GoBlue!

Okay I have a 5.5 gallon long tank with a dwarf flame gourami and 2 panda cory catfish. It has a whisper powerfilter 10i and it heated with an ait stone as well. My question is could I add one more panda cory OR rather than do that move the panda's and put a pair of small albino corys in the tank?

0morrokh

5.5 gallons is not really big enough for your fish. the minimum for them is 10 gallons. I would get a bigger tank, and then you can add more fish.

GoBlue!

I've had this set up for a long time. About two years. None of the fish are stunted I was just wondering. I keep the water perect so they are happy

Shorty

I wouldn't personally risk anymore in there, even after 2 years adding more you could spike the levels and lose some, but then I am over-cautious sometimes.

Get another big tank anyways and have loads more thats what I would do

mistycheri

I also have a 5 gal. tank with whisper filter, heater, and air stone. I have an adult female Beta, and three assorted corys. Something for the top, something for the bottom. I do frequent water changes, every 4 or 5 days so that the water stays clean and all the readings are fine. So, where would you move the panda's to? I don't see a problem with replacing 2 panda's with 2 small albino cory's. But that's just me.

0morrokh

Well, it sounds like they are getting good care. It is possible to keep fish in a 5 gallon with extra care to the water, I just would never recommend it since they really do like more room to swim around.

GoBlue!

I have a 10 gallon I would be moving them too. I'ts my understanding Albino's get bigger though and I was worried about stunting. If you seam to think it's fine though I'll keep it in mind

mistycheri

I'm not sure about the albino's, I have 1 bronze, and 2 spotted corys in with my Beta.

chickadee

The Betta tank is full or your little Betta will become aggressive. The tighter they are squeezed the more aggressive they get.

Rose

GoBlue!

Well some fish yes. I've noticed when I tried to keep something like ram cichlids, sharks, barbs they were agressive and paces a lot but when I got small cory's, danio's, guppies, dwarf gourami, you know fish like that they never seamed to mind. See I understand what you guys are saying about a bigger than but I'm in a college dorm so I'm limited. Cory's and dwarf gouramis are two of my favorite fish so that's what I have. Okay and how long have you had your tank and how big are the corys?

Butterfly

Yes the albinos get much bigger than the pandas will ever get. Since you need at least three corys I would not add them to the 5.5 g tank. Its not really big enough for just the albinos alone.
I have no doubt that you keep your tank sparkling clean and your fish healthy but there is more to fish keeping than keeping them alive. They need room to display their natural habits and your tank is not big enough to do that for any of your fish. Just my 2 cents worth.
Carol

GoBlue!

Honestly here I've kept cory's in groups of 2-5 and I've noticed no difference between a pair and a school but that's just me. I'm keeping my tank the way it is but I'll keep in mind what people have said for later down the road. I've even got small albino's like and inch and 6 tetras and the cory would school with the tetras. It was funny.

0morrokh

Well said! I agree completely. The fish may be alive and healthy in a 5 gallon, but that doesn't mean they're as happy. In my opinion that is the most important thing.

No winder cichlids, sharks, and barbs were aggressive if you were keeping them in small tanks! Sharks get huge, barbs are really active, and cichlids need room to stake out some territory. They all need MUCH bigger tanks than 5 gallons. With the other fish, they are more small and peaceful, and while they may not have seemed to mind they probably did, especially the Guppies and Danios.

I'm really sorry if I seem like I'm picking on you or have offended anyone. I really do not mean to. I just feel quite strongly about this topic.

GoBlue!

Not at all I should note I was about 12 when I had those fish in that tank. Anyways My Cory's seam happy to me. They are active and eat well as does my gourami. I know and see what you mean about having more room but like I said in a College dorm there's not much room. I'm limited to fish as well as tank size. I assure you though my fish are well taken care of.

0morrokh

Oh, I see, that was when you were younger. I will admit I did my share of putting fish in way too small tanks when I was a kid.
That's too bad you don't have more room. At least the fish are doing well.

GoBlue!

Yep leaving it as it they should be set. I have a 10 gallon at home with a paradise fish, 6 white clouds and 2 albino corys my dad takes care of.

0morrokh

Hey, the 10g sounds cool! You're so lucky your dad will take care of your fish. My parents aren't going to be taking care of them when I leave...so I have to get all the fish that don't live too long. Oh well.
I can see there's no way you can get them a bigger tank...so I will admit that, while I still don't agree with keeping fish besides Bettas in 5 gallons, if you're going to a Dwarf Gourami and Cories are better choices than most tropical fish. I still think the minimum for both is 10 gallons, but they could cope better with a smaller tank than most fish.
I'm glad you're not too ticked at me for the lecture...

GoBlue!

Not at all we all have different opinions and knowledge and they are welcome.