30 Gallon stocking advice

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Sorry it took so long......ordering online could be an option, but I haven't had the best of luck with aquatic creatures in the mail, so I would rather not, unless you know of a really good site. (although I might look into buying a smaller type of pleco online.) As for the schools of 8, would red eye-tetras and hi fin black skirt tetras work? And what would be a good centerpiece fish be? Any that are on my list in the original question? And would the small pleco be the bottom feeder or do you have something else in mind? I really have no idea.....thanks
 
Help! Would this setup work?

In my 30 gallon tank I'm thinking of getting 8 hi fin black skirt tetras, 10 neon tetras, 2 mystery snails, and as a centerpiece fish, a male beta.

Would this setup work? Some people say that the hi fin tetras are nippy towards longer finned slower fish, some say they don't nip, one guy said that he has seen angelfish kept with hi fin tetras at his pet store and they get along fine. Would they keep their nipping to themselves if i have them in a bigger school like this? And how would the beta feel about the other fish? I know betas and neons are ordinarily fine, but I don't want to have the beta attack the hi fin tetras.

Also, approximately how many live plants should I put in my aquarium? I know the hi fin and neon tetras like well planted tanks, while betas don't care for as many plants.

Oh, and one more thing.....(sorry I'm asking so many questions) I read that betas need a flake that is at least 40% protein, so they can only eat special beta flakes, not tropical flakes. But I checked the bottle of my tropical flakes I have and they are 47% protein. Would this make them O.K. for the beta? Or do I still need special Beta flakes? If so, could you give me an idea on how to feed the beta one kind of food and all the other fish in the aquarium another?

Thanks in advance
 
I personally wouldn't risk it. I think that all tetras a can be nippy towards long finned, slow moving fish. With that many I would think he would loose his fins. I would feed him specialised betta food. It's generally betta for them! See what I did there! Lol
 
bud29 said:
In my 30 gallon tank I'm thinking of getting 8 hi fin black skirt tetras, 10 neon tetras, 2 mystery snails, and as a centerpiece fish, a male beta.

Would this setup work? Some people say that the hi fin tetras are nippy towards longer finned slower fish, some say they don't nip, one guy said that he has seen angelfish kept with hi fin tetras at his pet store and they get along fine. Would they keep their nipping to themselves if i have them in a bigger school like this? And how would the beta feel about the other fish? I know betas and neons are ordinarily fine, but I don't want to have the beta attack the hi fin tetras.

Also, approximately how many live plants should I put in my aquarium? I know the hi fin and neon tetras like well planted tanks, while betas don't care for as many plants.

Oh, and one more thing.....(sorry I'm asking so many questions) I read that betas need a flake that is at least 40% protein, so they can only eat special beta flakes, not tropical flakes. But I checked the bottle of my tropical flakes I have and they are 47% protein. Would this make them O.K. for the beta? Or do I still need special Beta flakes? If so, could you give me an idea on how to feed the beta one kind of food and all the other fish in the aquarium another?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
if u did 10 high fin tetras the amount of tetras should even out the aggression... you could also purchase 1-2 non aggressive gouramis :]
 
I have been brainstorming what to put in my 30 gallon tank and I've gotten a few ideas on what to put in it. Which plan do you like best?

Plan 1:
6 platys
6 zebra danios
4 male fancy guppies

Plan 2:
7 neon tetras
6 hi fin black skirt tetras
6 red eye tetras
1 pink kissing gourami
1 mystery snail

Plan 3:
10 neon tetras
10 hi fin black skirt tetras
1 male Betta
1 mystery snail

Plan 4:
7 African cichlids
2 mystery snails

Personally I'm leaning towards plan 4 just because I have some sort of attraction to African cichlids.

Thank you in advance
 
I've never had african cichlids, so can't really comment on that stocking plan.

That said,

Plan 1 - you could add more fish, like maybe a school of corys for the bottom level.

Plan 2 - I think you have too many fish at the same level of the tank. I would remove either the black skirts or the gourami and replace with a bottom level dweller.

Plan 3 - you'd have trouble with the black skirts and the betta and possibly trouble with the betta and every other species. It all depends on the individual betta's personality. Also, in my opinion, a 30 gallon tank cannot support 10 black skirts.
 
Africans are very attractive but I wouldn't recommend them for a 30 gallon. And other users may disagree but this is strictly my opinion. Africans do better in larger groups and some can get 5-6 in. some larger, some smaller. But with all my research on Africans this seems about a average size. Again strictly my opinion :)
 
With these three plans, take into consideration to what Lynda said, she knows what's she's taking about :)
that being said I vote for plan one along with the suggestion for a group for the bottom level
 
butterfly_koi said:
With these three plans, take into consideration to what Lynda said, she knows what's she's taking about :)
that being said I vote for plan one along with the suggestion for a group for the bottom level
Click to expand...

I don't have much to choose from when talking about bottom dwellers. I can choose from a common pleco (which will get way too big), mystery snails, pictus catfish, and some pinkish fish identified as 'algae eaters.' Which would work?
 
May I suggest you research bottom dwelling fish again? The list is HUGE!

You have loaches (except clown), many smaller plecos (you can't have the common in 30 gallons), inverts, a variety of catfish.

I suggest you go to the lfs and ask them to see the lower level species. Take a pad and pen with you and write down the species that you're attracted to. We'll help you stock from there.

Fishkeeping is all about research. Only by getting loads of it under your belt will you end up with an interesting, healthy tank full of happy fish. (y)
 
LyndaB said:
May I suggest you research bottom dwelling fish again? The list is HUGE!

You have loaches (except clown), many smaller plecos (you can't have the common in 30 gallons), inverts, a variety of catfish.

I suggest you go to the lfs and ask them to see the lower level species. Take a pad and pen with you and write down the species that you're attracted to. We'll help you stock from there.

Fishkeeping is all about research. Only by getting loads of it under your belt will you end up with an interesting, healthy tank full of happy fish. (y)
Click to expand...

You might not have taken it that way but what I meant was that those are the only bottom dwellers my store sells
 
I would choose stock list 1 and may e add a centerpiece fish like a honey gourami?
 
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