Is My Tank Overstocked?

[ScoutCarcer]

I wanted to get some more fish and I was wondering is my tank was to full. I have a 20 gallon with 5 zebra danios, 3 guppies, 3 cories, and a pleco. Am I overstocked?

P.S. When the pleco is to big he will be given to my friend with a 100 gallon.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Your tank is fine without the pleco, but i would go and check wether you have a common or sailfin plec as these are very common and grow massive and will outgrow your tank in no time- www.planetcatfish.com is a good site to see wether you have either of these

 

[SworDTail KeePer]

I would hold back on your desison on getting new fish. The amount of fish you have now is fine. But, Tokis is right, you better check on what type of pleco you have.

 

[ScoutCarcer]

Can I add a Dwarf Gourami?

 

[Undawada]

Not until you can identify your plec

 

[SworDTail KeePer]

You could ease by but you will have to watch the pleco. If the pleco get any bigger than 5inch I would remove it and give it to your budy bucause the dwarf get to 2inch so I guess you can.

 

[Undawada]

If you add a dwarf gourami, you will be overstocked by the inch per gallon guideline.

A 20 gallon is a smallish tank to be overstocking. You might get away with it with overfiltering. I would definitely advise against getting any more fish.

What kind of filter do you have? I reccomend waiting to get a bigger tank or a two or three filter system.

edit : This advise is assuming for AFTER you have moved your plec to the 100 gallon tank. Plecos are much bigger waste producers than their size, and do not follow the inch per gallon guideline. I advise STRONGLY against adding anything until the pleco is rehomed.

 

[ScoutCarcer]

What kind he is doesnt matter whens hes 5 inches hes going to my friends 100 gallon. If he gets to big for that her father has a 200 gallon.

 

[Undawada]

After you rehome the plec, you can probably get a dwarf gourami, if you have good filtration.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

What kind he is doesnt matter whens hes 5 inches hes going to my friends 100 gallon. If he gets to big for that her father has a 200 gallon.

The kind does matter. Is there wood in your tank? Some plecs need wood for their diet.

Also, keeping it in such a small tank may stunt it's growth depending on it's species.

Not to mention the fact that a 5" plec would send your water readings off the chart because they produce so much waste.

 

[Ben]

What kind he is doesnt matter whens hes 5 inches hes going to my friends 100 gallon. If he gets to big for that her father has a 200 gallon.

The kind does matter. Is there wood in your tank? Some plecs need wood for their diet.

Also, keeping it in such a small tank may stunt it's growth depending on it's species.

Not to mention the fact that a 5" plec would send your water readings off the chart because they produce so much waste.

damn it Cheese, you beat me to it

As CS said, he will most probably get stunted and will never make it to 5 inches.
So i would consider re-homing him now

good luck

DD

 

[ScoutCarcer]

Ok it does matter if Yugi is a sailfin or common. Whats the difference between a sailfin and a common?

 

[Torrean]

umm your slightly wrong about the stunting thing. My sister has a common in a 10 gallon and he is 8 inches now. They are setting up a 20 for him now and they are working on a 55 but $$$ is an issue. They grow more slowly in smaller tanks and may not reach full size but a common will most definitly reach 5 inch. in a 20 gallon, as long as he lives long enough.

EDIT: it doesn't matter if he's a sailfin or common they are fairly similair. What matters is if he is a more fancy plec. Look in the catfish index on this site to see if you can find a pic of your plec. I'll get the link in a second http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=38

EDIT EDIT: the most likely candidates are rubbernose, common(probably what you have), sailfin, or bristlenose, In my opinion.

 

[ScoutCarcer]

umm your slightly wrong about the stunting thing. My sister has a common in a 10 gallon and he is 8 inches now. They are setting up a 20 for him now and they are working on a 55 but $$$ is an issue. They grow more slowly in smaller tanks and may not reach full size but a common will most definitly reach 5 inch. in a 20 gallon, as long as he lives long enough.

EDIT: it doesn't matter if he's a sailfin or common they are fairly similair. What matters is if he is a more fancy plec. Look in the catfish index on this site to see if you can find a pic of your plec. I'll get the link in a second http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showforum=38

Good it doesnt matter

 

[Torrean]

yes it does matter. Maybe I should have been clearer. He will not need wood if he is a sailfin or common. But he very well could be a wood eater. Also just because my sister has her plec in a ten doesn't mean that this is something ANYONE should do. I give her grief on it all the time.

edit: just because he has grown to 8 inches doesn't mean he is happy or healthy. You should see the condition of this tank. Poop everywhere. He has to swim upwards to turn around and his tail is bent from the cramped quarters. If you have a common or sailfin pleco you should move him to the big tank NOW.


edit edit: I should have kept my mouth shut.