Overstocking?

[Rex740]

2 questions...

1. Do dwarf gouramis stay at the top of your tank?

2. You can see my fish on my signature. Is my tank overstocked? If it isnt, will it be over stocked if a i add 2 dwarf gouramis, 1 balloon molly, and 1 or 2 platys?

 

[dixaisy930]

How long has the tank been stocked like this? If it's been a few months and all of your water parameters have been acceptable, I would add a fish or two, then wait a few more months and make sure they stay acceptable and then add the final one or two fish.

I wouldn't add the gouramis, since they will most likely have issues with your betta. I think adding the two platys and the balloon molly would be fine. Just make sure your sex ratios are in check. Although, you should probably get the tetras in groups of atleast six (so add 3 more skirts, and two more neons). I highly recommend getting rid of your chinese algae eater. They get meaner the bigger they get. They will eventually try and suck the slime coat off of your other fish. If you do add those other fish, you will probably be at capacity.

 

[Jozlyn]

I can't give you any advice on whether or not you're overstocked as I don't know anything about some of the fish you have in your tank, I've only done research on my own fish and one's I'm interested in.

You can't have Gourami and Betta's in the same tank together as they will fight, maybe not at first, but they will fight eventually and you shouldn't knowingly do this to your fish. Having said that though, the Dwarf Gourami are mainly mid-tank with forays to the top to grab a bit of air, or to spit a bit of water, and down to the bottom to forage for food scraps, they also love to nibble on plants so make sure you have a few real plants for them. There are also a few incurable health issues surrounding the Dwarf Gourami's so make sure you get them from a reliable breeder rather than the LFS, I've lost one already to a viral tumour and my other one has only a matter of weeks before he dies as well from the same virus. It's devastating loosing your fish.

The Neon Tetra will most likely nip at your Betta's fins, so he really needs to be in his own tank. I know my Neon's nip at everyone else in my tank. Tetra's also need to be in a school of a minimum of 5 - 6 fish, the more the better, they're quite a sight when they all school together, so you need to get a few mor of them.

You need to rehome the Chinease Algae Eater or return it to your LFS immediately! They grow to around 30cm's long and are really, really agressive it will most likely kill the rest of your fish. They're usually nice and placid till they're about half grown (adolecent, around 15cm's) and then their demeanor will change overnight, and you'll have a tank full of dead fish!

I nearly bought one, but decided to do some research on them first, thank God I did, I was horrified by what I found out, given that all the LFS told me was, that they were "good for algae" and told me nothing else about them. Like Betta's they need to be in a tank on their own except when breeding, I got a lovely Bristle Nose Catfish instead a much better choice for an algae eater.

Make sure you do lot's of research on any fish you'd like to buy, don't rely on your LFS for advice.

Good luck with your tank and it's inhabitants

 

[Chuka1212]

You can't have Gourami and Betta's in the same tank together as they will fight, maybe not at first, but they will fight eventually and you shouldn't knowingly do this to your fish. Having said that though, the Dwarf Gourami are mainly mid-tank with forays to the top to grab a bit of air, or to spit a bit of water, and down to the bottom to forage for food scraps, they also love to nibble on plants so make sure you have a few real plants for them. There are also a few incurable health issues surrounding the Dwarf Gourami's so make sure you get them from a reliable breeder rather than the LFS, I've lost one already to a viral tumour and my other one has only a matter of weeks before he dies as well from the same virus. It's devastating loosing your fish.

The Neon Tetra will most likely nip at your Betta's fins, so he really needs to be in his own tank. I know my Neon's nip at everyone else in my tank. Tetra's also need to be in a school of a minimum of 5 - 6 fish, the more the better, they're quite a sight when they all school together, so you need to get a few mor of them.

You need to rehome the Chinease Algae Eater or return it to your LFS immediately! They grow to around 30cm's long and are really, really agressive it will most likely kill the rest of your fish. They're usually nice and placid till they're about half grown (adolecent, around 15cm's) and then their demeanor will change overnight, and you'll have a tank full of dead fish!

Good luck with your tank and it's inhabitants

Sorry I must disagree and agree about a few things said:

About the neons, I have had neons for years with a variety of fish and have never seen them nip fins, though I do agree they love schooling. From personal experience, the Chinese Algea eater doesn't all of a sudden turn into a killer, they just have a tendency to eat the slime coat off of slower moving fish, they wont turn into Jaws or anything. But of course a fish without slime coat is bad news.

But I do agree with the Betta/gourami thing. I am sure you will have problems if you put the two together and i also agree wholeheartedly that dwarf gouramis get some nasty diseases, I had one that died today after a lengthy stay in my hospital tank... I had to put him out of his misery and I probably won't try the gourami thing for a while, they can be sensitive to sickness.

To me, it doesn't sound like you are overstocked, I would check the parameters like dixaisy suggested, that is the best indicator of overstocked tanks along with the 1 inch of fish per gallon works pretty good for me.

