Im still trying to come up with a stocking list?

Question

So heres what I want, if they dont already have a number, I need a suggestion for how many.

Here we go:
1 Betta
6-8 Swordtails
Some sort of tetra(besides neon or cardinal)

And if possible, maybe some cherry shrimp?? I know that people often have problems with them and bettas, but I have an extra ten gallon tank that they could go into if I am having issues.

My ph is about 8.2
The tank is a 40 gallon corner tank

It wasnt the betta bothing the shrimp that im worried about, its the shrimp picking at the bettas tail

I cant lower the ph, I feel its to risky to have one that might swing, and swordtails need a higher ph

Answer 1

I would suggest two schools of small to medium tetras like lemons, black phantoms, red phantoms. Rummy nose, serpae or penguins. You could also easily replace one of thosetwo schools with a school of gold or checkerboard barbs, both of those are excellent community fish and not nippy like the tigers. The schools should be 6-8 fish, depending on the final adult size. I would say 6 each of the lemons or phantoms and 8 of any others including the barbs.

Some cherry shrimp should be fine in the tank I think. Since you do have a place to put them if anything should go wrong, I would say try it out. Give them some hiding places and a good sized clump of java moss to pick through and hide in and you shouldn't have any problems with them at all.

I totally agree with you on the pH part, it's fine for the fish you are considering and far better for it to be stable.

MM

Answer 2

Hi...I can remember when I was always worried about PH's and all of that! Well if you want fish and want to keep it simple...some fish can adjust to different pH's (as long as you don't make it swing back and forth!) Not all do...like specialty fish.....Betta's could care less about pH's! So they are not a problem....Most tetra's can adjust too....We add NOTHING to our water here because I had called the city and found no chlorine is added...most additives just pickle your fish and make the water like a yo-yo. Most times it is more important to keep a steady environment. You are using some aggressive fish...so you might have so damage to control. I know nothing about shrimp...so I can't help you there.

Answer 3

I think that would be ok i would put about 20 tetras in, and i dont think the betta will bother the shrimp because the tank is big. They usualy only have problems in those little 1-5 galon tnaks.

Answer 4

I dont think you would have a problem at all. All the fish you have mention arent too bad together. I mean it doesnt hurt to try it, but make you watch them closely for a couple of days. Personally i would go for some larger fish, but your choice, i like the rummynose tetra.