Filling out a 30 gallon

[Lindsey]

6 black tetra
6 neon tetra
6 von rio tetra
6 cory catfish
1 Indian glassfish
1 scissortail rasbora
2 baby rafael catfish

Would that be pushing it? Currently is:

6 black tetra
2 neon tetra
2 von rio tetra
3 cory catfish
1 Indian glassfish
1 scissortail rasbora
2 baby rafael catfish

[AABatteries]

Sounds fine to me, except the raphaels will need a bigger tank 55G+. My 30g is currently a little overstocked, and its doing fine, but its also pretty heavily planted. My stocking is in my sig.

[Lindsey]

Cool! The rafaels will move to another tank next year sometime. I feel bad for my single rasbora, but anytime I get new ones to accompany him, they die! So I think I'll let it go and fill out my tetras.

Your stocking reminded me; I had a betta before I added anyone else and within a few days of adding the tetras and catfish, his tail was shredded. By the next morning his tail and fins were gone and he was dead.

Does that mean a gourami would be out of the question, or would they be less flashy to a tetra?

[toddnbecka]

You could try a paradise fish; they're closely related to gourami's but have more attitude.
Incidentally, Indian glassfish are brackish critters, not happy long-term in fresh water.

[Lindsey]

Seriously? Indian glassfish as in "painted glass", sold as a perfect beginner's fish in every store I've been in, is brackish? I've never heard that before.

Paradise fish can't be found around here so they're not an option, really pretty fish though!

[toddnbecka]

Yes, they're painted because the fish are naturally transparent. Aside from the unnatural color not appealing to me personally, the fisha re actually held down and painted by hand. Not as hard on them as injecting dyes ot some of the other things done to change the appearance of somr fish, but still not something I support. Gourami's may be alright, my main concern would be that their "antennae" might be irresistable to the speedier tetras.

[Lindsey]

I thought they were injected, but either way same result haha. I didn't know they're brackish, though.

Maybe I'll do a gourami and return it if the tetras become too interested.