Question About Minimum Tank Sizes.

[Ruskull]

I think it's to do with how active the breed is an Oscar would be happy sitting there slowly turning at each end where as groups of neons like to dart around all day long.

 
Boom!  This is the correct answer.
 
BTW, a 15 gallon with 6-8 Neon Tetras isn't a sin by any stretch.  I have 3 Neons & 6 Glowlights in a 20 gallon high and they couldn't be happier.  I believe a 20 gallon high is the same footprint as a 15 gallon...............

 

[eaglesaquarium]

It is the same footprint. 24" x 12".  The only difference is the height of the tank.

 

[Wills]

Yeah, I see where your coming from. It is affordable to give a small fish an appropriate home but it is not affordable for a larger fish but I still think its fairly hypocritical.
Thanks for the replies though, it was quite the read

 I think I've started an interesting debate here.

 
I think hypocritical is a pretty fair word to be honest you are right. The actual answer probably lies in the fact that the hobby as a whole is ill equipped to deal with the number of big fish imported and sold. Where as there are plenty of options for the smaller fish.

The hypocrisy would end if people didn't get the big fish in the first place.

But given the current situation it does depends on which side the fish keeper actually wants to follow
 
Does the fish keeper look at the smaller end as a good example and try and keep fish in above what is considered the minimum? Or does the fish keeper look at it as a truely synthetic hobby and work out what makes the most impressive display and then what works out the best options to suit the fish keeper?
 
Also just so its out there its not my opinion about how to keep big fish and small fish its just a fact of how it is and how people pass advice on to one and an other and how people manage to deal with the big fish that they go out and buy. The aquatics hobby / industry is imperfect and thats what it boils down to. I would much rather that the hobby was much more manageable and we only had fish happy in 4 foot tanks in the hobby.
 
If it boils down to the Neon Tetras in the 15g, they probably will be good. A bigger tank will be good for them, but they will still thrive in a 15g IMO - if you dropped some marbles in the base and a floating mop you would probably find eggs - they will still grow well
 
It is an interesting debate around all this but I think its kind of proven a point that it does come down to opinion and where each fish keeper sits on tank sizes, in an other thread the Neon Tetras you were told no, here people are saying yes. Its making sure you keep up a healthy tank that really makes the decision
 
Anyway, hope thats a balanced enough reply, not trying to grate on anyone here just trying to help....
Wills

 

[Ruskull]

After reading what everyone else said I do agree, it's best not to look at minimum tank size as a good way to go when choosing what fish to keep.  Green Neon Tetras for instance are practically impossible to get around here anyway, so I couldn't get those unless I ordered them online.
 
Many sites list 10 gallons as the minimum tank size for Neons so you're okay with a small shoal in your 15 gallon.

It is the same footprint. 24" x 12".  The only difference is the height of the tank.

 
 
Thanks EA, I was fairly certain and too lazy to look it up!  A 20 gallon long is def. the same footprint as a 29 gallon as well.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Unfortunately, little in fish keeping can be reduced to simplistic terms. Lets start with the fact that recommended tank sizes for specific fish tend to vary according to who is making the suggestion.
 
Next, there are a variety of factors to consider. I can ask you what the minimum tank size is for and oscar. And you can answer whatever size you think is correct. Now I ask, is that tank OK to house an oscar and a school of tetras? I mean 15 neon or rummy nose tetras are a scant fraction of the oscar they wont make much waste and don't need much room.
 
I can house a red tail black shark in a 3 foot tank of about 35 gals, do you think I can have 2 in a 6 foot tank that is 75 gals or so? One needs lots of area to house plecos but crams african cichlids in almost like sardines to blunt aggression. Try that with different but similar sized fish.
 
Finally, minimum tank sizes are often for one fish.
 
But in thinking re minimum tank sizes consider:
 
Waste Production
Water Volume
Footprint
Temperament
Social Behavior
Spawning behavior
Fish Size
Swimming "Style" (active, inactive, fast, slow, in schools)
Habitat Needs (rocks, wood, plants- deep or shallow)

 

[wrightt3]

Okay, thanks everyone for the replies

  Just to make it clear though, I mentioned Oscars and compared them to rams because they are both cichlid and then mentioned neons and compared them to bala sharks because they are both shoaling species.
 
I know that shoaling fish will need more room than a slow moving cichlid.