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Adding to a community tank

2K views 16 replies 6 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
Hey all
I hope this is the right place to ask this question..

I may wanting to add to my community tank.... And am after some suggestions on what fish would work well and suit.

My current stock is...
crown loach x4
zebar or polka dot loach (not to sure) x2
Black Ghost knife x1
red tailed shark x1
silver shark x1
Bristlenosed Catfish (sucker fish) x2
Kribensis (kirb) (Has a red belly) x1

All the fish are very small, and when to begin to out grow the tank and space, i will re-home them!

Any more suggestions?? im after fish that are pleasing to the eye! hahaha
I was thinking maybe a few barbs??

whats your thoughts?

Its a lightly planted tank.. (working on increasing) and is about 290L tank. (76ish gal)

Thanks
 
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#2 ·
Hey all
I hope this is the right place to ask this question..

I may wanting to add to my community tank.... And am after some suggestions on what fish would work well and suit.

My current stock is...
crown loach x4
zebar or polka dot loach (not to sure) x2
Black Ghost knife x1
red tailed shark x1
silver shark x1
Bristlenosed Catfish (sucker fish) x2
Kribensis (kirb) (Has a red belly) x1

All the fish are very small, and when to begin to out grow the tank and space, i will re-home them!

Any more suggestions?? im after fish that are pleasing to the eye! hahaha
I was thinking maybe a few barbs??

whats your thoughts?

Its a lightly planted tank.. (working on increasing) and is about 290L tank. (76ish gal)

Thanks


When you say "crown loach" do you mean Clown Loach? cause they need a bigger group of like 7-9

and silver shark? could this be a bala shark? they need to be in shoals of 6 or more

Im not sure about any of your other fish and what might go well, just wanted to give you some information on what i did know, more people will post and read what they have to say

Hope this helps!
 
#3 ·
And something you need to read about the Red tailed Shark




"Compatibility/Temperament: Not a general community fish especially for beginners. Very aggressive with its own species (it probably lived in solitude except when breeding) and as it matures is often aggressive with other fish especially those resembling it and those with vertical stripes. Should be kept solitary (one fish per tank) with carefully-selected tankmates like the larger barbs and rasbora. Bottom fish (loaches and most catfish) should not be included with this species."
 
#4 ·
Sorry, yes i ment Clown loach. And i think it is a Bala... i have never seen able to find the real name! thanks

All these fish have been together for at least 3 years now, with no problem!! The sharks get along great with other tank mates!! Unless they change in temperament.. im not going to change them! The Bala and red tailed shark usually "hang" together!
 
#5 ·
Well i would advise at looking at the Tropical Fish profiles, its at the top 2 tab from the left, it will give you information on what ever fish your looking for information on, also when a word is shaded you can click on the shaded name to read up about it and most of them will have pictures of the fish in their Profiles
 
#6 ·
the first real question is the re housing. Do you have another tank for them? You could very well stunt their growth keeping in that tank at any stage and that just not fair on the fish, going forward just dont but fish that are too big for you tank, let alone 6-8 of them.

Also what filtration are you using, tank size is not always the most important thing, Ill base my advice on the basis that you have bought a filter capable of running your tank quite well.

At least 5 x Clown Loach are recommended in a group.
Black Ghost Knife Fish only eats live or frozen foods, no flakes. Need a well planted tank with lots of hiding places.
Black Ghost Knife Fish is not recommended for your tank - it may eventually outgrow your tank space, potentially reaching up to 18 inches.
At least 5 x Bala Shark are recommended in a group.
Kribensis may become food for Bala Sharks.
Bristlenose Pleco needs driftwood.
At least 3xPolka Dot Loach are recommended in a group
To be honest I would be looking to move most of your fish out and then look to backfill the stock. Id say you are close to 150% over stocked.

I based this on a filter turning over 3 times your tank size every hour.

Just my opinion, im sure other people will have thier own too, but to me you need to act ono the fish you have, not buy any more
 
#8 ·
the first real question is the re housing. Do you have another tank for them? You could very well stunt their growth keeping in that tank at any stage and that just not fair on the fish, going forward just dont but fish that are too big for you tank, let alone 6-8 of them.

Also what filtration are you using, tank size is not always the most important thing, Ill base my advice on the basis that you have bought a filter capable of running your tank quite well.

At least 5 x Clown Loach are recommended in a group.
Black Ghost Knife Fish only eats live or frozen foods, no flakes. Need a well planted tank with lots of hiding places.
Black Ghost Knife Fish is not recommended for your tank - it may eventually outgrow your tank space, potentially reaching up to 18 inches.
At least 5 x Bala Shark are recommended in a group.
Kribensis may become food for Bala Sharks.
Bristlenose Pleco needs driftwood.
At least 3xPolka Dot Loach are recommended in a group
To be honest I would be looking to move most of your fish out and then look to backfill the stock. Id say you are close to 150% over stocked.

I based this on a filter turning over 3 times your tank size every hour.

Just my opinion, im sure other people will have thier own too, but to me you need to act ono the fish you have, not buy any more
The filter turns over the tank about 4 times and hour.
 
