Don't know which fish to get rid of, if any.

Tobowey

Well I think I might have a bit of an overstocking problem. I have been caring for bigger fish like shovelnoses and gars for years, and decided to start a planted tank with smaller fish, because I didn't have room to keep anymore big tanks. I have a 20 gallon tank which have the following fish.

6 xLongfin Black Tetra
5 x Red Minor Tetra
4 x Flaming Tetra
1 x Siamese Algae Eater
1 x Pleco, which i am going to give to a friend once it gets a little bigger.
4 x Female Guppies
3 x Male Guppies
1 x Male Betta
5 x Female Betta (The Male Betta actually leaves them alone, and most of the time all 6 of them swim around like a school.)
1 x Neon Tetra (Unfortunately the Male Betta also kills any Neon Tetras that don't happen to be this particular Tetra, which I find kind of funny. I have tried giving him friends on more then one occasion... to no avail.)
2 x Bolivian Rams

Looking at that list now, it seems like it would be considered overstocked, but the tank doesn't seem like it is. It'd be better if i had a camera to take pictures with, but what do you guys think about it?

mischievouscat

I don't have a lot of practical fishkeeping experience, but I'm getting a 20 gallon long soon, so I've done some research for stocking a tank that size. Even if I hadn't, I'd say that's greatly overstocked!

Personally, I'd get rid of the pleco and the Siamese Algae Eater for sure. I'd also choose between the male betta, 5x female bettas, or 2x Bolivian rams as the feature fish for the tank and return the others.
I know you say the male and female bettas get along fine now, but you're asking for trouble keeping them together in a tank that size. Males shouldn't be housed with females. Honestly, the reason the male isn't bothering them is probably 'cause he's stressed out by all the other fish in the tank. (Ultimatebettas.com).
Also, I'd probably return the female guppies. Having males and females together means babies. Plus, the tank would still be overstocked.
I'd also return the Neon Tetra, since he wouldn't be comfortable without a school.

This the stocking I'm planning for my 20 gallon, just to give you an idea of how much to fit in there:
- 2x Kribensis cichlids
- 3x cherry barbs
- 4x Sterbai Corydoras
- 6x harlequin rasboras

catfishtabbi

Wow. I can't imagine your tank and what to suggest. How about a larger tank?

MBilyeu

I would keep the rams, the male betta, and 1 group of either the red minor or the flaming tetras. All the others have to go!

Byron

I agree with the others. I'm surprised you even have fish left. How long has this setup been running? [Hypothetical question, I don't think I want to know.] You have combinations of fish that should never be together. The one lone neon has probably managed to outswim the betta, or it is, as mentioned by mischievouscat, so stressed it can't function.

Tobowey

I can honestly tell you, that none of the fish are stressed, or show any signs of stress, on the contrary, they seem to be doing very well. With the male and female bettas, I have always kept both sexes together without any problems. Maybe I'm just lucky with bettas. The fish I'm really worried about is the Neon Tetra. I'm thinking of pulling him out into my 14 gallon. I already have a friend who is going to recieve my pleco, but I don't want to get rid of the Siamese Algae Eater. I borrowed a camera from a friend and took some pictures of the tank, I'll post them up later.

Fishcricker

Please don't get anymore fish. The ones you have should be in a 55 gallon the way it is. Please consider rehoming the pleco at least. Get a larger tank if at all possible for the fish that you have. Thanks.

Tobowey

I wasn't going to get anymore fish. I already said I have a friend with multiple big tanks that is taking the pleco. I'm just trying to figure out what fish to get rid of. The Neon Tetra and the pleco being on the top of the list.

Tobowey

For some reason the thread wouldn't let me edit the post. I gave away my 6 Black Widows and the 4 flaming Tetras. I'm gonna see how things go with the bettas now before I decide to give away the females.

willow

hi
perhaps let the guppies go ?
and i vote the SAE to go too.