Overwhelmed - How to stock?

[goosta]

I'm fairly new to fishkeeping. Currently have a 5 gallon tank with a betta. After moving, I finally have a place to setup a 13 gallon widescreen aquarium that I purchased a while ago. The tank is 24" x 8" x 16" (height). It is setup with artificial plants.

I've been trying to decide how to stock it. After reading through a bunch of posts, I feel more confused than anything. I'm really just trying to figure out what I would be most successful with as a beginner.

Would anyone be willing to help me out with recommendations?

Here is a picture of the tank:

Thank you!

 

[TheSmallFish]

Nice tank I am trying to get ideas too

 

[mikeyerushalmi]

Are you housing your beta in this new tank?

 

[Pat N]

how about a small school of neons 3-5, small school of glo light tetras 3-5, 3-5 harlequin rasbora, 2 long fin serpae tetra, emperor tetra, I think that would make a beautiful tank.Can't add them all at once, a few at a time. I usually don't add fish unless I clean the tank.

 

[Toad]

Tetras need schools, there is no way to have all those tetras with the right amount of numbers.

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[Pat N]

3to5 five are schools, and they are very small so they will fit into the tank just fine. You just cant add all of them at the same time.

 

[Toad]

5+ are schools, and emperor tetras get 3 inches each. A school of neons or glo lights sure. But not all that is such low numbers.

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[Mebbid]

I much prefer larger schools than smaller schools. Having too many schooling fish in a tank makes it look busy and cluttered. I would suggest a school of 8 either neon tetras or harlequin rasbora. Then look at a centerpiece fish such as a dwarf gourami (if the betta isnt going in this tank)

You can fill out your livestock with some red cherry shrimp and nerite snails.

 

[nirbhao]

Nice tank! I agree with nerites. They are great.

 

[goosta]

Thanks for the suggestions!

My betta is staying in the 5 gallon. I really like your suggestion of harlequin rasbora and a dwarf gourami so I think I will go that route. Thanks!

 

[goosta]

Hey everyone! Just wanted to follow up with another question.

So I started about with 4 Espei Rasbora while my tank was still cycling. Now it's about 6 months later and the tank is cycled and doing well, but I still just have the 4 Espei Rasbora. I finally stopped by the fish store today, as we were in the area, planning to buy 4 more Espei but unfortunately they didn't have any. I did see Black Harlequin Rasbora there which I really liked. I was wondering if they would school with my Espei? I didn't buy any since I wasn't sure.

Still planning to get a dwarf gourami as well.

Thanks!