I visited a fish stocking calculator site out of curiosity and it claimed I was around 90% stocked. I'd appreciate some feedback on this. As someone who believes in understocking, I was surprised by the result.
My setup:
- 10-gallon tank, heavily planted
- 50% water change every week
- Fluval U2 internal filter
- Potting mix substrate with 1/4 EI dosing
- More plants than fish, by a long shot
Fauna:
- 5 Pristella Tetra
- 4 Panda Corys
- A bunch of Malayskento4 Trumpet Snails - roughly 10 large ones
Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
Re: Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
In terms of bioload, I think you're pretty much at maximum capacity. However, it's also worth noting that both your Pristella Tetra and Panda Corys are shoaling species. They naturally live in huge groups, hundreds or thousands strong. The general consensus is that they start to feel comfortable with 6-8 individuals or more. Anything less and they can get quite anxious, leading to a shorter lifespan.
To be honest, I wouldn't keep either species in a 10-gallon tank. Ideally, I'd suggest rehoming them and replacing them with something more suitable for a 10G. I know it's not always easy to part with your fish, but it might be the best option for their well-being.
To be honest, I wouldn't keep either species in a 10-gallon tank. Ideally, I'd suggest rehoming them and replacing them with something more suitable for a 10G. I know it's not always easy to part with your fish, but it might be the best option for their well-being.
Re: Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate your honesty. I can see why you'd think the tank is a bit crowded for the Pristella Tetra and Panda Corys. I'd love to hear some suggestions for fish that would be a better fit for my 10-gallon tank - something that would thrive in a heavily planted environment with a Fluval U2 internal filter.
Re: Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
If you're looking for some suitable alternatives for a 10-gallon tank, I'd recommend considering the following species. Chilli Rasboras and Dwarf Emeflaked Rasboras are great options, but keep in mind they're shoaling fish, so you'd want to get at least 6 or more of each. Celestial Pearl Danios are another good choice, but again, they do best in larger groups.
If you're looking for a single occupant, a male Betta could work well.
For a small group, a trio of male Endlers could fit in nicely with a shoal of one of the above-mentioned species.
The Peacock Gudgeon, also known as the Peacock Goby, is another option, but they do best in pairs or a harem with one male and multiple females.
If you're looking for a single occupant, a male Betta could work well.
For a small group, a trio of male Endlers could fit in nicely with a shoal of one of the above-mentioned species.
The Peacock Gudgeon, also known as the Peacock Goby, is another option, but they do best in pairs or a harem with one male and multiple females.
Re: Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
I agree with keyholder's assessment in post #2, but I'd like to offer an alternative perspective.
With a couple more additions, the corys should be fine in terms of bioload, if you're fond of pandas. Although they can grow up to 2 inches, my experience suggests they rarely reach this size in home aquaria. I've had five pandas for five years now, and their growth rate has been minimal compared to other species I've kept. I'd recommend adding two more to your existing four.
However, this raises a few concerns. Pandas prefer slightly cooler temperatures, around 75F, although my group in my 115g tank seems to thrive at 76/77F. They also appreciate water current, more so than most corys and many fish, so tankmates must be chosen carefully in a small tank with limited water movement. In my larger tank, I can create a good current at one end that dissipates significantly, which works well. The pandas often swim right up to the filter current, whereas my other corys never do. I'm not suggesting you need a strong current, but placing the Fluval filter in a rear corner with the outflow aimed down the tank along the back wall could help increase circulation.
When considering tankmates for the corys, their temperature and current preferences must be taken into account. What are your water parameters, particularly the GH? This is crucial for fish, and some species under consideration may be wild-caught and more sensitive. You can obtain the GH information from your municipal water supplier if you're unsure. Knowing your pH is also important, and a test kit is a worthwhile investment for regular checks.
I'll refrain from suggesting other fish until I know more about your plans for the corys, as well as your GH, pH, and KH levels.
With a couple more additions, the corys should be fine in terms of bioload, if you're fond of pandas. Although they can grow up to 2 inches, my experience suggests they rarely reach this size in home aquaria. I've had five pandas for five years now, and their growth rate has been minimal compared to other species I've kept. I'd recommend adding two more to your existing four.
However, this raises a few concerns. Pandas prefer slightly cooler temperatures, around 75F, although my group in my 115g tank seems to thrive at 76/77F. They also appreciate water current, more so than most corys and many fish, so tankmates must be chosen carefully in a small tank with limited water movement. In my larger tank, I can create a good current at one end that dissipates significantly, which works well. The pandas often swim right up to the filter current, whereas my other corys never do. I'm not suggesting you need a strong current, but placing the Fluval filter in a rear corner with the outflow aimed down the tank along the back wall could help increase circulation.
When considering tankmates for the corys, their temperature and current preferences must be taken into account. What are your water parameters, particularly the GH? This is crucial for fish, and some species under consideration may be wild-caught and more sensitive. You can obtain the GH information from your municipal water supplier if you're unsure. Knowing your pH is also important, and a test kit is a worthwhile investment for regular checks.
I'll refrain from suggesting other fish until I know more about your plans for the corys, as well as your GH, pH, and KH levels.