#11 ·
Whats the point of asking, when you don't want to listen to what anyone says. They're trying to help not pick at you. The fish that u have together aren't compable.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I agree with what others are saying, and there is plenty of scientific evidence to support it.

Let me ask a question: Would you keep a small horse in your bedroom? I'll assume your answer is "no," to which I could then say, "well, why not, he's happy, and alive and eating well." But the point is, that a bedroom is not suitable or adequate space for a horse. Science knows and tells us what a horse needs to be truly healthy, and science is also finding out more and more about fish species in the same way. The horse is not healthy in a bedroom, and fish that need more space are not healthy in too small an environment, or the wrong environment.

Some fish have long normal lifespans, 20-30 or more years. If it dies prematurely, it may likely be due to being forced to exist in unsuitable surroundings. No one can honestly say that any fish is OK in conditions that are other than those suggested for the species, unless that fish lives a full life to prove it. Most don't, but by that point it is too late to help the poor fish.

The information in the profiles respecting number of a species, minimum tank size, compatibility, etc. is not dreamed up, it is the consensus of very knowledgeable ichthyologists who have spent years and years studying fish species. Take their advice for the good of your fish. You would not (I hope) go to a doctor for advice and then ignore it. These ichthyologists are highly trained scientists as much as the doctor, or perhaps even more as they are specialized in their respective fields.
 
#15 ·
I agree with what others are saying, and there is plenty of scientific evidence to support it.

Let me ask a question: Would you keep a small horse in your bedroom? I'll assume your answer is "no," to which I could then say, "well, why not, he's happy, and alive and eating well." But the point is, that a bedroom is not suitable or adequate space for a horse. Science knows and tells us what a horse needs to be truly healthy, and science is also finding out more and more about fish species in the same way. The horse is not healthy in a bedroom, and fish that need more space are not healthy in too small an environment, or the wrong environment.

Some fish have long normal lifespans, 20-30 or more years. If it dies prematurely, it may likely be due to being forced to exist in unsuitable surroundings. No one can honestly say that any fish is OK in conditions that are other than those suggested for the species, unless that fish lives a full life to prove it. Most don't, but by that point it is too late to help the poor fish.

The information in the profiles respecting number of a species, minimum tank size, compatibility, etc. is not dreamed up, it is the consensus of very knowledgeable ichthyologists who have spent years and years studying fish species. Take their advice for the good of your fish. You would not (I hope) go to a doctor for advice and then ignore it. These ichthyologists are highly trained scientists as much as the doctor, or perhaps even more as they are specialized in their respective fields.
You trying to tell me I have to sell my horse as well!?!?!?! She loves living in the spare room!!
:)
 
#13 ·
Clown Loach - I have just two and they are doing very well, about 4 inches now.
Red Tail Shark - I have two of these who are also doing very well, no fighting or territorial disputes.

The rules of temperament and schooling is not set in stone, contray to what some might say. It's all relative to the individual fish. Personally, I would prefer not to have a fish that is so weak that it needs numbers to feel safe and secure. This varies from fish to fish, I have schooling fish who prefer to be on their own and I have non-schooling fish who will school with just about any fish. I also have territorial fish who are not so territorial. Observe the fish prior to making the purchase and see what their behavior is like.

I tend to go for the hardest of the group not necessarily the strongest or most aggressive. I also found that fish will adapt when put with a community, when put with peaceful fish, they become more peaceful. But again, depends on the the individual fish.

Don't waste your valuable aquarium space on 200 neon tetras just because someone else says they should be in schools. I would say 2 or 3 of any kind is a good number, even 1. It's true that fish like to have companionship, not all, but some, so adding friend is good benefit. I'll probably add another clown loach to make 3. They hang with my 3 tiger barbs who also do great with my red tail shark.
 
#14 ·
Clown Loach - I have just two and they are doing very well, about 4 inches now.
Red Tail Shark - I have two of these who are also doing very well, no fighting or territorial disputes.

The rules of temperament and schooling is not set in stone, contray to what some might say. It's all relative to the individual fish. Personally, I would prefer not to have a fish that is so weak that it needs numbers to feel safe and secure. This varies from fish to fish, I have schooling fish who prefer to be on their own and I have non-schooling fish who will school with just about any fish. I also have territorial fish who are not so territorial. Observe the fish prior to making the purchase and see what their behavior is like.

I tend to go for the hardest of the group not necessarily the strongest or most aggressive. I also found that fish will adapt when put with a community, when put with peaceful fish, they become more peaceful. But again, depends on the the individual fish.

Don't waste your valuable aquarium space on 200 neon tetras just because someone else says they should be in schools. I would say 2 or 3 of any kind is a good number, even 1. It's true that fish like to have companionship, not all, but some, so adding friend is good benefit. I'll probably add another clown loach to make 3. They hang with my 3 tiger barbs who also do great with my red tail shark.
Thats what im finding!! I have kept fish in this tank that just havnt worked.. so i changed.. the set up now its working! :)
 
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