FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hello

Would love to hear some opinions of potential tank mates for my my 24g please. Everytime I go to the LFS I just can't decide. :%)

Current tank mates are:
2 platys
5 black widow tetras
6 cherry barbs (a bit nippy)
3 guppies (male)
2 BNs

Do I have room for a couple more? As my fish are all fairly small I'm wondering if I have the room for something a little larger to be a center piece. However any suggestions would be good - large or small. I'm quite tempted with a couple of female bettas or maybe a pair or Dwarf Gouramis but am worried about my fin nippers. What about BGKs - they look interesting? I would love to hear other options.

Also I have a 10g with a betta. Tried him with the cherry barbs but as you can see above, they were a bit nippy and were swiftly moved to the bigger tank. I wouldn't mind a couple of tank mates for Otis. He's a bit of a softie and was a bit stressed with the Cherry barbs. If anyone has any recommendations fish of a very peaceful nature I'd love to hear them.

Tanks for your help.

fishymama

In my opinion the 24g is overstocked as it is especially as they will grow bigger.

As for the 10g Betta tank think about some Cardinal Tetras and a few Ottos that would be plenty.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Thanks Keith. Overstocked ... that's very disappointing... I was hoping to squeeze in 1 or 2 more. There seems like plenty of room. Other than the BNs, who do you expect to grow? I could be persuaded to take the cherry barbs back to the LFS as they have been a bit nippy. That would leave a bit more room for ... some suggestions please?

how about angelfishes?i think its quite okay..

If you get rid of the cherry barbs, you could get a couple more of the tetras, I'd think.

You can give the Cherry Barbs back to the LFS & get some Corydoras.


http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

It might not be over stocked. BNs are bristle nose plecos right? If so then you don't need to count them in the stocking because they just eat the algae.(no extra food to add) Most of you fish are smaller and thin(tetras, barbs, guppies, platies) so you could add more. My 20 gallon has 3 glowlight tetras, 5 harlequin tetras, 4 albino cories, and 2 dwarf gouramis without any problems. Maybe you could add a dwarf gourami as a center piece, and some cories to help clean up extra food.

Last edited by weird22person at 29-Aug-2005 13:07

20 Gallon Long:
Aquaclear 300
2 Bolivian Rams, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus: Gumby and Pokey

Do the cherry barbs nip the guppies? Maybe some cories with the Betta. Is 10 gallons big enough for 2-3 cories?

Last edited by weird22person at 29-Aug-2005 13:06

Last edited by weird22person at 29-Aug-2005 13:08

20 Gallon Long:
Aquaclear 300
2 Bolivian Rams, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus: Gumby and Pokey

thanks for your advice. Yes, the cherry barbs do nip and chase the guppies a little so I think we may take them back. I don't like trouble makers in my tank! So that would leave some room. I'm thinking maybe Dwarf Gouramis. I might also get one or 2 more guppies and one more platy. Or maybe a female betta or two? Decisions, decisions.

Maybe some cories with the Betta. Is 10 gallons big enough for 2-3 cories?

If you buy a smaller species, it's big enough for 6. That is the minimum nuber for a school of cories.

BNs are bristle nose plecos right? If so then you don't need to count them in the stocking because they just eat the algae.(no extra food to add)

That's incorrect. Most tanks do not have enough algae to feed two bns. You need to supplement their diet with wafers and veggies.In fact, the plecos add the most out of any of the fish to the bioload. That is because of they're size and their tendency to excrete alot.

My 20 gallon has 3 glowlight tetras, 5 harlequin tetras, 4 albino cories, and 2 dwarf gouramis without any problems.

You need to fill out some of those schools as I said about 6 is the minimum number of fish you should have in a school.

Maybe you could add a dwarf gourami as a center piece, and some cories to help clean up extra food.

Again, cories do not "clean up". You would have to supplement their diet, adding more to the bioload.

I don't know about you, but I would feel very bad about bringing back the cherry barbs. Unless they are actually hurting the guppies, I would not have reutrned an animal I bought. I feel it is my duty to care for them.

If you're intent on getting new fish and not just adding to your school of tetras, have you considered "rearranging" a bit? If you moved the betta into his own smaller tank or bowl, you'd have more options with the 10 gallon. I've got bettas in 2.5 gallon tanks, and even though it's not as big as a 10 gallon, it still seems to give them plenty of room.

That's a brillant sugestion, I would definitely take that advice. Perhaps you could move out the barbs into the 10 gallon. That way you could do an asian biotope. I personally prefer biotope tanks to just putting together fish that are compatiable.