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Hello all. I am new to the site and have gained a great deal of knowledge by reading through the forums - I'm hoping now to gain a little more from you guys.

I have seen a lot of stocking questions, and would like advice on my new tank, but should also add some background. We are new to the hobby - purchased our first 10g a month ago and immediately regretted it. Cycling has finally balanced in it (after slowly adding our fish) and we now have a very happy school of 7 tetras (various thin bodied), with 1 betta and 2 corycats. Saturday, we finally bought a new aquarium - a 29g.

Here is what we are considering putting in it, but I would like as much advice as possible on this. The ideas started flowing because we wanted 1 or 2 medium sized fish that would be "focus" fish for the tank, and one or two small schools of fish to balance out the feeding of top/middle/bottom.

1 angel fish
1 red tailed black shark
6 harlequin rasboras
6 zebra danios
2 guppies
4 otocats (I don't know anything about these other than they were recommended by a friend - I would have probably have thought to get more corycats)

We were warned about the zebras with the angel fish today by our LFS, so we will probably be switching those to ??? maybe 3 or 4 long skirt tetras??? I need ideas on that. I am aware of the *ahem* spawning issue of the guppies - we are being asked to include them by a friend of ours who could use some feeder fish.

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Another question: when considering what to put in this tank, here's what we were thinking about:
1.) we would like colorful/interesting focus fish for the tank
2.) what would schooled well/needed to be in a school
3.) temperature requirements
4.) feeding would occur at all levels of the tank
5.) fin nipping (though I couldn't find information all of the fish that we're considering)

What other things should be thought about? Order of introduction into the tank? Just trying to gain more knowledge instead of just quick dirty answers

Thanks in advance!
Joey

For the record, you might want to add more cories to your 10 gallon and BTW what tetras are they?

The "focus fish" idea is great. Many tanks are built on the principal of one center fish and many, smaller, ones to contrast it. An angel fish is a great centerpiece fish. Since, your tank is small (although it might not look it) you probably only want one large fish. Therefore, I would drop the red tailed black shark. RTBSs can get mean and outgrow a 29.

The harlequin rasboras and zebra danios are good ideas, but you might be pushing it on stocking (I'm not sure, stocking's not exactly my strong point). The guppies are fine and you will have lots of free food swimming around. However, I think your angel might get to them before your friend does.

As for the ottos, they are probably at the most risk by your angel. I would buy them before the angel. If you give them some time to grow, things should work out just fine. Once the angel gets bigger, it will think of the ottos as part of the tank and not food. The same thing applies with the zebras.

The long skirts are a bit bigger than the schooling fish you already have, so they will take up more room. Since you want to have many different kinds of fish, I'd say stick to the rasboras.

As for your other questions:

1.) 1 Angelfish is the perfect focus fish for your tank
2.) harleguin rasboras, guppies and ottos
3.) normal, about 70 degrees F
4.) Angel: top
rasboras and guppies: middle
ottos: bottom
a perfect blalance!
5.) I don't think you will have any problems with that

"Order of introduction into the tank?"
Rasboras, guppies, ottos, then angelfish.

All of these are suggestions and how I would do the tank. There are many fish you can pick, it's your tank after all.

"Just trying to gain more knowledge instead of just quick dirty answers"
That's a great attitude and I wish you best of luck

Welcome to fishprofiles!

Thanks! With the list of questions, though I appreciate the answers , I was trying to show what I had been thinking when I slowly devised that list. Are there any other questions you ask yourself about potential stock before going through with everything?

Do you see any problems with the zebra danios being eaten by the angel?

Alright, I think it is tine for me to ask the proverbial question - how many fish can be put in a tank. I have read many times the rule of thumb of 1" of fish per gallon of tank. Do you make accomodations then for your very thin schooling fish? I know some successfull hobbyists who tend to count neon tetras and the like as 1/5 - same for zebra danios.

Oh, the small 10g tank (first tank) has these tetras: 3 neon tetras, 2 bloodfin tetras, 1 glolite, 1 black neon, 1 orange von rio.

Joey

Are there any other questions you ask yourself about potential stock before going through with everything?

I would just wait a little longer for more replies. You might want more opinions other then me (even though mine is the best ).

"Do you see any problems with the zebra danios being eaten by the angel?"
I'm not quite sure what you mean by that. I wouldn't suggest that you feed the zebras to the angel, if that's what you are saying. I think I exagerated when it came to the angelfsh. There likely won't be any problems with the angel eating the other fish. The only reason why I wouldn't suggest the zebras is becasue you already have a decent amount of fish as it is. However, I could be wrong. Let's see what some other people have to say.

