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i know, these questions are kind of lame, but I'm not at the point where I feel completely comfortable properly assessing how many fish I can add, so I'd like some more informed opinions...

i recently took back my remaining tiger barbs because of their nippiness and their tendency to, well, kill each other and generally make life unpleasant in the tank. I want to add a school of harlequin rasboras to replace them. i understand they have a hierarchy of their own, but it doesnt seem nearly as bad as the tigers, plus the rasboras will stay a good amount smaller than the tigers.

right now this is the stocking:

46 gallon tank, so 36" long by between 12-16" deep (bow front)
1 BN
4 yo-yo loaches

how big of a school will i be able to build up to? i want to have the biggest school possible, because i think large schools of little fish are just as stunning as any centerpiece fish.

it's moderately planted now, but i plan on plating it heavier before introducing the rasboras. i was thinking in the 10-12 range, but is more possible? or is less advisable? thanks!

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Back in the saddle!

Harlequins don't even reach 2", I'd say you could easily have 12-15 with no problems. I have eight and I've never witnessed any hierarchical behavior. I consider them very peaceful fish and excellent schoolers.

Do you plan to have any sort of centerpiece fish for the middle of the tank?

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

ummmm, does a BN sucking on the middle level glass count as a centerpiece fish?

actaully, i never really planned on a centerpiece fish. having the tigers limited my options in that area. in any case, i feel like having the large school with the yo-yos (who'll grow to 4 in. each) plus the BN seems like pretty full stocking.

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Back in the saddle!

I would add two yoyo loaches to your tank, along with a school of twelve or so rasboras. The loaches would definitely appreciate the company, as they are shoaling fish.
Harlequin rasboras are really very peaceful, so you wouldn't see much of a 'pecking order', with the bigger fish nipping the smaller ones. They should all get along fine.

Last edited by sirbooks at 21-Oct-2004 15:21

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

are you sure about the loaches, sirbrooks? i have 4 already and they seem to school pretty well, plus remember that my tank is only 36" long. while that's not "short", it seems kind of short for having 6, 4 inch bullet shaped fish that like to swim. i thought having four was a lot

plus in terms of bio-load, that's 6 yo-yos, 12 or so rasboras and a BN. seems like a lot for that size tank... and i'd really like the rasbora shcool to be as large as possible

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Back in the saddle!

Right, just a suggestion. Most loaches do prefer to be kept in groups, the bigger the better, but you don't have too much room. Your loaches sound like they're doing fine, anyways. Without the extra loaches, you could fit at least fifteen harlequin rasboras in there. I bet a large school of them would look fantastic.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

thanks for the replies, sirbrooks. i in no way intended to knock your suggestions or anything, i know loaches are schooling fish... unfortunetely i think a lot of people dont see them that way, and if i had a 40 long or a 55 gallon i'd definetely go for your suggestion, but for now i have to work with what i have, and 4 of these guys seems like plenty

as for the rasboras, im glad i can go into the 15 range! once i further plant my tank i think they'll look beautiful in a nice big school like that.

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Back in the saddle!

Most loaches aren't really schoolers, they just prefer company of their own kind and a minimum of three is usually recommended. As long as yours seem happy and active I wouldn't add more unless you really want to.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

haha thats funny that you guys have never seen a pecking order with your harleys, I used to have 6 in a 10 gallon tank and they had the most obvious hierarchy! there was one big mean one 3 medium ones, and 2 little ones that had hardly any color and always got pushed around by the big one. the day i moved them into a 29 gallon, the pushyness stopped and the little ones got all of their color back! i guess they were just cramped. I'm sure yours will be fine if they have room to swim

I don't think Harlequins would do very well in a ten for very long. Even if you had just a few. Good thing your could move you guys.

Last edited by blondie at 23-Oct-2004 17:30

yeah I've come to the conclusion that anything that likes to zooooom around the tank probably wont be particularly relaxed in a 10 gallon haha... they have fun swimming around the current in the 29 gallon... I originally had swordtails in the 10 gallon, that was a mistake! they never picked on eachother but they would pace the tank, like whoosh along the length of the tank and then turn around wooosh back

Yep! I won't even keep a Cory in a ten gallon. Just to much of a fish with no place to go. I like a Betta, Shrimp, a Snail or two and Ottos for a ten. Some of the smaller fish would fit, but getting the water just right for them is hard work in a ten. I have kept Cherry Barbs very well in a ten. But they like to group together not dash around the tank. But to each thier own. While I may have luck babysitting a ten gallon with ten Cherries, others may not. With time we all learn what we can and can't do. Just way to many if's to say this can't be done or that can't be done. Sorry for going on here.