NeWcS

I have a 10gal with probably more fish than I should

3 Cory's(2 Alb and 1 Pepper)
Black Molly(Sammy)
Mickey Mouse Platy(Poop)
2 Black neon tetra(Larry and Moe)
2 Forktail Blue-Eye Rainbow
Chinese Algae Eater(Stick)

But from what I can tell everyone seems happy. Is it possible that an over crowed tank can still have happy fish?

Thank you!

-Jay

Alessa

The question would be: They seem happy but are they?

Specially that CAE and the molly. Plus the neons are supposed to be in a larger school. (at least 5)

NeWcS

Im confused by your answer?

-Jay

Alessa

I meant they probably will not be happy.

The tank would be ok with a school of 5 neons (since they need one) and 2 cories... (That would already be overstocked, but not terribly)

or, 3 platies and 2 cories

or the rainbows and the cories.


I really would not put something as bulky as a mollie or as large (as it can get) as a CAE... which will grow to be around 6 inches and need approx. 55 gallons. Also, neons are naturally schooling fish, which means they need a group to be really ok.

In a tank that overstocked (even if it is cycled) the nitrates will accumulate becoming toxic unless water changes are made on an almost daily basis. Plus swimming space becomes a problem when there are so many fish swimming at the same level of the tank.

I would think the fish are bearing with it, but not that they are "happy" about not having a school and having to share the space with so many fish.

Those fish (to include the school of neons and not counting the CAE would need a 20 gallon to be ok, at least, if not more... i'd say rather 25-30.

The general rule is "one inch of fish per gallon of water" but the rule does not work with bulky or large fish, since the ammount of water they would need increases exponentially like the CAE.

Butterfly

Actually the Rainbows need to be in a school of at least five and need a longer tank for swimming room so the 10g is not suitable for them either. The fork tail blue-eyed rainbow is usually Pseudomugil furcatus which usually get to be 1 1/2 -2 inches.
Carol
Don't know why the underlines are there. I can't remove them

Lucy

Is that better, Carol?

Dozey

I don't know the true answer to this question. But if I look at from my own point of view I would have to answer, no. If I find myself on an over crowed bus, can I still breath? Well yes I can. Will I survive the trip? Again yes. Does it stress me being crowed by other people and being bumped into by others? Yes it does.

Don’t know if my feeling apply to fish but I sure don’t like being crowded.

Butterfly

Yes Thank You Lucy. The more I typed the more lines I got It was early maybe my comp was complaining about being awake LOL
carol

sirdarksol

I agree with the above answers. I'm just going to give an example of my own to illustrate:
I started out with a 20g stocked with a glassfish, a goldfish, a gourami, and three gold barbs. Over the next couple of months, I added a cory, a koi, and two otos. Everyone seemed happy.
However, looking at the stock now, I'm horrified. First of all, the koi and the goldfish alone would need a tank that's a hundred or more gallons. The gourami was stunted (and eventually died due to ammonia poisoning). The cory died of what I believe was loneliness-induced stress. The otos died of poor water quality. I now have the community in a much larger aquarium, and only one barb and one koi remain. The glassfish died of old age (likely), and two of the barbs died of poor aquascaping. The koi and goldfish got their own tank (the goldfish died recently). But the rate of death slowed to a couple of fish a year, if that, rather than a fish a month. My fish are super active. Right now, the glassfish (I have a proper school of them) and some black neons I got are playing tag across the four feet of tank they have to play in.

Allie

Good comparison.
I refuse to take the bus due to overcrowding and safety issues.

Butterfly

It is flu season you know
Seriously though- fish do get sick from being over crowded.
Carol

Allie

Fish are a lot more like us humans than people give em credit for.

NeWcS

Thank you for every ones opinion!!! I'll keep a close eye on everyone and see how they are. The bus analogy was great!

-JAy