Would Someone Mind Checking My Stocking?

[Fintastic!]

Would someone mind checking my stock (in my sig) and telling me how I'm doing? Would I have room for any more fish? I'm looking at a betta.
Thanks!

 

[sheffieldlad]

Do you think you are over stocked?

just re read your post.
Don't put a Betta in there.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I think that your stocking is fine... But I wouldn't get a Betta if I were you

 

[Prime Ordeal]

I'd say you're at the top end of your allowable stocking but it depends on the filtration you have. i personally wouldn't add any more fish and, in particular, I think a Betta is unwise.

 

[Fintastic!]

Ok guys glad I checked. I'm happy with what I have so I'll leave it be. I only added the second ram yesterday. Thanks for the advice!

 

[soybean]

Just to shake things up a little...


We have very similar stocking in an identical tank...and I have a betta in there (female, admittedly, but still, she's fine).

 

[fishprotector]

I would say that a Betta could work. Maybe try a Halfmoon as I have found that they are 'normally' quite docile. It all depends on the temperament of him though.

 

[Ruskull]

Sounds like a pretty well stocked tank already. It's not over stocked but I wouldn't be adding too many more fish.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

3 Bronze and 3 Albino Corys: Best at a sub-tropical temp (~20-22C for most of year)

4 Peppered Corys: Needs some more additions in kept, at least two more. Best kept at <20C most of year

3 Platys and 2 juvie Platys: Best kept at 20-22C most of year. Tends to help having lots of females per male in mixed group

1 Molly: Will do better in a brakish setup, or at the very least alkaline water, best kept at <24C most of year

13 Neon Tetras: Far better for a sub-tropical at not much above 22C, Cardinals are a better choice for 25C +

10 Lamb chop Rasboras: Minimum 23C

2 Bolivian Rams: Minimum 25C

Basically, you have fish that would do far better split into several tanks (Bronze/Albino & Peppered Corydoras, Platy in neutral-alkaline water at 20C) (Molly in an alkaline/brakish setup) (Neons in soft acidic-neutral water) (Lamb Chop Rasboras, Bolivian Rams in soft acidic-neutral water at 25C).

If this tank was going to be setup around the Rams I would re-stock to something like...
Swordtails or Pencilfish or Hatchetfish
Cardinal Tetras
X-Ray Tetras
Sterbai Coryodoras
Bolivian Rams

 

[Fintastic!]

I knew about the peppers and I anguished about bringing them back to the shop but any shop I checked had them at higher temps than I had. As for the rest, I'm conflicted now.

 

[soybean]

I knew about the peppers and I anguished about bringing them back to the shop but any shop I checked had them at higher temps than I had. As for the rest, I'm conflicted now.

Keep the temp at 24 and you're pretty much in the middle for most of them.

 

[Fintastic!]

I have it at 25 so I'll lower it now. They all seem happy and active so hopefully they're ok. Thanks for all of you advice and comments guys.

 

[soybean]

I have it at 25 so I'll lower it now. They all seem happy and active so hopefully they're ok. Thanks for all of you advice and comments guys.

Yes, 25 to 24 will work.

I keep my tank probably around 23.5-24 when the lights are off, it goes up to about 24-25 when the lights are on, not much I can do about that though.

My Peppered corys were the first corys I bought, and among the first fish I bought, back in 2007. They bred a few times in the tank and I've had fry growing up in there, so I wouldn't return them just because a couple of years later I learn they'd prefer to be lower than 24. It's been 5 years now, they're not doing too badly. But it's knowledge you store up for later - I would never buy them for a tropical community again.

You can only do your best to keep everyone happy and 24 is a good middle ground for many fish

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

While you are lowering the temp to 24C with best intentions for the sub-tropical fish in this tank, do be aware that this permanent lower temperature is likely to lower the immune system of the Bolivian Rams, just as it would with any other fish kept at a lower temp than reputable profiles suggest. This is the opposite side of the coin to what I often comment about regarding stocking and temperature suitability, hightened metabolism versus muted immune system.

 

[soybean]

I do agree with you NOTG but in a practical sense these are the fish fintastic has and she will just have to do her best for them within her limits. Returning fish isnt always an option, or seperating them, and indeed some people aren't always going to want to do either which is fair enough, in which case they can just do their best, like I said, by finding a middle ground. It can't always be perfect.