"Alright, I think it is tine for me to ask the proverbial question - how many fish can be put in a tank. I have read many times the rule of thumb of 1" of fish per gallon of tank."

The rule of 1" per gallon is outdated. That is mainly becasue of the point you brought up. Some fish are more solid than others. Now, there is this thing called surface area. I really don't understand it. But, there is something on it in the FAQ on this site. When I stock a tank, I just let the good people here help me out. I trust them.



BTW It looks like you have some probelms with your 10 gallon. Tetras should really be in schools of their own kind. However, that is irrevalent to what we're talking about, so I won't bring that up.

Well, I think the tank is as stocked as I want it right now - except for a couple corycats later.

The 29g tank previously had 3 harlequin rasboras, 4 neons and 2 guppies. Today I picked up 3 Boesemani Rainbows, 1 Dwarf Gourami, 1 Red Gourami and 1 Rainbow Shark.

I may raise the harlequins and neons up to 6 in a few weeks, but first I'll be checking the water dailly to make sure the cycle goes okay and then picking up a couple corys and maybe an oto cat.

Well, what do you guys think?

Joey

Otto cats are like tetras. They like groups. If your going to buy them get at least 3 or 4. But I'm sure you don't have any problems with that. More fish

The rainbow shark really isn't a good idea. They are rather territorial and outgrow 29 gallon tanks. If your trying to keep your tank peaceful and have ideal living conditions the rainbow shark has to go.

Please dont take this the wrong way- Im trying to help.

Your asking for trouble with your stock, and tropical fish need a temp of about 76 F, 70 is way to cold!

rts get to big, 2 dwarf gouramis arent going to get along , rts dont like gouramis, and the rest need schools of 6-8 of THEIR own kind.

Your 29 g tank needs to look something like this

1 dwarf gourami
8 harliquen rasboras
6-8 other small fish of the same type
( neons OR glowlights OR 4 guppies ( 1 m/3 female)
6 cories ( of the same type..6 pepper or 6 bronze...)

( i picked these fish as you have some of these already)

The 10 gal should look something like this

1 betta
6-8 neons
1 snail

( again, fish you have some of anyway)

the rest of the fish you need to take back and get credit for more fish later.
You need to read the FAQ, because your stocking that new tank WAY to fast. And will kill your fish off. Wait 2-3 weeks before adding in any new fish, and take some of those others back asap.









Last edited by hca at 09-Mar-2005 14:48

have a very happy school of 7 tetras (various thin bodied), with 1 betta and 2 corycats.

Tetras should be in schools with their own species. While they may try to school with other species, this is usually out of fear and stress. If given a school of their own species, they wouldn't school with others. The cories are also schooling and like to be kept in groups of 6 or more. However, you don't really have room for 6 cories in there as well.

1 angel fish
1 red tailed black shark
6 harlequin rasboras
6 zebra danios
2 guppies
4 otocats

The angel might get a little big for the 29 gallon, and I wouldn't put one in a 29, but you are free to do that for your centerpiece fish. The RTBS, however, does get too big for a 29. They also need a LOT of territory room. Rather than having 2 schools, why don't you just get 8 of the harly rasboras? They are great schoolers, and won't be any problem with the angels. The guppies will be fine, but if they are male and female, you might want to get 2 females. The males can get "rowdy" and tire them out. The 4 ottos will be fine as well, but only add them if you have algae that they will eat. Otherwise you might starve them .

The 29g tank previously had 3 harlequin rasboras, 4 neons and 2 guppies. Today I picked up 3 Boesemani Rainbows, 1 Dwarf Gourami, 1 Red Gourami and 1 Rainbow Shark.

So you have now:
3 harly rasboras
4 neons
2 guppies
3 boesemani rainbows
1 dwarf gourami
1 red gourami
1 raonbow shark

>.< The boesemani rainbows will get too big for that tank at about 5 inches, and need a school. The dwarf and red gouramis might have problems with aggression later, as they can be territorial. What is a red gourami? Is that a flame dwarf gourami, or a honey gourami? As was already said, the rainbow shark gets too big for that tank. The harly rasboras and neons school and should be in groups of 6 or more.

A better stocklist would be something like this:

2 gouramis
8 harly rasboras
3 guppies (2 females, 1 male)
4 ottos, added later

Good luck!

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