So Frustrating

Welsh

My psycho guppies have murdered the fish in my tank and I'm now left with an empty 12 gallon. I still can't get my head around the stocking thing and was wondering whether someone could tell me what to put in it lol. I know I can't have many but these are the fish I like

Harlequin Rasboras
Neon Tetras
Cardinal Tetras
Black Skirt Tetras
Serpae Tetras
Rummy Nose Tetras
Mollies

I know they are schooling fish and need to be in no more than 5-6 but I can't decide which one's to have or how many schools etc. I was hoping someone could help me with decisions etc haha The tank has been set up for 9 months and the guppies are in a different tank now.

Thanks

MukiTheFish

Did you mean in no LESS then 6? 6 or more make a school, the more the marrier with these fish.
Harlequin rasboras are nice active fish, or hengel rasbora (a tad smaller but very very similar, sometimes confusing one for the other in our lovable LFS)
No experience with the other species you listed tho.

Welsh

Yes, no less is what I meant haha.

Byron

A 12g is not large, so one group (6) of one of the shoaling fish would be it, assuming you have live plants. A small group (say 6) of pygmy corys could be included for substrate interest.

Next question is, water parameters; the cardinals and rummynose tetra absolutely require soft acidic water or they simply will not last or be healthy. Mollies are the opposite, hard basic water. The other fish mentioned are soft acidic water fish but can manage with slightly basic water.

Setting aside the water parameter issue, of the fish mentioned I would not select Black skirts or Serpae as they are more active and thus need more space; the other fish are more sedate and better suited to the small confines of a 12g.

Which brings us to the Serpae, they are disqualified immediately because there is insufficient space in anything less than a 24-inch (better in 36-inch) tank since they must be kept in a larger group to lessen their natural aggressiveness and nipping, and on their own in a group of 8 or more (10-12 works better with these) in a longer tank they are beautiful. They should have at least a 55g if any other fish are intended to be kept with them.

Aside from the above fish, have you considered smaller fish? Tanks like a 12g are admirably suited to the "dwarf" characin and cyprinid species, and a group of 7-8 of 2 or 3 species in a planted 12g would be colourful and lively. Ember Tetra, pygmy corys, one of the Boraras (Dwarf Rasbora) species, Dario dario...depending upon water parameters these would do very well.

Most all of these are in our profiles for further info.

Byron.

Welsh

I do have live plants and their actually surving for a change, its just the fish that are dying off this time lol. I did consider pygmy corys but no one around here has ever heard of them and I haven't come across any in the pet stores either.

Well, my Ph is 7.4 which is too high for Cardinal and Rummy nose tetras, so they are out of the question lol

My tank size is 24x12, I just thought I'd add that in there encase you thought the tank was more high than long lol.

I don't know if I understood you on the last part and I'm probably wrong haha, so here it goes.... If I have a planted tank, then I could have 2 or 3 schools and 7-8 fish in each but only if the fish are small?

Byron

If those dimensions are inches, that is a tank layout. You are quite correct, greater surface area is more important than less with the same volume.

On the last issue, live plants do provide a bit more latitude in the fish that can be housed in the tank. It is both a question of water quality from the biological actions of the plants, but equally a matter of the physical environment. The fish we have been discussing in this thread are forest fish; some occur in thickly planted ponds, swamps and slow flowing streams, while others occur in streams that have marginal vegetation extending into the stream. All of this provides cover and security, and this has a very significant impact on the stress and thus the health of the fish.

If it were me, in this tank I would consider one of the following:

(a) One group (6-7) of one of the shoaling fish originally mentioned [aside from Serpae and Blackskirt as mentioned previously], species depending upon water parameters. By the way, in a fairly small tank, diluting the water with rainwater or distilled water is one option to lower the hardness and pH, and with plants and a balanced fish load water changes can be less. Plus a group of 5 corys for the substrate? Or a BN pleco?

(b) Selecting only "dwarf" type species, like those mentioned earlier, in which case 3 different species in groups of 7-8 would be fine. Again with a group of 5 Corydoras [average sized species] or a larger group of the Pygmy Cory. I'd be careful with plecos with "dwarf" fish as they may get eaten especially at night, so the corys would be better. Or the dwarf banded loach.

Some of these may be rare locally, as they are here. When I set up a tank, I often have a few fish in it but not all that I want because I can't find them; then months later I see some, and my tank is ready and waiting so I can add them finally. That's fun too.

Byron.

Welsh

Yup, those are in inches so the "dwarf" type species, would they be fish such as the Neon Tetra's, rasboras etc?

Sorry for being a pain and thank you for being patient with me, as you usually are

Byron

Not a problem, never worry.

No, neons are not "dwarf," they are the "normal" sort of medium size fish. By dwarf species I mean Ember Tetra, rasbora of the genus Boraras like Boraras brigittae, Dario dario (Scarlet Badis), Celestial Pearl Danio, and several others, some of which are in our profiles.

Welsh

Those fish are gorgeous, hopefully my LFS do the Mosquito Rasbora I have to get some of them lol Ahh I can't wait to go and find me some mini fish haha my tank is literally empty except for a 2 inch BN pleco that I've had for about 5 months, the only surviver lol

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it