I have my own tank a 20 gallon with an emperor 280 which is rated for a 50 gallon tank.

Would you guys think that would allow me to add anymore, here is the list. So far in 3 months , my fish have grew, no deaths.

2 blue paradise gourami
2 kissing gourami
3 albino tiger barb
2 tiger barb
4 rosy barb
2 opaline gourami

 

[Annastasia]

No, your tank is overstocked as it is. You have the Gourami issue again, and none of those Gouramis grow to below 4", Kissers getting to 8". They need more room then a 20g.

 

[Mike83]

I will keep lt like that untill something happens, just cant throw away the fish I paid $ for.



Emperor 280 on a 20 gallon is superior filtration dont you think?

 

[Annastasia]

Try giving them away or selling them to someone. It's not a very good attitude to just be in it for the money, think of the fish first. After all, you bought them and you need to take care of them. Their lives are in your hands.

It may be superior filtration, but we are talking ADULT SIZE here, not water quality.

 

[Mike83]

I just do the fish tank thing for fun, Im not a pro, I will keep the fish how they are.

I have a life

 

[Annastasia]

 

[Mike83]

they been living fine for 4 months

 

[Annastasia]

4 months is no big accomplishment. Those fish should live 3+ years. And just because they are fine as juveniles doesn't mean they'll be fine as adults. The aggression will become worse and their growth will also be stunted. You can live in a crib as a baby. Can you at 20 years old? No. Same for the fish.

I'm honestly not trying to pick on you or be nasty. You just have some serious issues with your tank, and you'll have major problems down the line. The "They'll do fine and I don't care" attitude is what causes the most problems in fishkeeping. If you can get around that and fix the issue, you'll have a much healthier and happier tank, and then a better time fishkeeping because your fish will live for a long time and you won't have a lot of fish dying. I was in the same position with the same attitude as you once upon a time, so you're not alone. I finally listened though, and as a result, my tanks became healthier and more fun for me. It's rewarding if you do it right. Of course, then you get addicted, and get a ton of tanks and spend a lot of money...but we won't go there.

 

[Qays]

Hey michael O

Your have very large gourami's for a 20 gallon set up.

Your fish will probably end up with a disease, all the fish will get it and die.

Thats when your $$ will be gone. Better to start sorting out the problem before it gets out of hand.

Keep your fish happy and your tank will look great!