Re: Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
My Pandas exhibit the same behavior and it does make me a bit concerned, but they seem fine.
A 10-gallon tank with just Pandas isn't really my cup of tea. Temperature-wise, 78 doesn't appear to be an issue, and I plan on lowering it a bit once I get a new adjustable thermometer. I'm considering a school of Rasboras or Celestial Pearl Danios, as long as they don't have the same temperament as zebra Danios. With 50% water changes, everyone seems content for now. I'm quite fond of my Pristellas, especially their eating habits, and I'd hate to see them go - they've been with me since I started my tank back in 2012. Perhaps I'll add two more Pandas and a school of one of the aforementioned species, minus the Pristellas. This might even increase the bioload a bit, so I might revisit that calculator to double-check.
Thanks to both of you for your input.
A 10-gallon tank with just Pandas isn't really my cup of tea. Temperature-wise, 78 doesn't appear to be an issue, and I plan on lowering it a bit once I get a new adjustable thermometer. I'm considering a school of Rasboras or Celestial Pearl Danios, as long as they don't have the same temperament as zebra Danios. With 50% water changes, everyone seems content for now. I'm quite fond of my Pristellas, especially their eating habits, and I'd hate to see them go - they've been with me since I started my tank back in 2012. Perhaps I'll add two more Pandas and a school of one of the aforementioned species, minus the Pristellas. This might even increase the bioload a bit, so I might revisit that calculator to double-check.
Thanks to both of you for your input.
Re: Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
I went back to the calculator and adding two more pandas put me over the limit. Now I'm leaning towards keeping just two pandas and adding a single, friendly fish to the mix. I considered a female betta and a dwarf gourami, but I've ruled them out for various reasons. I've taken some readings on my tank - my pH is at 7.6 and the hardness is around 7 dGH, although I'm having a bit of trouble getting an exact reading with the liquid test. Any suggestions for a peaceful companion for my pandas would be appreciated.
Re: Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
I'm actually looking for a different species to go with the two Pandas. Someone mentioned a Gudgeon earlier - I think that could be a great option. Unfortunately, this would mean rehoming the Pristellas, but they've had a good run and hopefully they'll end up in a larger tank where they'll thrive.
Re: Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
To clarify, I wasn't suggesting a tank with only panda corys - I intended for them to be accompanied by upper-level fish. However, before we dive into species suggestions, I'd like to address the topic of stocking levels and those online calculators.
It's essential to understand that no program can accurately calculate the fish load in a given aquarium. The variables are simply too vast and unique to each tank. Water parameters, live plants, aquascaping, food, and feeding habits - not to mention the fish themselves - all play a role. For instance, schooling fish can have a lower bioload when in groups, but having too few can stress them, impacting the overall load. Conversely, fish that require groups but are under-stocked will also be stressed, affecting the tank's biology. Species interactions and harassment can also influence the bioload. Given these complexities, it's nearly impossible to create an accurate calculator.
Considering your tank's history and the fact that the Pristella and panda corys have been thriving since 2012, I wouldn't make any drastic changes. However, I would suggest adding two more corys to the existing group. As for introducing other species, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're willing to rehome the Pristella and/or corys. Lowering the temperature to around 75°F would benefit both the pandas and the pristellas.
It's essential to understand that no program can accurately calculate the fish load in a given aquarium. The variables are simply too vast and unique to each tank. Water parameters, live plants, aquascaping, food, and feeding habits - not to mention the fish themselves - all play a role. For instance, schooling fish can have a lower bioload when in groups, but having too few can stress them, impacting the overall load. Conversely, fish that require groups but are under-stocked will also be stressed, affecting the tank's biology. Species interactions and harassment can also influence the bioload. Given these complexities, it's nearly impossible to create an accurate calculator.
Considering your tank's history and the fact that the Pristella and panda corys have been thriving since 2012, I wouldn't make any drastic changes. However, I would suggest adding two more corys to the existing group. As for introducing other species, I wouldn't recommend it unless you're willing to rehome the Pristella and/or corys. Lowering the temperature to around 75°F would benefit both the pandas and the pristellas.
Re: Is my 10-gallon tank overstocked?
I've given it some thought and I'm going to add two more Pandas to the tank, that's it. By the way, I've had the Pristellas since 2012, but the Pandas have only been with me for a few months now. They all seem healthy and happy, although I do worry a bit about the Pandas - they can be tough to read.
The Pandas were an impulse buy, I was actually looking for dwarf corys at the time. I probably should've waited, but I ended up paying around $7 or $8 each for them. The guy at the LFS said they were live-caught and could be tricky to keep alive. One of them didn't make it through the first night, but the rest have been fine.
Thanks to you and keyholder for the advice, I'm feeling a lot better about the bioload now.
The Pandas were an impulse buy, I was actually looking for dwarf corys at the time. I probably should've waited, but I ended up paying around $7 or $8 each for them. The guy at the LFS said they were live-caught and could be tricky to keep alive. One of them didn't make it through the first night, but the rest have been fine.
Thanks to you and keyholder for the advice, I'm feeling a lot better about the bioload now.