How many fish can I put in my tanks, and what kinds?

Question

I have a 3 gallon acrylic tank (12x6x9) (2 years old), a 20 gallon glass (24x12x18) (1.5 years old), and a 55 gallon glass (48x13x20) (3 days old).

In case this helps, all tanks have heaters, and all have fully functional filteration systems. There is one air stone. I also have 3 gallons worth of green pebbles, 20 gallons worth of blue pebbles, and 55 gallons worth of plain pebbles.

I would like to know what fish would look good together, and how I should set up the aquariums to function in a way that these fish would look good together. I am also looking at making the 20 gallon a saltwater tank.

Answer 1

Never put more than two betta fish together or with any other fish they have to be by themselves and bettas should never be around mirrors they have the tendency to kill other fish so if they see themselves they will kill themselves.
Use the fish you like but goldfish and freshwater fish are easier to take care of than fish that need care from the ocean like the salt water fish those are harder to take care of especially if you have a 55 gallon tank, but you can do salt water fish on the 3 gallon since the salt water fish are the most beautiful but its up to you. Oh and try not to overcrowd the fish they don't like that one the 3 gallon one you might want to have like 2 or 3 at the most fish, on the 20 i would suggest around 15 or 16 and on the 55 just like 45 also remember the more fish you have in your tanks the harder it is to clean them

Answer 2

I agree with most RE: how many fish per gallon. Just remember that with a marine tank, that rule is not the same, and it becomes an inch of fish per 3 to 5 gallons. I would not reccommend the 20 as a marine tank. While I HAVE seen it done, your 55 would make a MUCH better saltwater tank. Most marine fish are very sensitive, and can be territorial. They really need more room than a 20 to flourish in your aquarium. I would not reccommend it, as I have seen MANY MANY times people try to make a tank too small into a salt, all their fish keep dying and they either give up or and up getting something bigger anyway.

Answer 3

ok for your 3 gallon id just put in baby fish. or use it as a breeding tank. For your twenty gallon ive heard that u can have like 1 fish per gallon.. and same with your fifty. But depending on how big the fish are it ranges between 10-30, and for your fifty 40-60. I have a 55+ gallon tank with lots of fish in it. and i have a 25+ gallon tank and i use it for all my baby fish.
Guppies,mollies,platys give live birth.(no eggs)

Answer 4

I think the general consensus is one inch of fish per gallon of water and you want to make sure that you have the same type (aggressive, community, salt water, goldfish) together. You don't want to mix and match too much or you'll end up with many dead fish on your hands.

When you're picking fish, make sure you take into account what size they'll be at their largest. You don't want to buy 3 1" fish for your 3 gallon if all three of those fish will grow up to be 4" long.

Answer 5

The inch-per-gallon rule is untrue more often than not. Please research individual species of fish before buying them to be sure you stock appropriately. (Examples other than those already mentioned: goldfish are NOT inch-per-galloners because they generate much more waste per inch than most fish. Also, any species of active, fast-swimming fish requires more water than a gallon-per-inch in order to have enough space.)

Some things to consider in stocking your tanks so they look their best:

* Stock fish at all levels of the tank. For example, if you stock nothing but bottom level fish like cories or plecos, your tank will look empty. Also, if you stock nothing but midlevel fish, your 20 gallon tank would certainly be overcrowded at 3 schools of 8, whereas you could easily stock 15 neons, 3 dwarf gouramis, and 7 cory cats. Gouramis, bettas, danios, etc tend to spend lots of time near the surface. Most tetras like the midlevels of the tank. And of course, the bottom dwellers are the catfish, loaches, etc.

* Backgrounds make a big difference for a small price. I especially love the look of black backgrounds for pale or silver fish, and bright blue backgrounds for colorful fish. They also make your plants and decor look brighter and cleaner.

* Color themes can really add some "cool factor" to a tank. For example, imagine this black and white tank: a pearl gourami, a school of diamond tetras, and schools of albino and panda cories on black sand with a black background, gray rocks, and dark, feathery plants, and a few small bright red snails, ramshorns maybe. Or a primary colors tank with red/blue dwarf gouramis, neon tetras, and golden apple snails. Be imaginative! Plan before you shop and you'll have a great-looking tank.

Answer 6

If it's a goldfish, the fishcare websites all say 10 gallons per fish. My local Petco said that it's ok to have 1 gallon/inch of fish, though.

Answer 7

This all depends on salt water or fresh water. Each kind takes a certain amount of maintenance but salt takes more. Almost any kind of fish can be put in there. The amount depends on the size they grow to, you can ask the people at the pet store and they'll be able to answer this question for you.

Answer 8

A rule of thumb that works when used with "normal community" fish is 1" of adult fish per gallon of water.

This does not work with tank busters such as pacu's, oscars, pirahna, bichirs, etc.

It does however work with your typical community fish such as tetra's, betta's, gouramis, etc.

Answer 9

Jordan my gold fish has a 2 gallon tank he is a happy little fish

Answer 10

you should keep the same level of fish together like tropical community with tropical community and bottom feeders with bottom feeders, that way you won;t have any eaten or badly hurt fish its also good to keep female with female and males with males though they may fight.....