Am I overstocked?

[FordForever]

I was wondering if I may have over did it a bit while at the fish store earlier today. I bought two hatchet fish and a sunburst molly. My 10 gallon tank looks like this. I do plan to upgrade to a 30 gallon within the next few months but for now these fish are small.

2 Zebra Danios
2 Neon Tetras
2 Hatchet Fish
1 Corry Catfish
1 Sunburst Molly
1 Long Tailed Orange Tetra

How long will it take these guys to get bigger. I will upgrade my tank to 30 gallons withing a month or two, will I be ok until I do?

[smaug]

Do not go any further and in my opinion you are fine.You are at the upper limits of what should be in there but they are all small fish.The corys are the odd man out however because he really does need some buddys there should be at least 5 of them.What type cory is he?

[FordForever]

He is a spotted cory catfish and I know my mistake of buying him was due to bad LFS advice. I have a correction as well. It isnt a sunburst molly, it is a sunburst platty.

[Wild Turkey]

Do not go any further and in my opinion you are fine.You are at the upper limits of what should be in there but they are all small fish.The corys are the odd man out however because he really does need some buddys there should be at least 5 of them.What type cory is he?

Yup, you are pushing it but within limits. As smaug said you have some fish that would do better in a school though, thats the first thing i would do when you upgrade to the 30g. Good luck!

[FordForever]

I am also wondering if the platty will be ok, I have no salt in my tank If you think the hatchet fish will be ok alone I want to swap him with another cory catfish? Would that be a good idea?

[smaug]

I am also wondering if the platty will be ok, I have no salt in my tank If you think the hatchet fish will be ok alone I want to swap him with another cory catfish? Would that be a good idea?
Thats a good idea,by all means get more hatchets when you get your bigger tank,I have 11 of them.With small corys you should be able to get away with 3 of them even in a 10gal.No your fish do not need salt .

[NickFish]

Nope they don't need, or even like salt.

All the fish you have there need to be in groups of at least 6, except the platies.

I would upgrade as soon as you can, you'll need it.

[FordForever]

So you think I will be ok with my current setup if I return one hatchet and get two more cory catfish or would that be too many corys for my tank? The only reason I have more hatchet fish is because the LFS...They told me my cory didnt need a friend and today when I asked for only one hatchet they said "They are a schooling fish get two"...

The LFS employees are not good for anything but dipping the net.

[smaug]

Nope they don't need, or even like salt.

All the fish you have there need to be in groups of at least 6, except the platies.

I would upgrade as soon as you can, you'll need it.
Nicks right,I am partial to corys and didnt see past them:11: sorry!That and I have not kept danios or mollys.

[FordForever]

See its funny this tank started out as a test to see if I had the time and initiative to actually keep fish but I am addicted and I love these little guys. Will schooling fish die without a school or are they just happier that way?

[MandyL]

No they won't die but they will be pretty stressed... A lot of schooling fish will get aggressive and nip fins if not in a proper group, and things like that. It's great that you love it, that 30 gallon will be great to fill out your schools. :)

[smaug]

They wont die from being alone as a direct result.What it does is lead to stress related problems from never being at ease or at rest.If you are getting a bigger tank in about a month I believe your fish will be ok.How long has this tank been up and running?

[FordForever]

It ran for a month with only the zebras and neon tetras they cycled with it from day three. 5 weeks in I bought the cory catfish and the orange long finned tetra. A week later (today) I bought the two hatchet fish and the platty. I just tested my levels 10 minutes ago and they are great, ph is a little low like always (6.5) but the levels are perfect other than that. I am hoping to get these guys into a 30 gallon within a month and fill my schools out. I want a gourami too they are beautiful!

[smaug]

It ran for a month with only the zebras and neon tetras they cycled with it from day three. 5 weeks in I bought the cory catfish and the orange long finned tetra. A week later (today) I bought the two hatchet fish and the platty. I just tested my levels 10 minutes ago and they are great, ph is a little low like always (6.5) but the levels are perfect other than that. I am hoping to get these guys into a 30 gallon within a month and fill my schools out. I want a gourami too they are beautiful!
Just keep good observation and note any aggression or strange behaviour,hopefully they will fare well till they get there new house.

[FordForever]

So far so good, my zebras bully my tetras but thats been happening for a while now like you said due to no schooling. Is there anything I need to do to prepare to switch to the larger tank, will I need to recycle? I was thinking I could put all of my water into the new tank and add five gallons each day? Anything to avoid stressing my little guys again?

[MandyL]

Generally if you use your existing filter on the new tank it will instantly cycle or at least very quickly. Especially since your stock will be low in that tank with the fish you have, as long as you make sure your ammonia/nitrite is stable before adding more. The gravel and water in your old tank will help a bit but is not absolutely necessary if you want to get new gravel.

[FordForever]

Thank you that is great news! Thanks for they help everyone much appreciated here.

[Lady Hobbs]

I would have gone with more neons and less of something else as they like to be in groups. Generally, any time you have to ask yourself if your tank is overstocked, it usually is. I would get no more.

[MelonMan]

I was wondering if I may have over did it a bit while at the fish store earlier today. I bought two hatchet fish and a sunburst molly. My 10 gallon tank looks like this. I do plan to upgrade to a 30 gallon within the next few months but for now these fish are small.

2 Zebra Danios
2 Neon Tetras
2 Hatchet Fish
1 Corry Catfish
1 Sunburst Molly
1 Long Tailed Orange Tetra

How long will it take these guys to get bigger. I will upgrade my tank to 30 gallons withing a month or two, will I be ok until I do?

When you upgrade make sure you up the numbers on all the fish so every single one has about 6 of there own species, except for the platies which 3 will be fine.

6 zebra danios
6 neon tetras
6 hatchets
6 corycatfish
3 platies
6 long tailed orange tetras
if you stock like that when you get your 30 gallon then all of your fish will be very happy but they will be fine for now

[FordForever]

Yes I agree the tank is good but hopefully it will be ok?