Meenu

Hi,
I am planning on getting 3 zebra danio, 3 longfin blue danio, and 5-7 black tetras for my 30-gallon freshwater nonplanted tank.

Can I add a black molly, a betta, or both? Will I have problems with fin-nipping or aggression?
Also, will different species of fish school together? And are the fish I a picking schooling fish?
Is this a good number of fish for the tank? Should a do a few more or less?

Thanks - this is so exciting, setting up a new tank!!

Tony G.

Welcome to Fishlore!

the danios will school together and so will the tetras.
I wouldn't add the betta. You could add a black molly though, but be aware that they are HUGE waste producers.
The betta will probably be stressed in that tank with so many active fish, and they tend to do better on their own.

Meenu

Can you think of another pretty fish that will do well? Right now all my fish are going to be silver with a bit of black. I was hoping for something different.

Lucy

Most bettas don't make good community fish and do better on their own in a 5g or maybe with a few cories or otos or a snail in a 10g.
Here's our Betta Care Guide

Tetras and danios can be fin nippers may find the bettas flowing fin too irresistible or the territorial betta might go after the community fish. Some one could get hurt or killed.

I'm not sure about the molly, someone else would have to answer that.

Good luck

Tony!

Tony G.

Hmm... if you are looking into more colors, have you checked out neons and cardinals? they still school and bring lots of color!

you could also try different guppies. There are some really colorful guppies out there!

jdhef

You could get a Dwarf Gourami. They are pretty colorful.

omnitheforsaken

Danios are pretty small and by comparison the Molly will be big. To add to that, Molly's like to be in groups. Being that you will already have 2 small schools in there, I would go with another smaller fish like guppies or endlers.

I have read that danios are one of the few fish that should be able to be kept in the same tank as a betta but I've never seen it done. If I find the website that mentioned that I will post a link here.

omnitheforsaken

Here's one website that suggest the possibility but it's not the one I've read before.

http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_...males_more.htm

and another

http://ezinearticles.com/?Danios---A...rist&id=445721

Meenu

Thanks for all the helpful advice. I thought that danios couldn't be put in with guppies because danios are fin nippers.

Lucy

If you read through the forum, you'll find instances where danios have gone after Bettas.
IMO, it's not worth the life of a fish just because we want something.

redlessi

I have danios and guppies and they get along fine.

Meenu

I have a 30 gallon tank, and am really confused about which fish to get. The guy at my local fish store told me 6 danios, 5 tetras, and a molly would be fine together, but the advice you guys gave me is that the molly is a fish that likes other mollies, and isn't a good idea.

What about 6 danios and 6 male guppies? I thought I'd read that the danios will eat the guppies fins? I would like 3 varieties, but I'm concerned that if I get another type of schooling fish, 18-20 fish are too many for my 30 gallon tank? Or could I safely do 6 danios, 6 guppies, and 6 neon tetras?

I think I'm officially frustrated. I have been reading everything I can to be better prepared, but I think maybe I've been reading too much, since now I can't remember where I read what advice, and am left thoroughly confused by the conflicting advice I'm getting.

I would really like 3 varieties of fish, either 3 school (if that's not too many fish), or 2 schools and one or two slightly larger fish.

This forum and website is the best! Thanks for all your help.

Lucy

That first link also says Male bettas do best in bowls.

Meenu

Oh, I agree - that's why I'm asking these questions before I buy the fish!

Shawnie

mommybaby i have merged your posts....starting a new one on the same subject, will only confuse members about advice already given ...

Lucy

That's very smart! Many of us brought fish home before doing research, got home looked them up and said oh oh!

It's easy to go into a fish store and get confused with all the choices. Like a kid in acandy shop. lol

Meenu

Okay, will this combination work?

6 danios, 6 black skirt tetras, and 3 male guppies?
Or do the guppies need to be in groups of 6 or more?
And are 15 fish a good number for the 30-gallon tank? I really want to avoid overstocking.

CichildFan

Hi mommybaby295,

Take a look at this link. It might help you when deciding on what combination would work for you.

http://www.tropicalfishandaquariums.com/Compatibility/

They state to be on the conservative side and that there is no substitute for practical experience with compatibility, but at least this would give you a base to start.

You will see that it is pretty much in line with the expert advice you have already received in this thread.

Good luck!

jdhef

As far as stocking goes, there is a general rule of thumb of 1" of adult size fish per gallon of water. This pertains to fish who's full grown size is under about 3". So for the type of fish you are interested in you would want no more that 30 inches.

Another thing to consider is what region of the tank the fish inhabit (i.e. top, middle or bottom). You can get away with a little overstocking if the fish inhabit different regions and you are willing to do more waterchanges. Remember, the more fish you have, the more ammonia that they create, which ultimately leads to more nitrates.

Meenu

Okay, thanks everyone!!

Meenu

Will longfin danios and glofish school together? I think I'm going to go with 3 glofish, 2 longfin danios, and 5 cherry barbs. That's 11 fish total, but I guess too few isn't a problem, just too many. The reason I'm planning on 5 cherry barbs is I read that if you keep an even number of them, they may pair off and become aggressive. Does anyone have experience with this?

Tony G.

Glofish and danios are the same fish, only the glofish have jelly fish DNA in their system which gives them the color. They will school together

Meenu

I just saw the prettiest albino cherry barbs at the LFS.

Tony G.

albinos!?! i havent seen those! i wil check them out! they sound nice!

Meenu

they were even prettier than the cherries. they also had 2 endlers - those ar gorgeous!