Over Stocking?

[mike455555]

at the moment iv got a 20L tank with 1 guppie 1 neon and 2 oto's in it im thinking of getting 3-4 more neon's and a amano shrimp... (iv got 2 tanks set up so takeing some fish out wont be a problem, plenty of space in my other one)

 

[Kelly-Jo]

20L is too small for a guppy in my opinion and neon tetras really should have a much larger tank as they are a shoaling fish which require a great deal of open swimming space.

 

[mike455555]

what would you suggest for the tank then?

 

[KkAaNnEe]

A siamese fighter possibly?

 

[fishprotector]

A shrimp only habitat?

 

[mike455555]

iv got fighter's already id peffer neons to be honest... i like lots of little fish (the neon i put in today doesnt seem to be stressed at all) .. i dont mind moveing the guppie... but would it mix with a female fighter? its a fancy guppie

i dont like shrimp only tanks... i like fish more than shrimp... the shrimp was mainly to clean it a little get rid of hair algae (iv noticed a little in the tank)

 

[Jenste]

In all fairness I think you knew it would be overstocking - hence your title and the reason for your post.


That is a VERY small tank that is not really suitable for many species. Yes, neons are quite small - but to keep them properly they belong in a school and need room to shoal around the tank.

Having 1 betta or a shrimp colony or an african dwarf frog are your best choices.

 

[mike455555]

i have previously housed 5 white cloud minnows and 2 goldfish in the same tank (before i turned it tropical) they seemed fine... but if i were to put neons in there 5 maybe? would that be over stocking?... its quite a tall tank (aqua one 300) ... if anything bad happens i can always move them to my bigger tank.. i was just thinking would it be over stocked or fully stocked with them... is there any really small schooling fish i could add? maybe which would have enough space??

 

[Kelly-Jo]

The problem is not just whether it is 'overstocked' or not. It is also about the practicality of it for that particular species. For example, technically having a few neon tetras in this tank is not over stocking it, but as they need a lot of swimming room the tank is not big enough for them.

 

[mike455555]

ok is there a smaller type of fish i can get which i could have afew off which dont need as much swimming room as neons?

 

[Kelly-Jo]

Not really unfortunately the smaller the tank the more limited you are with stocking. tetras are out of the question really as they all need plenty of swim space. As has been said, the only fish I'd personally house in this tank is a single fighter or shrimp.

 

[mike455555]

what about nano aquariums some of them have tinny fish in? ...they have less room than my tank?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Personally, I would not house that community of proposed fish in anything smaller than a 60x30x30cm tank. That 20l (which is a "nano" as far as I'm concerned) is best kept as a QT; breeding tank (i.e. temporary tank for a bonded pair to spawn in); a fry raising tank.

 

[Jenste]

what about nano aquariums some of them have tinny fish in? ...they have less room than my tank?

Often by amateurs who have no idea what they are doing and as a result the fish suffer.

Just because it IS being done, does not mean it SHOULD be done - - perfect example = goldfish bowls.

 

[mike455555]

im not allowed a bigger one upstairs... and i want one in my room so yer altho it would be nice to have a massive tank for them its not possible... and a breeding tank wont look nice... i guess i could go with the betta option but i already have females in my 3f tank ...i'll have a think of what i wanta put in it ... maybe change it arround abit