Why Overstocked?

[JCA]

ok first off, the fish in my 130 gallon include
1 gold saum
3 severums
2 bala sharks
1 ornate bichir
1 frontosa
2 pictus cats
1 common pleco
and a couple various schoolers like odessa barbs and cories
oh and a couple flying foxes and clown loaches

ive been told by many that of course this tank is overstocked. my question is, why is this? is it because these fish will run out of room and their growth will be stunted or is it because of aggression? im wondering because if its because of aggression i could switch some fish out.

 

[diademhill]

The tank is too small for quite a few of those fish at maturity added to which you have fish that will predate on some of the others and that have different water requirements.
Plus you have poor population dynamics.........and territorial species.........

 

[mark7616]

You cant really say oh and clown loaches theese get to 10-12" long mate. The frontossa needs to be in different water parameters to the rest of the fish and will get huge your mix of fish is completely wrong mate.

 

[JCA]

as far as the frontosa goes, i dont even know what size he will obtain anyway hes a total hybrid. he has 6 stripes on one side and 7 on the other and the stripes are crooked which means a lot of breeding down to get this fish. also he was sold to me as a convict sp. when he was a baby. yes i am aware of clown loaches getting that big i was just thinking of fish off the top of my head and didnt even think of them until i was going to post it.

diademhill, which fish exactly is this tank too small for?

 

[HendrixTheOscar]

The Severums, Bala's and Birchir all grow large

 

[cane76]

according to the fish index ornate bichirs only need 75g and 2 balas shouldnt be a problem in 130g not sure about the severums i know 1 needs 50g

 

[jayjay]

yeah they'd probably all be ok if it was just one of them like the ornate bichir but all together and different water param's and some will eat other you have like the cories and barbs.

 

[andywg]

for a start the balas should be in a larger group. I found once there was 5 they really started to interact.

Due to the large adult size, their fast swimming nature and the fact they are as skittish as anything, I would always recommend a 6x2x2 for adult balas.

 

[JCA]

yeah im not worried about the smaller fish getting eaten its just nice to have some while the other fish are still juveniles.

 

[mark7616]

must be honset i dont think your listening to all the advise your being given here.

 

[JCA]

actually, im talking to my lfs today to see what they will take for me.

 

[dthoffsett]

Your pim pictus also need to be in a larger group. The do best in odd numbers, 3 would be good, 5 would be better. With only two, 1 will be most likely killed in the long run.

 

[andywg]

I don't know if one would be killed if you only keep a pair of P. pictus. They are not an aggressive fish, the keeping htem in a shoal is not to do with spreading aggression as with cichlids, it is because they would naturally be found in groups in the wild.

Can't think of any one stating that a pictus has killed its only tank mate...

I also dispute the "odd number" theory. I am fairly sure that very few fish can count and actually realise there is an even number and suddenly play up.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Here is is in a nushell:

Some of your fish need a bigger tank:

balas get to 14 inches.
birchir gets to 18-24 inches
common plecs get to between 1 and 2 feet depending on which one.

Some of your fish need live plants while others will dig up life plants.

Some of your fish are timid and some agressive

Some will eat anything smaller than them in the tank.

etc. ect


Do your own research

 

[Ginge]

Dont forget the fact of the different water condition required. But i think he has done the right thing by goin to his LFS. And now he's found the forum we can help him not to make any more mistakes.