 

[Jozlyn]

You can't have Gourami and Betta's in the same tank together as they will fight, maybe not at first, but they will fight eventually and you shouldn't knowingly do this to your fish. Having said that though, the Dwarf Gourami are mainly mid-tank with forays to the top to grab a bit of air, or to spit a bit of water, and down to the bottom to forage for food scraps, they also love to nibble on plants so make sure you have a few real plants for them. There are also a few incurable health issues surrounding the Dwarf Gourami's so make sure you get them from a reliable breeder rather than the LFS, I've lost one already to a viral tumour and my other one has only a matter of weeks before he dies as well from the same virus. It's devastating loosing your fish.

The Neon Tetra will most likely nip at your Betta's fins, so he really needs to be in his own tank. I know my Neon's nip at everyone else in my tank. Tetra's also need to be in a school of a minimum of 5 - 6 fish, the more the better, they're quite a sight when they all school together, so you need to get a few mor of them.

You need to rehome the Chinease Algae Eater or return it to your LFS immediately! They grow to around 30cm's long and are really, really agressive it will most likely kill the rest of your fish. They're usually nice and placid till they're about half grown (adolecent, around 15cm's) and then their demeanor will change overnight, and you'll have a tank full of dead fish!

Good luck with your tank and it's inhabitants

Sorry I must disagree and agree about a few things said:

About the neons, I have had neons for years with a variety of fish and have never seen them nip fins, though I do agree they love schooling. From personal experience, the Chinese Algea eater doesn't all of a sudden turn into a killer, they just have a tendency to eat the slime coat off of slower moving fish, they wont turn into Jaws or anything. But of course a fish without slime coat is bad news.

But I do agree with the Betta/gourami thing. I am sure you will have problems if you put the two together and i also agree wholeheartedly that dwarf gouramis get some nasty diseases, I had one that died today after a lengthy stay in my hospital tank... I had to put him out of his misery and I probably won't try the gourami thing for a while, they can be sensitive to sickness.

To me, it doesn't sound like you are overstocked, I would check the parameters like dixaisy suggested, that is the best indicator of overstocked tanks along with the 1 inch of fish per gallon works pretty good for me.

That's ok That's what this whole forum is about, differing views, ideas etc. My Neon's are nippy with the guppies, might becuase of those tempting tails tho! As for the CAE that was what I found out after I researched them, both on here and other web sites

 

[stang1]

I kept Neons witha Betta and they were nasty little buggers! They kept nipping at the tail of my fighter and in the end I had to move him.
People do have different experiences and can keep certain fish together with no problems at all. The one thing to keep in mind though, is that things can change overnight. You could have fish living in harmony for months and then all of a sudden things go wrong!

 

[dwarfgourami]

Another reason for rehoming the Chinese Algae Eater (of which I have had bad experiences) is that as it grows older and more boisterous, the farlowella may well become intimidated and stop eating. This may not happen immediately but is a risk you should know about.

 

[LisaLQ]

Another reason for rehoming the Chinese Algae Eater (of which I have had bad experiences) is that as it grows older and more boisterous, the farlowella may well become intimidated and stop eating. This may not happen immediately but is a risk you should know about.

Been told this already before he bought the farlowella:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...184830&st=0

Also the dojos need a cooler set up (as explained already).

 

[fuzz16]

i would get one dwarf gourami and see how it went
you have a large tank and if you have something for the fish to set territories up with theyll be fine.
your tank is actually understocked, IMO, that is until your livebearers start popping out fry like no other

and umm...my betta and dwarf gourami sleep next to eachother. it depends on the fish.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

1 Male betta, 1 Pineapple swordtail, 1 Mickey mouse platy, 2 Marigolds, 1 Balloon Molly, 3 Black long-finned skirt tetras, 1 mini ramshorn snail (Got him accidentally with some fish, it's only a cm big), 4 Neon tetras, 4 Cheri Barbs, 1 Chinese algae eater, 1 Farlowella, and 2 Dojo loaches (also known as the weather loach).

Fish that need to be rehomed:
CAE- grow big and aggressive as others said.
betta- will get nipped by neons, will chase any fish with long fins eventually.
dojo loaches-need cooler temps.
You will also:
need to buy at least 3 more neons, they are schooling fish
and don't buy the gourammi, bettas and gouramis don't go well together, it's almost like putting it with another betta. Also, they can catch diseases pretty quickly.

 

[Rex740]

5 things.

Ive had my betta and neons for a year and nothing is really wrong. My neons do not care about more neons because they seem to accept the cheri barbs as their own.

I dont understand how my tank is understocked... When i look at the fish tank it seems so busy with fish!

As soon as my CAE has signs of agression i will take him out.

I will not get dwarf gourami's.

My dojo loaches have been with me for months and they are doing alright. Besides, My parents wont allow me a second tank.

I am going to the lfs today. i'll probably get the one platy or maybe 2. If they have a good balloon molly i'll take it.