Whats The Fish To Space Rule?

[Paavn]

i was wondering what the general rule for stocking fish was.... i tried to do a search but i always get an error

 

[KingPiranha]

i was wondering what the general rule for stocking fish was.... i tried to do a search but i always get an error

A good rule of thumb to bear in mind is ONE GALLON (3.8L) of WATER PER INCH of FISH. I.e.: Most guppies are between one and 1.5 in long, therefore you should make sure each has about the equivalent of water.

Generally, if you follow this rule your fish should live without too much pollution and have adequate space to explore without bumping into each other. Do, however, bear in mind some common sense when applying this rule, as it is not an absolute. I.e.: You CANNOT have a 10" fish in a 10 Gallon tank.

If you have not yet set up an aquarium, I recommend going larger (if you can afford it...you could probably find a large 40 gal tank for cheaper online)...but something along the lines of a 40 gal tank is a good starter tank (if not, you could try a 20)...as large tanks not only look nicer but are easier to maintain...more room for the fish and the longer it takes them to pollute a 40 gal as opposed to a 10)

 

[rdd1952]

1" per gallon is a good guide for most community fish under about 3" adult size. It is a very good starting point for those new to the hobby and makes things simpler in the beginning. With proper filtration (minimum of 5 times the tank volume) and a good maintenance schedule, you can easily exceed that later on. Once you get into larger fish which usually produce more waste, you have to cut that back though. As mentioned, the larger tank you can get, the easier things will be. Not only are they easier to maintain, they are more stable.

 

[Colin_T]

as mentioned 1 inch per gallon is a basic starting point. If you are dealing with slim fish like neon tetras then you can increase it to 2inches per gallon. And if you go to big fish like oscars and discus then decrease it to 1 inch per 5 or even 10 gallons.

 

[Paavn]

thanks guys. i live in an appartment so i got a 30 gallon tank, if i lived on the bottom floor i would have opted for a bigger tank, but the building is pretty old lol

im going for a community tank so im thinking i'll go for the small 1-2 inch fish for now

 

[Miss Wiggle]

in that case in your initial stocking after cycling aim for around 30" of fish worked out on their adult size, then leave the tank around 6 months, then you can add another 15-30" of fish (but build up gradually with the second bit) including any species that you like that are a bit delicate so couldn't go in at first.

 

[Paavn]

thanks miss wiggle i'll definitely do that.

ps your guides are AWESOME!