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DJG91

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Hi

I'm new to keeping fish and this is my first tank. It's a 55gal with sand substrate, root wood and live plants.
Could anyone please tell me if the following fish will get along and will the numbers be over stocked....
4 dwarf gouramis
12 cardinal tetras
10 rummy nose tetras
10 lemon tetras
2 german blue rams
6 corys

These are the fish I would like to keep in the tank. Any info will be appreciated.

Cheers.
 
Welcome to the hobby, and to TFF.
 
There is no problem with the numbers here.  I would however increase the corys a bit; while five or six is minimum, it will always be better to have more, and you have the space.  You can stay with the same species or you can mix them, in which case try to get five or six of each species.  You could aim for a dozen or even more.
 
The other fish mentioned that I would increase in numbers is the rummynose tetra.  This species always does better the more there are, and I would aim for 15 or a few more.  They will cruise through the tank in a shoal, one of the finest freshwater fish for shoaling together.
 
I commented on the rams in your other thread.  Corys are substrate-level fish for the most part, and they can become the object of aggressiveness from the rams.  Sometimes this is relatively mild, but not always, depending upon the individual rams.  Rams also spend most of their time close to the substrate.  Should the rams form a bonded pair and spawn, life can get very hectic for fish that invade their space.  Again, this can vary somewhat depending upon the individual fish.  The other ram issue is the higher temperature; this will be no issue for cardinal tetra and rummynose tetra, and likely not for the Lemon, but the corys will not do well with most species though there are a few that can manage.  Gourami should be OK, but this raises another issue, the territorial nature of gourami and cichlids.  Generally it is better not to combine them.
 
Dwarf gourami is a risk, due to the viral disease iridovirus which is still encountered in this species.  There is no cure, and some sources say it may be spread to other species.  Knowing the source (meaning the breeder, not the store) is wise if you really want this species, but otherwise I would consider other grouami such as the Honey, or the Pearl (in a 55g this would be a lovely gourami).  Gourami, like cichlids, are territorial, males especially, but both of these two species tend to be more peaceful, though one can never guarantee this.  But one male with two females, or two males with three or four females, should be fine.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Byron.
 
Excellent information/advice thank you very much!!!
I think I will leave the rams out then and up the other numbers.
Maybe two male dwarf gouramis to four female like you say and up the tetra numbers to 15 and corys to a dozen.
Thanks again I hope it all goes to plan.
 

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