tess

Hi, this is my first time on this forum and my first time setting up a tropical tank. After much research and cycling, testing etc I finally began stocking my 108Litre tank. So far I have 10 neon tetras, 1 small bristlenose catfish ( which finally came out of hiding after 3 days), 2 female guppies and 1 male guppy. I really like the look of Gouramis and just got 5 dwarf - 2 blue and 3 orange with blue fins. I was really happy with how it was all going until one of the dwarf blues began picking on the other gouramis and now the orange ones hide most of the time. I relied on my local shop maybe too much and now afraid I have 5 Males that are not going to live in harmony. Is this a problem to have all males or will they adjust. I would appreciate any advise.

Blub

MissMTS

I have heard that the male dwarf gouramis can be aggressive towards eachother though I have never experienced it. I would just feel it out and see how it goes. If one is being a big bully, take it back to the LFS and see how the others get along.

tess

The gouramies are settling down with all out of hiding and two having the occasion chase for one spot in the tank, I`m hopeful then that a truce will be called but I will keep an eye on them and remove any if necessary.
I did the conversion on my tank size and am confused as to whether I am overstocked for a 30 gallon tank? any input would be appreciated.

cheers

MissMTS

Good luck

ShaynaB

10 neons: 15" (1.5 inches a fish)
3 guppies: 6" (2 inches a fish)
1 bristlenose: 5"
5 dwarf gourami: 10" (2 inches a fish)

total: 36" of fish.

This is the adult total, so I'd say you're slightly overstocked, if you go by the 1 inch of fish per gallon rule. Be prepared to do tank maintenance more often and check your water levels a lot!

I've heard that Gourami can be pretty aggressive little fish... good luck with them! Also, some people say that they can grow to as much as 3 inches per fish. They're super pretty, though!

susitna-flower

Tess, Do you have an API Master test kit? How are you testing your water, to know it is cycled. What process did you use to cycle your tank?

Yes you are slightly overstocked, this can add to aggression, but IF you are willing to do 50% weekly water changes, it should be ok, when and IF the gouramis settle down. To help this, make sure there are decorations/ plants in the tank to break up the line of sight....a way for them to establish their pecking order, and territories. Good Luck....

tess

I only have a pH test kit and relied on the LFS to test the water for everyelse necessary. I put gravel, plants real and fake, a good cave and log. and ran to filter and heater on my Jebo tank for about 2 weeks. I turned heater down and added a goldfish for a week, removed him had water tested and turned heater up again and put in 10 tetras for a week before adding other fish. All seems well now except for the two bossy dwarf gouramies who want the same spot, they are not too nasty but will probably take two back to LFS if he will take them. I will also buy other testing kits for ammonia etc Tried to post picture of tank but file wasnt accepted will try again, easier than explaining.
cheers

sirdarksol

I won't repeat what I said in the other thread, just say that the advice that Shayna and Susitna have given you is good, and that I've responded to your other thread where a discussion of the tank's fish is happening.

Good luck.

Blub

Tsunami35

I have one male gourami that by itself is quite aggressive towards other fish, and my tank is a 30g. So 5 of them in one tank sounds like way to many...

Blub

ShaynaB

Not necessarily Hatchet. I have one Cory, and she's my oldest surviving fish. She does just fine in the tank by herself. I know they're a schooling fish, but it seems like a lot of people have just one or two. My mollies like to hang out with her, actually. I think it depends on the individual fish.

Drea

I agree about the cory's...I have 3 in my 30g and they do great!

sirdarksol

Yeah, cories don't need to be in groups of 6. Many people keep two or three and they do fine. Keeping one and having it survive is rare, but it happens.

Also, Hatchet, you might want to check your total lengths. Most guppies don't grow to be 3". 2" is a better adult length. Neons only grow to about 1.5" (and probably don't even count for that because they have so little body mass, which is what we're really looking at). I agree that the tank is overstocked (it was totalled once in this thread and once in another, I believe), just not as badly as you listed.

Blub

sirdarksol

Good to know on the inches thing.

That's great to point out that they could be happier. Most of us want to keep our fish as happy as we can.
However, to say that cories need groups of six is, as far as what I've seen from folks around here, not necessarily correct. Many people have kept cories for a long time in groups of two or three (usually in smaller tanks), and they've had the typical cory personality. One person even had a single cory who lived for four years and had the typical cory personality. It's not something I would suggest, just like I wouldn't suggest keeping a goldfish in a heated tank. However, both have the possibility of working well, so I'm not going to tell people not to do it, just that it is probably a bad idea.
As I said (I think in another thread), we don't like dealing with absolutes, as there is very little absolute about fishkeeping.

Blub