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Hi everyone, I have a standard 29g tank with java fern, java moss, hornwort with lava rock and driftwood and the following fish:

1 pearl gourami
1 gold gourami
2 blue rams
3 trilineatus corys
2 platys(1m/1f)
7 glowlight tetras
2 ottos

Think I have room to increase the cories to 6 and the ottos to 4? If so, would that make the bottom of the tank too crowded?

I would say you are definitely stocked; some people would say over-stocked...each of your gouramis could reach 4-6"

You otos should be fine as a pair. I've found them to be happy as long as they have at least one friend.

You will probably get replies saying your cories should be in a school of at least six. At the point your tank is at now though I'd leave them at three, as long as they seem happy, show good color, are active, etc.

My concern is with your platies. The lowest ratio is 1M/2F to keep the stress down on the females.

Last edited by Theresa_M at 28-Sep-2004 11:21

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Yeah your pretty much maxed out. IMO it's better to be a lil overstocked than to have fish kept in the wrong numbers.

Overstocking can be dealt with by keeping up on the water quality. You could also plant the tank a lil more, but not much of a need because you already have the nitrate vacuum horn wort.

So fill out your school of cories, and get one more female platy, and promise us you will do weekly water changes.

PS
Your otos will be a good indication of your water quality. With otos poor water quality =s dead fish.

As was already stated...tad towards the stocked side....really the ones' I'm concerned about are the gouramis....while yes there is room for them to grow, there's not really all that much room...
A 29 is taller than it is long...compaired to a 30 gallon that's much longer than it is tall, not only do you have to consider gallonage but also surface area.

^_^
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Yeah I would get another female platy and take ur male back... or if you're really attached to him, get another female. I would advise against the second idea though.

BTW jack you registered for FishProfiles on my birth day-Feb. 20! Just thought that was weird.

-Daniel

Last edited by fishnewbie at 28-Sep-2004 15:47

I just got the gold gourami and second ram over the weekend. The gourami was kind of an impulse buy. Alright, it was an impulse buy. It's about 3" and the pearl is about 4". When I put the gold into the tank, the pearl chased it around for a bit, but then the gold started chasing the pearl. It's been about 3 days and the gold seems to be bullying everyone in the tank at one time or another, especially the pearl. I think they're both female, but I'm not totally sure. Is this typical of gold gouramis or do you think it will settle down? I'm already thinking of returning it. The pearl is beautiful and I don't want it being constantly picked on. Any thoughts?

They may settle down, but prob not. Gouramis can be aggressive toward each other, and sometimes with others in the tank. It is often recommended to have 3 (not sure if what kind matters) to help settle the aggression.

In your case I would not recommend getting a 3rd. Take the gold one back.

Thanks for all your replies. I returned the gold gourami over the weekend. The tank is much more laid back and peaceful now. It's like the fish are relieved he's gone. With the gold gourami out of the tank, should I look to increase any numbers? I'm thinking at the least adding a female platy. Anyone see problems with that?

I would add some cories instead. You currently only have three, and they are shoaling fish. Adding three more cories would make the ones you have a lot happier and a lot more active. Besides, they're really cool fish.

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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."

add more cories

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''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

yeah, i'd say you are stocked