Tommy8724

What happens in an overcrowded tank? I've heard not to do it but I never really got a reason...More tank maintenance obviously, but if you didn't mind that. LFS tanks are extremely overcrowded and they seem fine. Just wondering. I'd never overcrowd my tanks, I was just curious.

armadillo

I get it's a theoretical point, no worries. (you won't get hordes of us at your throat about fish abuse! )

I'd say the main problems are: pollution and psychological stress on the fish.

Indeed, if you dont' mind doing very regular maintenance then I guess 1/ is slightly less of a factor, although in extreme overcrowding conditions, 2x daily water changes wouldn't even do it.

On the LFS, I wouldn't say that their animal husbandry practices are OK in the long run (or even short run sometimes: I do see a lot of dead fish in fish store). IMO, they're giving the wrong message to the public regarding acceptable population levels by showing such crowded tanks. I think there should be standard little signs saying that this is only acceptable for temporary accommodation.

Tommy8724

I definitely agree with the signs on the lfs tanks. I'll see what I can do about the store I go to!

I have a twenty gallon tank with 6 zebra danios, 4 corys, 1 guppy, 3 platies and 2 mollies. That's not too much is it? If so, I have a emty cycled 29 gallon that I was looking to put some fish in... On the other hand, if there is room in the twenty gallon, any ideas as to what I could put in there?

armadillo

I'd say you're slightly overstocked (am getting up to 21 inch of adult fish when I work it out), but nothing that your regular maintenance can't handle, right? Also, as I understand it, corys don't produce that much waste, but I could be completely mistaken on that one.

Tommy8724

I've had the corys for two years now, they don't produce much waste at all! My problems are with my platies and mollies. Two of the corys are albino and they're only barely an inch long even though I've had those for two years!

Isabella

LOL! Yeah, we tend to do that, don't we. But it's all for the good of our fishies! We have a very good reason for it, heh

COBettaCouple

It's kind of like having a big party in a small room. hey, it's doable but before long it's not a lot of fun for anyone. overstocking can lead to much higher weakness to disease, aggression due to feeling cramped and the pollution/waste issues. slight overstocking is a lot different than the sardine tank syndrome.

I think the fish you listed add up to 36" of fish, so that would be very overstocked. the danios aren't real big waste producers, but the livebearers are.

armadillo

Oh really? I had added it up to about 31". I must have under-counted some.

COBettaCouple

or i assigned different adult sizes to them.

Tom

Yam but you have to remember, they are selling their fish and getting rid of them, so IMO, they can do that and get away with it since the fish are leaving the tank every so often.
Tom