Overstocked, Help!

[ellejay]

Hi, have recently taken a tank from a work mate and after a bit of research i think its seriously overstocked. These are the current residents:

2 cardinal tetra
4 neon tetra
4 xray tetra
5 scissortails
2 angelfish (albino i think)
1 red fin shark
4 red platys
1 yellow molly
3 clown loaches
1 large common plec

The tank is 94L. I have spoken to my lfs and they will take in the angels and the red fin shark now, and the common plec when they have room. Do i need to rehome any more? The clowns are about 3ins each now but I have read that they can grow to 16 ins! Would be extremely grateful for any advice

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Yeh the shark, plec, angels and the loaches are too big for the tank I'm afraid.

In replacement I would up the tetras to 6 each and a few more mollies, I'm not sure on scissortails so I can't comment on those.

I would then get a few shrimp for the bottom as you always nee a bottom feeder, but I don't think you can get away with any more fishes in there. Shrimp have a minute bio load, so they won't really change anything.

However I would await for more experienced advice

 

[ellejay]

Thanks!

 

[marieukxx]

and the common pleco needs to be rehomed.

 

[Crazycat lady]

Sounds okish to me, if u are worried get an airstone or bubble wall.
Not meant as an excuse to overstock but will increase surface area of water n help oxygen levels

Scissor tails can get quite big (3 inches sometimes)

 

[KittyKat]

Yep, above is right that angels, plec, loaches and shark should have bigger homes. Shark could, in theory, be ok if the tank is 3 ft, but in practice, they are too aggressive for the other fish.

I would also exchange the scissor tails for more tetras of the species you already have. They grow to 5" in good conditions.

 

[ellejay]

Thanks for all the advice! So, in theory, would this be more suitable?

6 cardinal tetra
6 neon tetra
6 xray tetra
4 red platys
1 yellow molly
Shrimp

How many more mollies would i need to get? At the moment he seems to think he's one of the platys! Would it be possible to put a betta in with them?

 

[Smells a bit fishy]

Tetras can be fin nippers. So a betta isn't a great idea.

I had a Molly that thought she was a black ruby barb lol. I then had to give them back as they fin nipped my angel. I then got 4 mollies for her. But 2-3 more would be plenty. If it's a male get all female, if it's female get one male and 1 or 2 females.

 

[KittyKat]

Yes, stock you have there is much better.

I would recommend that you keep only male mollies because otherwise, they may breed out of control. This isn't a problem if you have an LFS or something which will always take the fish in, of course.. so if this is the case, then 2 females per male livebearer is the usual rule. One male molly with some platys is ok.

+1, Betta is not a great idea, but could work on rare occasions.

 

[Crazycat lady]

I read in the beginner section that as a general rule of thumb, it's 1 inch of fish(not incliding tail)
for every US gallon x
I think that's around 23 ish inches. Cuttin it fine with
that selection if you use the calculation x
if u keep on top of maintenance u should me ok in my opinion x
Although addin more mollies might tip u over x generally mollies need 2 female for each male x

 

[ellejay]

How do I sex the molly?

 

[KittyKat]

Females have anal fins, males have gonopodiums.

 

[ellejay]

Right think its a male

 

[ellejay]

Quick update: My friendly lfs took in the scissortails, the shark, both angels and the clown loaches (gutted to get rid of them ) and they gave me store credit too! Nowhere near what the fish are worth but they didn't have to give me anything and they are solving my problem for me. So I have come home with a few replacements and space for more when the lfs has more variety in stock. They did have some nice looking glowlight tetras but wasn't sure if I'd just be better off upping the stocks of what I have?

So here are the current residents:
6 neons
2 cardinal tetras
4 xray tetras
4 red platys
1 yellow molly
2 dalmatian mollies
2 shrimp
and the plec, which I am struggling to rehome. The lfs said they would take it when they had room, at the mo they have a large tank with 3 plecs, all bigger than mine, including one beast which looks to be fully grown!

Anyway thanks for all the advice

 

[The Taffy Apple]

I would, personally, add some more Cardinal Tetra..they are fantastic to watch in groups of 12 or more, they are currently my favourite fish in my 110L !

Terry.