Some Advice On A New Tank

[flippajh]

Hi everyone,

I have a 65 ltr community with a few different tetra species, 4 x glowlights, 4 x white skirts, 2 neons and 3 male guppies, which makes my stocking level a little high, but I'm loving keeping fish so now want to get something a bit bigger, I have the opportunity to help a friend out and take their Aqua One Regency 80 off their hands, I believe it is around 180 litres.

The question I have is he wants me to take the fish on with the tank, and I wanted to know whether my fish will mix with his ok. He has 2 gold severum which are a male and female pair that are about 5" diameter each at the moment, they do look amazing, he also has 2 or 3 congo tetra, 3 harlequin, a silver shark and a couple of catfish, which I couldn't see, but he says one of them is an albino.

Everything I've read says the shark and the severum are very aggressive and will eat the smaller fish, he says they've never attacked anything yet, but just wanted to get a few opinions.

I'm okay with the tetras, but have not had fish like Severums before, are they easy to care for, he's obviously saying they are, but reading up, it looks like a 180 litre really isn't big enough for these fish.

I would really like to keep some Gourami's but don't know if they'll all mix.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Truck]

4 x glowlights, 4 x white skirts, 2 neons and 3 male guppies

your tank is no way over stocked you could get another 10 or so tetras in their.

as for mixing the bigger fish with the smaller ones i wouldnt reccomend it

 

[rabbut]

Full stocked is your own, but Truck is right. If you are willing to do more maintnance, more fish are possible, assuming good filtration, in your current tank. You would however be "overstocking" the tank

White skirts are albino Black skirt tetra, and usualy rip male guppies (or anything else with long fins for that matter) to pieces, if they feel secure. They need a group of 6+, like any tetra, to feel secure, so the fact they aren't killing your guppies could surgest that they are under stress and need more of them... The other option is you have some freek specimins in the from of your tetras, but that is less likely

The Severums and Silver shark will grow too large for a 200l tank, so they would need to be re-homed. Both will view your current fish as dinner, from about the size of the severums currently and up. Silver shark need groups of 6+ also, and aren't agressive. Like any fish though, if it fits in their mouth, they will try to eat it. The Congo Tetra and Harlequins are all dinner soon also from their current mixing...

In your place, if you friend is OK with it, I'd re-home the silver shark, severums and guppies/white skirts, before moving your current stock across. Give it a few weeks to settle down and ensure the move has been successful, before "topping up" the shoaling fish numbers. All the tetras need groups of 6+

Once all the fish are settled, you could mebe then think about some more

If you keep the white skirts, you will need to be careful about which gourami you consider, as then skirts have been known to "nibble" a few species. Some gourami will also chew guppies (Dwarfs most noticably)

All the best
Rabbut

 

[flippajh]

Thanks for the comments.

I didn't realise the white skirts didn't like guppies, they have grown pretty big, and don't go near the guppies, but actually they do hide in the plants quite a lot so perhaps they are stressed. I did only used to have 2 as one died, they were all really skinny, but when I made them up to four they all grew like mad!

Will keep an eye on them.

Will ask my friend if he can find a new home for the Severum's and the shark, I really don't want to overstock the new tank before I start!

I'm going to keep the 65 ltr anyway as I also have a Betta in a smaller tank, who I would like to put in it. I'll keep all tanks running for 3/4 weeks and make sure everyone settles in then have a look at what I've got.

Thanks for the comments.