Room for anymore fish? My boyfriend doesn't think so, but I do...?

Question

I have a 55 gallon tank with the following occupants:

(from smallest to largest)
5-white tetras adults

2-Dwarf Neon Rainbows (1-2 inches)

3-Australian Rainbows (3-5inches each)

3-Loaches (2 YoYos & 1 Burmese Boarder)

1-Spotted Angelicus Cat (approx. 3-4 inches)

1-Featherfin Squeaker (approx. 6 inches)

1-Butterfly Pleco (approx. 8-9 inches including tail)

=equalling approx. 37 inches of fish total.

I preform water changes at least once a week, sometimes twice. There are 3 medium sized rocks and one 14 inch piece of driftwood in there.
I want to get 2 or 3 Bosemani Rainbows, and another 2 or 2 Dwarf Neon Rainbows.
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

So the real question is not how many fish you have. It's how much food you are putting in, how well filtered your tank is, and if the fish are getting along. How is your nitrate level? How healthy are your fish? Doing water changes more frequently can offset cramped conditions. As can good filtration.


PS- The fish in your tank are pretty big. The rule of thumb (inch per gallon) is intended for slim bodied fish like tetras, molly, guppy, minnows..... Honestly with rainbows, and catfish (including the pleco) I'd say at least 2 gallons per inch.

Answer 2

You have room for them, but consider the fact that you may be overcrowding. In my 55, I have a turtle(western Painted, 3"), 6 neon tetras, 5 silver dollars(between 1-4" each) 1 pleco(4"), 3 mollies(2") and three rainbow shark babies. I used to have so many fish that my silver dollars NEVER came out, but now they're the fish I see the most. The turtle(amazingly) has not eaten any other fish than a goldfish, and two or three neon tetras, and its been about a year since he began living with all of them.

I think my tank is well balanced now, as the turtle is being kicked out in summer to live in an outdoor pond ^.^

You have room, but maybe you should get another tank. Two tanks are always 1,000,000 times better than one ^.^

Answer 3

You can go by the rule of thumb BUT take a look down the road.
Some of those fish are going to grow and are they going to excede that rule of thumb???
Some of those fish are also teritorial and some agressive.
I would take it easy on adding anything else for a while and see what happens with what you have.
Angelicus Cat CAN grow up to 8"
Featherfin Squeaker CAN grow up to 7"
Butterfly Pleco CAN grow to 6"
The way I work it out (RULE OF THUMB) at FULL grown you are looking at around 55"
You are better to UNDERSTOCK than to OVERSTOCK.
I have had Freshwater tanks AND now Saltwater tanks and the MAIN thing that (I) would STRESS with any of them is PATIENCE, just like any animal, THINGS GROW and THINGS DIE.
Leave them some room or return something for something else.

Answer 4

I would say you are starting to push it a bit as several of those fish are quite active. I would say get either the 2-3 Bosemanis OR the 2 Dwarf Neons, but not both.

MM

Answer 5

The rule of thumb, is one gallon for each inch of fish, so I think adding more may be pushing your limits. If you do decide to add more, make sure you are diligent about checking levels and vacuuming, as you are putting more biological strain on your tank environment. Good luck!

Answer 6

If you have good filtration, I wouldn't think twice a week water changes would be necessary. I have a 55g with roughly 30 small-medium african cichlids and do 1/3 water changes sometimes as little as monthly. I'd think you could hold a few more with no problem, especially since you change the water so often.

Answer 7

the inch per gallon rule only applies to slim bodied fish under 3" in my opinion, and varies depending on the activity of the fish. larger fish have different requirements, and in the case of fish such as plecs, they produce a lot more waste (poopy!) than mid-swimming fish such as rainbows.

i would say you're pretty well stocked. understocked is less stressful to fish than on the edge of overstocked or overstocked. if you feel it's looking empty, plant it up some more, and give the fish some more hiding places more big bits of bogwood and things.

Answer 8

i say yes if its a 55 gallon tank. i have a dwarf neon rainbow there awesome, soooo tiny! i think ther is room.

Answer 9

sounds like you could get a couple more not to many though but i think your right on getting a few more fish