I have a question.......

[SPLiSH]

This is a pretty newbie-ish question to ask, but I need to know the answer.

You know the "1 inch of fish per gallon" rule, well, do snails and other non-fish creatures count towards that? Like for example, if you were stocking a 20 gallon tank, and you already had 20 inches worth of fish, could you add a snail?

 

[fufanu360]

well, i think snails are quite the waste producers, all though the inch per gallon rule is very poor, i dont think it would have anymore room

 

[Sorrell]

What do you have for filtration and how often do you do water changes? That "rule" is more of a guideline for beginners What fish do you have right now? They vary as far as waste producing and the amount of territory they need so that can make a difference as well

 

[SPLiSH]

Thanks fufanu, I forgot how much mess they make.

I don't have any tanks right now, Sorrell. But I am getting an outdoor kind of trough-thingy with a little cascading waterfall and I want to put some guppies and swordtails in there. I haven't sorted out filtration or anything yet.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Will the troughy thing be warm or coldwater?
IMO guppies are not highly messy, in my tank the main mess is uneaten food at the bottom, which I'll sort out soon anywy with a loach and a gravel vac.

 

[sylvia]

OohFeeshy just feed less. The fish won't starve - that I'll guarantee.

About the trough, unless you live in a realy warm climate, guppies and swordtails are not the best option. If it won't be heated and I seem to remember it holds only about 20 gallons, go for white cloud mountain minnows or rosy reds/fathead minnows. Even then you don't want the temp. to drop too low.