I know the 1 inch per gallon. But neon tetras are so tiny. For example, two 1 inch neon tetras produce much less waste and are still much smaller than for instance one 2 inch platty. So how many gallons do these beautiful little creatures need. I want to keep the largest school possible in a 15 gallon tank.
2007-11-14 09:09:57 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
The 1 inch per gallon rule is a great general rule for beginning fish keepers. The longer you deal with fish however, the more you realize the needs of each fish. Some fish need more than 1 gallon, like goldfish, and some need less, like cardinal tetras and neon tetras. When dealing with neon tetras, you WANT to have a large school. These fish, in a well cycled aquarium need roughly 0.75 gallons each. In a 15 gallon aquarium, you could add a school of 20 neon tetras. Not all at once of course. Make sure each one gets to eat, but also be sure you don't overfeed them, and don't skip a water change.
2007-11-14 09:54:07 · answer #1 · answered by Marine 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The one inch per gallon guidline is simply used to allow a wide variety of fish to inhabit a small area. It help to keep some fish from picking on others and being over stressed. I you have a tank of schooling fish they will not be so worried about space. So get as many as you think will look good and still have room for the school to move around. 20-25 sounds really nice. The only thing you need to do is keep an eye on water conditions so that it does not cause stress to the fish. With a good filter and monthly water changes you should be fine. If the filter is not keeping up then increase the water changes some to take up the slack. If you add in some other fish you might run into problems. Even though the neons would be happen the other fish might feel cramped.
2007-11-14 11:44:55 · answer #2 · answered by Patrick K 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Obviously you have figured out that the 1" of fish per gallon of water is not a "rule." It is more of a guidline for "small" fish.
10 one inch neons are not even close in bioload output to one10 inch oscar.
You are correct, you could have more than 15 neons in your tank as long as you have a good filter to remove particulate matter and do your regular [weekly] partial [30%] water changes religiously.
You could have between 20 and 25 if you do your tank maintenance as you should.
Keep in mind, neons are quite delicate fish and touchy about water quality. You should start with only a few until the tank is cycled, then you can add a few more each week until you are at the maximum.
It might even be a better idea to cycle the tank with some zebra danios at first before putting any neons in there. You can leave the zebras in or take them back to the store when the tank is cycled [usually takes about two weeks].
Neons like lots of plants to hide in too, they are shy little guys. Plant the back and sides of the tank and leave swimming area in the front and center.
2007-11-14 09:31:18 · answer #3 · answered by 8 In the corner 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
hi. My recommendations are that the guideline of a million" of fish in line with gallon replaced into an surprisingly well-known rule used over many some years in the past and has regrettably observed with the pastime. I examine books and surf the internet, and have not come throughout the time of this as a instruction manual in contemporary good aquarium literature at the instant. The pastime and commerce has grown, the kinds of aquarium fish that are obtainable to us in recent times is large, the a million" of fish in line with gallon rule only does no longer artwork with all of them. i'd desire to besides the undeniable fact that see this rule working if all which you have been stocking would be extremely small community fish like tetras, barbs, stay bearers and so on. Or the kinds of fish that have been obtainable interior the early years of aquarium fish keeping.
2016-10-02 09:04:28 · answer #4 · answered by rickey 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well if thats true then my poor fish have no room. I have like 20 fish in a 30 gallon tank but they are a small
2007-11-14 11:29:40 · answer #5 · answered by Christian's Mommy 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The largest school in my opinion would be 20-25. I know it sounds too bad but it actually isn't. It's the maintenance that makes the difference.
2007-11-14 09:23:24 · answer #6 · answered by Chris 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
they loom much better in large groups 20-30 looks best
2007-11-14 09:18:48 · answer #7 · answered by dAmIAnOO 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Get as much as you want 10-20, in the stores they're really happy in big schools!
2007-11-14 09:13:19 · answer #8 · answered by Ronald Li 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The one inch per gallon rule applies to them.
2007-11-14 09:16:26 · answer #9 · answered by USMC Wife, Pit Bull Mama 5 · 1⤊ 8⤋