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Very Overstocked?

Posted: 26 Apr 2005, 19:51
by Nik_Boyd
I'm bidding on a tank at the moment, a Juwel Rekord 96 (96lt, 81*46*31cm) and apparently the tank comes with the following occupants -

1 large gourami
2 red tail sharks
4 black widows
2 neon tetras
1 bumblebee cat
2 plattys
1 large clown loach
1 blue jap fighter (I'm assuming this is a siamese fighting fish)
6 zebras (I'm assuming not the plecs. if they are, I'll be amazed)
1 minnow (unspecified)

I think this is very overstocked, probably just with the clown loach and red tail sharks...but I'm a beginner so would like a second opinion. Also, what would you suggest I get rid of? I'm in favour of offloading the clown loach and red tail sharks, not that keen on them myself.

having just looked up the bumblebee cat, that would explain why there are only two neons...oh dear.

Nik.

Posted: 27 Apr 2005, 00:04
by medaka

Posted: 27 Apr 2005, 09:34
by racoll
over-stocking is dependant on many factors. if there is sufficient filtration to deal with the waste, and adequate water changes to keep nitrates down, and the fish aren't killing each other, then the tank isn't overstocked.

if any of these can't be satisfied, then it is overstocked.

having said that, this tank does sound pretty over-stocked.

my advice is to swap all these fish at the LFS for some food or something, so you can get what you REALLY want.

although i think bumblebee cats are cool (unsurpisingly, seeing as i'm on planet CATFISH!)

i also really like clown loaches, but this tank is too small for a big one. they also prefer to be kept in groups.

Posted: 27 Apr 2005, 14:40
by bronzefry
I've seen Clown Loaches eat snails, too. But, they do need a fair amount of room. They drove a friend nuts because they went up and down the glass all day. I found it endearing. But, like Racoll, I'm here, at Planet Catfish. :lol:

I was looking at those tanks. I would love to get one in the US. I'm sure they're expensive. Last summer, I was ready to purchase the 75 gallon tank, and an emergency medical expense came up. All that money I saved was gone in an instant. :roll: I saved for another few months. It was well worth the wait. I got exactly what I wanted. I bought the Eheim filter, the Current-USA light, a solid oak stand, etc. I'm going to do the same with the 29 gallon tank I just broke down and turn it into a river tank. But, it may take me until December or so to do it.

Posted: 27 Apr 2005, 17:53
by dancingdryad
2 red tail sharks in that size tank? :shock: I'm surprised they haven't killed each other, they're highly territorial and don't usually tolerate any other fish that looks even remotely like them let alone another of the same species... They must be busy bullying everything else in the tank which might also explain why there are only 2 neons. I've got a rainbow (ruby) shark who is so enthusiastic about chasing everything else in the tank that he stops mid chase to chase a different fish. Fortunately there are a lot of fish in the tank and it's well planted with loads of hiding places so no-one gets picked on too much.

I would suspect that the minnow is a White Cloud Mountain Minnow which does prefer temperatures at the lower end of the range, so it could be feeling a bit too warm and a bit lonely too.

Clown Loaches are cool although they can get large, are prone to whitespot and are sensitive to medications...

It does sound like a chaotic mixture that is just waiting to turn into a disaster, probably after you move the tank and the fish start re-establishing their territories and while the filter recovers.

I agree with racoll and would take the fish down to your LFS and swap them for something else.

Posted: 27 Apr 2005, 18:49
by Nik_Boyd
Medeka, the trigon it still happening, but I'm not yet renting the room its going to go in, and this tank is for our living room. So many fish, not enough tanks ;)

LFS don't seem too keen on the fish, as I haven't kept them so don't know history etc, so hoping someone else will take them off my hands, its in another thread.

thanks

Nik

Posted: 28 Apr 2005, 15:03
by bronzefry
Nik,
This sounds like a beginner's tank gone haywire. One of these, two of those. We see it all too often here. I'm sure it's all too common everywhere.

The "Zebras" maybe Zebra Danios. My brother started me with his old 15 gallon(24"x12")tank. It had 4 Zebra Danios and 2 Platties. It was a wonderful way to get started for me. There are 2 of the Zebras left and they are now 5 years old. The 2 Platties and 2 of the Danios died at 4-1/2 years old.

Posted: 29 Apr 2005, 16:33
by Durlänger
I think you have realy to much in your tank :(
and it looks for me that your fish`s are realy to mixed (as far as I can see without understanding the english name`s of them, latin names would be nice) :(

Posted: 29 Apr 2005, 20:31
by Nik_Boyd
I woz done in the last 15 seconds of the auction and didn't win the tank, which I'm kind of glad about in a way, cos it would have been quite a lot of hassle sorting out the contents.

we got fed up with getting excited about auctions and not winning them and got a Rio 180 yesterday, and are currently cycling it

Nik