Over Stocked Tank?

[Mom of MnE]

I was wondering if my tank would be over stocked if i added my male betta. I want to see if he will work with my fish since he is pertty calm. i have 3 dalmatian mollies 2 platy and 4 otos would adding a betta be 2 much?!?!

 

[Fishy friend2]

I think your tank is already overstocked 4 ottos = 8 gallons, 3 mollys = 8 to 12 gallons, 2 platys = 4 gallons
Anyone correct me if I am wrong about the stocking i am not very good with this kind of stuff

 

[soybean]

I think you're overstocked as it is.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I think you should re home the mollies and the ottos and then maybe you can get a male Betta

 

[soybean]

I think you should re home the mollies and the ottos and then maybe you can get a male Betta

Why the otos? They're only small, they're fine in the 10 gallon.


Having three mollies in a 10 gallon really puts you at the limit.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I am not very good with stocking at all and since there were already 4 ottos I thought that that would be 8 gallons of stocking already but with platys I thought they would only take up 4 gallons and that means that the poster could get there Betta and maybe 1 more platy

 

[Mom of MnE]

lol ok i just got confused am i overstocked Fishy Friend2 or no? do i need to try and find some where for the otos or anyother fish?!?

 

[soybean]

I am not very good with stocking at all and since there were already 4 ottos I thought that that would be 8 gallons of stocking already but with platys I thought they would only take up 4 gallons and that means that the poster could get there Betta and maybe 1 more platy

The inch per gallon rule is useful as a rule of thumb for newbies but it isn't a prescribed rule for every fish in every tank - you couldn't put a 9" fish in a 10G tank and declare it understocked, for example. It's more useful to look at things like activity levels, where fish occupy the tank, body mass, waste levels, territorial behaviour etc.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I think that you are already overstocked maybe rehome the mollies

 

[soybean]

lol ok i just got confused am i overstocked Fishy Friend2 or no? do i need to try and find some where for the otos or anyother fish?!?

The bottom line is whether or not you can fit your betta in your tank. I think you're at your limit already because mollies are large, active fish for a 10G.

Also there's no telling how the betta might react to the other fish, however calm he's been on his own.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I am not very good with stocking at all and since there were already 4 ottos I thought that that would be 8 gallons of stocking already but with platys I thought they would only take up 4 gallons and that means that the poster could get there Betta and maybe 1 more platy

The inch per gallon rule is useful as a rule of thumb for newbies but it isn't a prescribed rule for every fish in every tank - you couldn't put a 9" fish in a 10G tank and declare it understocked, for example. It's more useful to look at things like activity levels, where fish occupy the tank, body mass, waste levels, territorial behaviour etc.

Yeah in a 10 gallon it would only applie to small fish such as neons right

 

[Mom of MnE]

I am not very good with stocking at all and since there were already 4 ottos I thought that that would be 8 gallons of stocking already but with platys I thought they would only take up 4 gallons and that means that the poster could get there Betta and maybe 1 more platy

The inch per gallon rule is useful as a rule of thumb for newbies but it isn't a prescribed rule for every fish in every tank - you couldn't put a 9" fish in a 10G tank and declare it understocked, for example. It's more useful to look at things like activity levels, where fish occupy the tank, body mass, waste levels, territorial behaviour etc.

Yeah in a 10 gallon it would only applie to small fish such as neons right

OKAY THANK YOU

 

[soybean]

I am not very good with stocking at all and since there were already 4 ottos I thought that that would be 8 gallons of stocking already but with platys I thought they would only take up 4 gallons and that means that the poster could get there Betta and maybe 1 more platy

The inch per gallon rule is useful as a rule of thumb for newbies but it isn't a prescribed rule for every fish in every tank - you couldn't put a 9" fish in a 10G tank and declare it understocked, for example. It's more useful to look at things like activity levels, where fish occupy the tank, body mass, waste levels, territorial behaviour etc.

Yeah in a 10 gallon it would only applie to small fish such as neons right

More or less, yes. But then again I would always say that tetras should be in large groups of 15+ to get the best out of them - which would be pushing it in a 10G.

I find it easier to ignore this rule altogether as there are so many variables!

 

[Fishy friend2]

Yeah I agree with you soybean