Stocking Suggestions

[bbdanno]

Hi everyone,
 
Recently bought myself a 64L tank and was looking for suggestions on what I could stock in it? I have 4 guppies and a mountain shrimp which will be moved into the tank.
 
Looking to have as much colour in there as possible, any ideas on what would be ideal for a 64L tank with the fish that will be moved in shortly?

 

[fluttermoth]

to the forum
 
What are the dimensions of the tank? (As some fish need more swimming room than others of the same size)
 
Is your water hard or soft? (It's easier to keep fish that like the water you have, rather than trying to change it)

 

[bbdanno]

Thanks for the reply.
 
The dimensions are roughly 65 x 46.5 x 36cm and the water is hard.

 

[the_lock_man]

I'd get another guppy for a start - I normally recommend these in a group of 5+. Guppies can be quite boisterous, nippy little blighters, keeping them in a reasonably large group usually means that the aggression is spread around the group, rather than one individual being picked upon. Also it tends to keep that aggression within the species, rather than the guppies going after other species.
 
Then you can go one of two ways
 
1) A shoal of something big(ish) and colourful, and I can't help but recommend Cardinal Tetra for that - you don't get much more colourful.
 
or
 
2) A shoal (of 6) of a dwarf cory species, either Corydoras Habrosus or Corydoras Hastatus (I personally prefer C. Habrosus) and then a shoal of 6 of something teensy like Chilli Rasbora or Celestial Pearl Danio. Partly your choice here would depend upon the colouring of the guppies you currently have.
 
If it were me, I'd go for the latter option, but equally you may find it difficult to find the dwarf cory species, in which case, really you'd be better off going for the first option.

 

[bbdanno]

Really like those Chilli Rasbora and Cardinal Tetras/Neon Tetras. Could I have two of three those with something big(ish) along with the guppies or would that be too much?

 

[Elena]

I would recommend getting at least 5 or 6 neons/cardinals/chilli rasbora they will be much happier in larger numbers. What about Rummy nose tetras, amber tetras or neon rainbow fish? Anything bigger might pick on your smaller fish and shrimp.

 

[bbdanno]

Do you reckon I could add a group of two of those type of fish with what I have? Thinking space wise if that would be ok?

 

[Elena]

I think you might be able to get away with stocking maybe two groups of the smaller fish like the chilli rasbora and neons because they're really small fish. Or maybe a group of pygmy corydoras and one group of small fish to mix it up a little bit because they spend most of the time at the bottom. But I'm no expert its hard to work out stocking limits, its meant to be 1 inch of fish per gallon, but if you have smaller fish you can usually go over that without any problems.