stocking question

[norbie]

hi there,

i've just got my very first tank set up, and currently have one male, and one female guppy

i probably need to get another female guppy or else the other female will get bullied too much - am i right with that?

if i ended up with those 3 guppies, i would quite like another kind of fish as well.

my question is, what fish can you recommend that get on well with guppies (i dont want any fights or bitings) and are still hardy, cheap and nice looking? i'd quite like a pair so they wouldn't be lonely

 

[OohFeeshy]

Platies, probably. Although I'd try to get all male or all female because you will soon end up with lots of babies

 

[SPLiSH]

Yes, you definately should get another female to reduce the stress of the original one. Some hardy, guppy-friendly fish are platies, swordtails, cory catfish, some tetras and sometimes plecos. How big is your tank?

 

[norbie]

its only 60cm long, 29cm wide, 23cm deep = 35 Litre (UK)

good idea about getting the same sex of another type of fish.

i'll have to look up those others you suggested splish, thanks!

 

[norbie]

platys or tetras seem the most likely to get then, as i dont suppose the other will do well in a small tank will they?

 

[chishnfips]

Zebra danios or something, wee neons are nice. or any other tetras I have some Xray tetras which live with my guppies and they look quite smart.

 

[norbie]

it appears zebra danios should only be in shoals of at least 5 and have quite a large tank

 

[fishman 1]

Be carefull when selecting tetras as there are some types that are as vicious as !!!!

One type to make sure you steer well clear of is Aphyocharax Paraguayensis (white-spotted tetra or Paraguayan tetra) vicious is an understatement, more like completely sadistic!

I find when I buy any tetras that I dont know much about it is best to watch them for a bit and you will soon see if they are going to be trouble.

I think small tetras, corys, a few danios wouldnt hurt or as an alternative maybe some pseudomugil rainbows, platys, more female guppies, kuli loaches or maybe a couple of peacock gobys.

Happy fish shopping!

 

[sylvia]

Just remember that if you get tetras you will need a school of 6 - making it difficult to keep them in a 9 gallon (approx.?) tank with 3 live-bearers that'll soon over-stock your tank by breeding non-stop That's isn't to say you shouldn't get any - just watch your stocking levels and don't go for something fragile like neons - black phantoms or harlequin rasboras (though they aren't tetras obviously ) would be more suitable in a situation where the fish might have to deal with reduced water quality if the tank does become over-stocked for a while.

Personaly I'd go for a couple of male platies or a couple of honey gouramies and leave it at that - 3-4 pygmy/dwarf cories or a couple of otos would also be very nice additions.

 

[fishman 1]

Or if you fancy a type of gourami there are the sparkling or croaking gouramis although I think the latter may eat your baby guppies, still I suppose that is not too bad as the guppies eat their own aswell.

 

[fishman 1]

Incidently on my replys do not think that you can stock your tank will all the varieties I have listed. It is just to give you an idea of types of fish you could have.

 

[norbie]

wow! so many replies!

ok if i get something it will only be one other type of fish, not a selection!

ideally i will get two of the same species, but if theyre tiny i may get a few more.

corys - are these ok to keep in quite a small tank? do they get on well in pairs?
gouramies - heard they need a lot of room is this true?
otos look quite sweet

how am i going to decide!!

 

[fishman 1]

The gouramis sylvia and I have recommended will be fine in the tank you have providing you dont have any more than a pair. The 3 types we have listed are the smallest.

Corydoras catfish will be fine. These fish prefere some company (more than just one of). You could have a small group of c. hastartus, pygmaeus or cochui as these are the smaller varieties of corys.

Octocinclus or paraoctocinclus will be fine to as these are small too.

Enjoy making the decision. I suppose it will depend on whats on offer when you go to buy your fish. Remember though... Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

[SPLiSH]

Norbie, It's good to see you researching before you get the fish.

Yeah, cories could be kept in your tank, just make sure you keep up with water changes. They are great little fish, and very hardy. It's best to keep them in groups of at least two, three or more is better. Here's some info on themost common variety of cory, the bronze cory: Bronze Cory

 

[mwm]

from my experience platys harras the HELL out of guppys non stop. I would just make it like 1 male : 3 female guppys a few snails, ADF, and plant it lots so the fry can hide form their hungry parents Guppys eat there own fry...I dont know how their breed has survived