Stocking advice on 30Gal tank

[wldcat]

Currently I have this in the tank: (transfers from a smaller tank)

1 neon tetra
1 zebra danio
3 male platys
2 red minor tetra
1 oto catfish
1 Sterbai Cory
1 Bronze Cory
1 Albino Cory

This is what I am looking to do as a final stock:

7 neon tetras
3 male platys
1 oto catfish
2 Sterbai Cory
2 Bronze Cory
2 Albino Cory
2 Panda Cory
1 Pearl Gourami

I have had mixed advice on the cory cats some have said they will all chill out together other said it would be best to have 4 of the same type. I would like to have the variety of the 4 different ones but want to make sure they will work together.

I would like to have one bigger fish in the tank, thats where the Gourami comes in. is this a good selection or is there a better fit for the tank?

I plan on moving out the zebra danio and the red minors once I find a new home for them. (mite be an excuse to buy another tank)

Any advice on this stocking would be appreciated.


My tank:
30gal

Penguin 200 filter
small pea gravel substrate
bubble wall (if that matters)
Some live plants in tank:
java fern
amazon sword
moss ball
Dwarf lilly
banana plant
and some stem plant i forgot the name of.

 

[nirbhao]

Sterbai and panda cories definitely need their schools. Schooling fish have an organ called a lateral line, and without their school, they suffer physically.

The otos also school. They are sensitive, wild caught, and very picky eaters. I would wait until your tank builds up some biofilm before adding them, and then add a school.

The changes in behavior that you will see when you add to the numbers of schooling fish will amaze you.