DannyMac

I have a 36 gallon, lightly planted freshwater tank. Currently, I have 5 zebra danios, 3 cory cats, 2 gouramis, 1 oto catfish and 1 pictus catish. It is a fairly busy tank with the danios constantly moving on top and the corys patroling the bottom. The pictus doesn't come out much from his hiding hole except to feed and at night time. I was considering getting a few neon tetras to add a little more color to the tank, do you think I can get away with 4 or 5 neons?

aquarist48

Sounds to me like you're stocked. Let's see what some others have to say.

Lucy

I agree, it looks like you're pretty well stocked. If anything, it would be a good idea to add a couple more otos, they do well in groups of 3. IMO the addition of a couple of otos wouldn't set your tank over the edge.

DannyMac

I considered adding more otos, but the algae build up in my tank is very minimal right now. The oto mostly eats the plants I have in the tank, and I don't want to have more holes in the leaves than I already have.

What do you think is the minimum number of neons I can add and have them be happy? Can they school in groups of 3?

GypsyGirl71

I wouldnt chance the neons with the pictus catfish. I have 3 PC and 4 white clouds (bigger than neons) have disappeared....

alicem

Agreed, a catfish by any other name, is still a catfish,
especially if it comes out at night to eat

How attached are you to the danios? Maybe you can rehome them, or trade them in, and get a different, more colorful fish.
Something the cat won't be able to eat but would get along with the gourami...

Lucy

Neons should be in a school of 6, not really enough room in your tank for a proper school.
I don't have experience with pictus catfish, but I'd heed the advice of others who had them.

DannyMac

Ya that this good advise, the catfish would probably eat the neons now that I think about it. The danios are just big enough to stay out of the catfish's mouth right now.

Maybe I could trade in the danios for some cherry barbs, how many cherries should be together in a school?

Lucy

A school is usually 6 or more.

agabr123

pictus cats really need at least one other of their kind in the same tank otherwise they'll be pretty stressed out, but IMO you don't really have room for a couple more, so i'd consider returning him. if you did that, you could get two more otos (they like being in odd numbered groups for some reason) and probably be able to fit another school of neons in there. what kind of gouramis do you have?