Neons

[CluelessScot]

Does Neons come under the inch per Gallon rule?

I was told when it comes to neons to ignor that, but i dunno?
What are your veiws on this?

Kev

P.S Anyone know anything about helping sick Rams --> http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115022 Need help

 

[Lynden]

Tetras crap about once every four years (exageration) . They do not increase the bioload by a noticable amount, if at all. Ignor them. Unless they take up about 20''.

 

[CluelessScot]

So you wouldnt take tetras into consideration at all unless you had about 20 of them? Does that mean that 20 tetras equals 1" per gallon say?

Kev

 

[Lynden]

Id say ten big tetras equal about 1''. DO NOT place 330 tetras in a 33 gallon though. The are basically an accessory, so to speak, and should not be your main fish. Mostly because if they are, it makes for a fairly boring tank. Toss a shoal of tetras into a river tank with some checkerboard cichlids or other small docile cichlid. However, my black neon tetras were in with a jewel cichlid one time, and managed to escape unharmed. The jewel was there for about a week. They are the ultimate survivalists, treat them well and they are a good little fish.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Tetras are included to a certain extent in the one inch of fish per gal rule of thumb like any fish but there are some factors to take into consideration;
a. The minimum amount of gallons to keep neons is 10gals, this is because they are schooling fish that need space to roam and look around in.
b. The minimum amount of neons in a tank is 5-6, more if the tank exceeds 40gals as too few neons in a tank that has alot of space will make them feel insecure.
c. Neons are low waste producing fish but they also demand good stable water quality, from the decline of quality in recent neon tetra stocks over the years many neons are very fragile and would not say for example, survive or prosper in a cycling or recently cycled tank or one that has water quality issues of some sort.
d. In some respects the one inch of fish per gal rule very much applys to neon tetras but taking these factors into consideration of course- you shouldn't keep a single neon in a 1gal tank and neither would it be fair to keep 5 in a 60gal tank etc for example.

 

[Lynden]

Yeah, Tokis-Pheonix has covered everything.

 

[Erised]

Completely agree with all Tokis said, but just wanna add 1 thing to that...

I don't think neons can be classed as 'nothing' when being added to a tank smaller than 20G. In a fully stocked 10G, 6 neons Could make a massive difference. Not so much on the bioload, but simply on the fact there's hardly any room for the fish to move around then.

 

[Lynden]

I beg to differ with that. I keep about 30 guppies in a ten, and they love me. Heh heh. I am less cautios with overstocking in a tank than most people are though, however my methods obviously work. Heh heh.

 

[CluelessScot]

I would say my tanks stocked really, but my plec has gone and so has the glass cat (returned). I think my sissortails are enough but my gf loves neons. How many would you suggest if i were to get some?

Kev

P.s
45G
Pair of Bolivian Rams
Pair of Dutch Blue Ram
10 Sissortails
4 Peppered Corys
2 Apple Snail

 

[Lynden]

One shoal, maybe of 6-10.

 

[Griz]

A dozen. And if you're not planning any more additions to your tank you could add more than that.

 

[CluelessScot]

I mite get some then Oo thanks

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

and should not be your main fish. Mostly because if they are, it makes for a fairly boring tank.

hmm i disagree with you completely there

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I couldn't imagine my main tank without my neon tetras for example, they are a big part of the enjoyment in it. Also they help make me feel more secure about my tank, because when they are shoaling in small groups around the tank exploring it with vibrant colors and are very healthy its a realy good sign that everything else is good in the tank. All tetras will shoal tightly together when they feel insecure or under stress, and neon tetras will go pale in color when water quality is bad or tank mates are stressing them or they are ill- so they are a sort of enviromental indicators of how everything is going.
Not to mention the beautiful array of colors in tetras and how dazzling they can be and the different personalitys in each species/types .

 

[Lynden]

I personally love tetras. However, if they have nothing to play tag with, they get kinda bored. Which will often make the owner bored.

I agree, Tokis. Healthy neons, to me, are a much bigger indicator of a healthy tank than any test kit.