Is My Tank Overstocked?

[the_lock_man]

Think about it another way; would it be bad to keep a Great Dane deliberately stunted, by keeping it in a broom cupboard, for instance, so it wouldn't get too big for a small flat?

Excellent analogy, FM!

 

[fluttermoth]

Why thank you!

I've often found that people need to think about stunting from another angle to see how wrong it is; not their fault, of course, but society doesn't teach people to consider fish welfare in the same way they would that of other animals.

 

[tatuny]

thanks fm so much for explaining these stuff to me..i have stoped my "oxygenation system" and i took the small tube out and the power head is just makeing surface agitation...Whalllaaaaa all fish gone from the surface...
And how can i find out if my female betta is a bi**h and will eat my guppys?Should i puth one in her tank and watch how she reacts?

 

[Louiseness]

You can put her in a transparent 2-litre water bottle (with the spout cut off!) or a normal fish bag and float the bottle/bag in the tank for a while, see if she changes colours or tries to charge the other fish, that might work.

Or just put her in and be prepared to net her out quickly if she starts displaying or chasing. I wouldn't put any fish in with her as that's her territory and she'll likely be very protective of it.

 

[tatuny]

shes in im hopeing for the best !! when should i get her out ? what are the signs of her displaying?

 

[fluttermoth]

Her fins will stick out and she'll flare her gill covers and start charging or lunging at the other fish.

 

[tatuny]

You can put her in a transparent 2-litre water bottle (with the spout cut off!) or a normal fish bag and float the bottle/bag in the tank for a while, see if she changes colours or tries to charge the other fish, that might work.

Or just put her in and be prepared to net her out quickly if she starts displaying or chasing. I wouldn't put any fish in with her as that's her territory and she'll likely be very protective of it.

why whould she change colors?

 

[tatuny]

every thing is good atm not chasing...my male guppys however think she is sexy and are going close to her and then she just goes somewhere else...

 

[Louiseness]

EDIT - sorry, late post! Yes, she will try to flare, or she might get stripy or darker coloured. I don't know WHY they change colours but it's a fairly common female reaction to their breeding or stress.

Sounds like she's pretty chilled so far though

 

[tatuny]

atm she is chasing my guppy fry above my tank luckly they are separated by a glass wall.) they are her main problem atm

 

[tatuny]

ok she seems fine..but she still seems kinda isolated...

 

[Louiseness]

ok she seems fine..but she still seems kinda isolated...

How do you mean, isolated? Bettas aren't particularly social fish.

 

[tatuny]

i dont know she just stays beside the plants and always far from other fish.. and what do i feed my betta ? can she eat normal flakes?and if i need too feed her special betta food how do i know she eat her own food and my neons wont snach it away from her?

 

[Louiseness]

i dont know she just stays beside the plants and always far from other fish.. and what do i feed my betta ? can she eat normal flakes?and if i need too feed her special betta food how do i know she eat her own food and my neons wont snach it away from her?

If the male guppies are following her constantly she might be hiding because she's scared or stressed. As I said, bettas aren't really going to shoal or 'play' with the other fish, it's just not their nature.

And you don't need special food, she can eat whatever the rest of the tank eats.

 

[tatuny]

Update : after 1 night in the comunity she is okay no missing fishys...And she is eating just like the rest of the tank tetramins flakes and granules...I am getting a male betta in my 20l tank alone...Does he need special betta food..Im planning on breeding them once...And is it cruel to keep the female betta without anyother female bettas with her to have a "surrority"?