Stocking ideas 40 gallon

[Dyl123]

I currently have a 40 gallon breeder, it’s fully cycled, the PH is at 7.0 and the temp is set at 26 degrees, in the aquarium I currently have;
1 male juvenile Firemouth
6 Buenos Aires tetra
Could anyone suggest anything else to put in this tank, haven’t got any preferences so any suggestion helps.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Hi, what is your GH? This will help us give you stocking suggestions. You can obtain this information from your local water provider, either the website or by calling them directly

 

[Dyl123]

My water is at about a 7 GH also

 

[JuiceBox52]

I would say up your shoal of ba tetras to 10-12 and go from there

 

[Dyl123]

So just keep it as 12 tetras and the 1 Firemouth?

 

[JuiceBox52]

So just keep it as 12 tetras and the 1 Firemouth?

You could probably do another shoal of a different type of tetra as well

 

[JuiceBox52]

You could probably do another shoal of a different type of tetra as well

Or a shoal of cories would be cool if you want bottom dwellers

 

[Byron]

Aside from some substrate fish like a group of Corydoras, there is not really space for more fish, not upper fish anyway. Because the Buenos Aires Tetra will be better with a couple more; as you have six I would get three more (at the same time). This species is known to fin nip, and a larger group can sometimes keep this minimal. Keep an eye on the Firemouth though, that they do not go after it. This is a cichlid but a gentle cichlid.

 

[Dyl123]

You could probably do another shoal of a different type of tetra as well

What tetras would do well in this tank and how many would you suggest

 

[JuiceBox52]

What tetras would do well in this tank and how many would you suggest

I am going to go back on this post because I trust Byron's suggestions more than my own, how about cories?

 

[Dyl123]

Aside from some substrate fish like a group of Corydoras, there is not really space for more fish, not upper fish anyway. Because the Buenos Aires Tetra will be better with a couple more; as you have six I would get three more (at the same time). This species is known to fin nip, and a larger group can sometimes keep this minimal. Keep an eye on the Firemouth though, that they do not go after it. This is a cichlid but a gentle cichlid.

I will probably look into getting some corys, would a small pleco do alright in the tank or not? Also these tetras I have in the tank don’t really seem interested in other fish and just focus on a lot of the plants.

 

[Byron]

I will probably look into getting some corys, would a small pleco do alright in the tank or not? Also these tetras I have in the tank don’t really seem interested in other fish and just focus on a lot of the plants.

Give them time, they are still settling into a new environment. Fish under initial stress often do not show their true colours, but that can change and it is as well to be ready. Another three would help...but, yes, they do eat plants.

A pleco, if a small one like a Bristlenose, should be OK, but it needs real wood and algae (veggie-based sinking disks). For cories, a group of 12-15 would be good in this sized tank.

 

[Dyl123]

Give them time, they are still settling into a new environment. Fish under initial stress often do not show their true colours, but that can change and it is as well to be ready. Another three would help...but, yes, they do eat plants.

A pleco, if a small one like a Bristlenose, should be OK, but it needs real wood and algae (veggie-based sinking disks). For cories, a group of 12-15 would be good in this sized tank.

The BA tetras have been in the tank for just over a month now but the Firemouth only a few days, my tank currently has a sand substrate, artificial plants, large rocks and some bogwood, can a small pleco be with Cories or should I choose one or the other?

 

[Byron]

The BA tetras have been in the tank for just over a month now but the Firemouth only a few days, my tank currently has a sand substrate, artificial plants, large rocks and some bogwood, can a small pleco be with Cories or should I choose one or the other?

Cories and pleco are fine. The BA need veggie food too, so the Omega One Veggie Flake and the Omega One Veggie Rounds (if you do get a Bristlenose) are just about the best veggie-base foods. Variety is key to fish food, so another flake like Omega One's Shrimp Flake, or New Life Spectrum Optimum flake for the BA. Omega One shrimp pellets for cories. Fluval Bug Bites for all of them.

 

[Dyl123]

Ok Thankyou I’ll keep note of that