20 Gallon over stocked?

[henry1245]

Hi All,

I have a 20 gallon tank (90 litres), with the following:

2 x Molly
2 x Sailfin Molly
2 x Platy
1 x Hoplo Catfish
1 x Pleco


I am thinking of getting a couople of male guppies at the weekend, will this over stock my tank?

Cheers
Henry

 

[jetajockey]

what kind of pleco is it? If it's a common I'd say rehome it and you have room for a couple of guppies.

 

[henry1245]

it is a common, but the guy at the LFS said when it gets too big he'll swap it for a small one...

 

[jetajockey]

stocking plans are typically based on the adult size of the fish, so you can see how this creates a dilemma in that method. I'd just get rid of it sooner rather than later, if there's no attachment to the creature in particular.

 

[henry1245]

Are there any other plecos i could get that don't grow too big? (since i've had him the tank has been super clean!)

(Aparently i'm not allowed snails as they freak the missus out too much!! haha!)

 

[jetajockey]

i suggest bristlenose plecos, they max out at around 4". With one of those you could add a couple guppies, but you'd definitely be around your maximum stock.

 

[henry1245]

Ah, just seen a common pleco can grow to over a foot!

Would even a 4" fish be ok in my tank? so far i think the biggest the otehr will get to is about 2.5 - 3"

Would a clown pleco be ok?

Thanks!

 

[jetajockey]

Yeah I think you'll be fine. That stock list would be pretty much it, though.

 

[henry1245]

Thats all i want for now... until i move house and buy a MUCH bigger tank later this year

Thanks for your help!

 

[jetajockey]

my pleasure.

 

[samt1]

I have in my 90 litre (20 gallon) tank

4 guppy's
6 Neon Tetra's
2 Dalmation Molly's

Gonna hopefully get a couple more bottom feeder types, not sure yet, gonna wait and ask the guy at the shop

 

[henry1245]

I have in my 90 litre (20 gallon) tank

4 guppy's
6 Neon Tetra's
2 Dalmation Molly's

Gonna hopefully get a couple more bottom feeder types, not sure yet, gonna wait and ask the guy at the shop

Mine told me to get 2 Clown Loaches - look lovely but can grown 10"!
So don't listen to everything they say!

I have a Hoplo Catfish which is a nice bottom feeder (spent his first few days with his head stuck in a plant looking dead, but is very lively now!)

 

[samt1]

Mine told me to get 2 Clown Loaches - look lovely but can grown 10"!
So don't listen to everything they say!

I have a Hoplo Catfish which is a nice bottom feeder (spent his first few days with his head stuck in a plant looking dead, but is very lively now!)

Oh I've already had that happen to me, went to Pets at Home and they let me buy Clown Loaches, they have since been returned, will now only go to the Garden Centre where I have bought all the other fish from as they know what there talking about.

 

[Homedog98]

I have in my 90 litre (20 gallon) tank

4 guppy's
6 Neon Tetra's
2 Dalmation Molly's

Gonna hopefully get a couple more bottom feeder types, not sure yet, gonna wait and ask the guy at the shop

I wouldn't listen. After the "oh a rainbow shark would be perfect for a ten gallon" speech... And the "oh you don't need to cycle..." they've officially lost my trust.

 

[samt1]

I wouldn't listen. After the "oh a rainbow shark would be perfect for a ten gallon" speech... And the "oh you don't need to cycle..." they've officially lost my trust.

Well to be fair to the guy I have spoke to most at the Garden Centre he has given me good advice throughout, if I suggest getting a certain fish or plant or anything really he always has a good answer with pro's and con's for each, and has also steered me away from certain fish I have liked the look of, all of which does make me feel confident in his knowledge but we shall see!

 

[Homedog98]

Well to be fair to the guy I have spoke to most at the Garden Centre he has given me good advice throughout, if I suggest getting a certain fish or plant or anything really he always has a good answer with pro's and con's for each, and has also steered me away from certain fish I have liked the look of, all of which does make me feel confident in his knowledge but we shall see!

I'd just take everything they say with a grain of salt. As nice as they seem, the business world can do bad things to people, and fishies!

 

[samt1]

I'd just take everything they say with a grain of salt. As nice as they seem, the business world can do bad things to people, and fishies!

Yeah I know what you mean, is good to get the advice though as I know next to nothing about all of it, hence the Clown Loach problem!

 

[15Sulcata]

i suggest bristlenose plecos, they max out at around 4". With one of those you could add a couple guppies, but you'd definitely be around your maximum stock.

Bristlenose r a bit ugly looking a smaller and nicer pleco would be the butterfly pleco. I think ther the best pleco to hav and don't cost a lot and add some ghost shrimp if u don't want snails

 

[jeffruth]

Julii cores are cool. They get to about 2.5/3". Need 2-3 of them to make them happy. Good bottom dewellers IMO.

 

[15Sulcata]

Julii cores are cool. They get to about 2.5/3". Need 2-3 of them to make them happy. Good bottom dewellers IMO.

Those are nice but I think pandas are better