New Cardinal Tetra, Is 6 Enough?

[ATK!!!]

Early this morning i popped down to the lfs and bough 6 Cardinal tetras, i didnt want to add too many at once so i decided 6 was a good number. Although they seem happy enough at the mo i was wondering what would happen if i introduced another batch later this month. I've heard that sometimes they may not get on well? Heres my tank details:

35L/ 10 Uk gal Biube with 2 Platy, cherry shrimp, assasin snail and a whole load of pest snails!
Water quality is fine: 0ppm ammonia, pH 7.6 thereabouts, nitrites 0ppm, nitrates ??? (havent tested them for a while). The tank has been fully cycled and i have had it since November last year, the platy have been in there almost since the start and the shrimp were added in January.

I had already kept some cardinals in my tank but the pH was so high (8.4-6) that i had to return them, the use of bogwood has lowered it significantly along with the use of many plants.

Heres a pic of the Tetras 2 hours after being introduced to the tank:

The Bogwood with Java Fern which has lowered pH

I will soon be posting a video/ pics in the members pics area

 

[cornishlass]

Early this morning i popped down to the lfs and bough 6 Cardinal tetras, i didnt want to add too many at once so i decided 6 was a good number. Although they seem happy enough at the mo i was wondering what would happen if i introduced another batch later this month. I've heard that sometimes they may not get on well? Heres my tank details:

35L/ 10 Uk gal Biube with 2 Platy, cherry shrimp, assasin snail and a whole load of pest snails!
Water quality is fine: 0ppm ammonia, pH 7.6 thereabouts, nitrites 0ppm, nitrates ??? (havent tested them for a while). The tank has been fully cycled and i have had it since November last year, the platy have been in there almost since the start and the shrimp were added in January.

I had already kept some cardinals in my tank but the pH was so high (8.4-6) that i had to return them, the use of bogwood has lowered it significantly along with the use of many plants.

Heres a pic of the Tetras 2 hours after being introduced to the tank:
View attachment 62597
The Bogwood with Java Fern which has lowered pH
View attachment 62596
I will soon be posting a video/ pics in the members pics area

I'm still new to this, but I think Platys generally need a larger tank, maybe if you didn’t have the platys you could have more tetra?

 

[ATK!!!]

I think you maybe be thinking of another fish! Platies only grow up to 4cm and are very hardy, peaceful fish to start a tank with. I can see what you mean about having too many fish but i have heard of much heavier stocked Biubes than mine, also consider that shrimp do not eat anyway near as much as fish! The real problem is that im not sure if the new tetras would join the school of other tetras...

 

[fluttermoth]

I've never heard of anyone having problems adding to a school of tetras; they should mix just fine; whether you'll be overstocked, I'll leave to your judgement.

 

[ajs2294]

5+ seems to be a fine amount for most shoaling fish. Personally the Cardinal shoal I have is 7 so pretty close to yours and they do great

 

[cornishlass]

I think you maybe be thinking of another fish! Platies only grow up to 4cm and are very hardy, peaceful fish to start a tank with. I can see what you mean about having too many fish but i have heard of much heavier stocked Biubes than mine, also consider that shrimp do not eat anyway near as much as fish! The real problem is that im not sure if the new tetras would join the school of other tetras...

Fair enough, I was told they wouldn’t have enough swimming room in my 65ltr so that’s the only reason i mentioned it

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

wow thats a really nice tank you have .... shame you'll be overstocked hope your ready for regular water tests and water changes lol

 

[ATK!!!]

Sadly I sort of broke my dads camera yesterday, and he sort of tried to kill me.... so i wont be able to get any pics right away, he's even making me pay for repairs, but my friends dad just happens to be a CAMERA REPAIR MAN so hes giving me a discount. Anyway, sorry if i caused any confusion when i said i havent done tests regularly, i meant only for the nitrates, all the rest i check weekly. It is rather sad that i've basically reached the stocking limit, but i was thinking of rehoming the shrimp to a friend and then getting something else...

Who knows, anyway point is i wont be getting anything any time soon and hopefully you'll be seeing high quality movies/ pics from me soonish.