Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi All,

I've got a 50 gallon tank setup with mostly cuba moss and some mini puscilla for greenery.

Here's my current stock:
-10 rummy noses
-18 cardinal tetras
-1 betta
-7 otocinclus
-2 corys (gifted, waiting for the store to restock)
-Plus some cherry shrimps

I'm thinking of adding:
-4 more corys to complete their group
-12 celestial pearl danio

Do you think I'm overstocking my tank?

Thanks for your input.

I'd recommend adding the corys to complete their group, but I'd hold off on the danios for now. If your betta is a male, keep an eye out for aggression, especially with the cardinals and rummy noses.

I'm with jaguar on adding more cories, but I'd exercise caution with the celestial pearl danios. Since they inhabit a similar water column to the betta, I think it's best to avoid adding them. If I'm honest, I'd be tempted to rehome the betta for its long-term well-being, but I'm not sure if that's feasible for you. One thing that might help if you decide to keep them together is adding plenty of floating plants to provide some cover.

Your tank looks great. I think finding a new home for the betta would be for the best, if possible. Even if it seems fine now, there's always a chance it'll become aggressive or stressed with so many active tank mates. Betta splendens are generally best on their own. Adding the extra cories and stopping there would be a good idea. The danios might work if you stay on top of maintenance, but your tank is already pretty full.

Some taller plants or floating plants would give your fish places to hide and probably make them feel more secure - it might not match your decor, but it could work. A black background could also be a good idea, I think it would look better.

Thanks for all the input, I really appreciate it. My betta's doing great, it's really relaxed and not aggressive at all. It's not getting nipped and it's not bothering the smaller fish, even the shrimps are all out and about.

The only thing I've noticed is the rummy noses - they're always zooming from left to right and they're way faster than the rest of the fish. Sometimes they break up the cardinal school and make the tank look a bit cluttered.

I saw some fully grown Celestial Pearl Danio at the store and they look amazing. I'm really tempted to add them, they'd be a great addition to the tank.

hush wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 10:14 pm Hi All,

I've got a 50 gallon tank setup with mostly cuba moss and some mini puscilla for greenery.

Here's my current stock:
-10 rummy noses
-18 cardinal tetras
-1 betta
-7 otocinclus
-2 corys (gifted, waiting for the store to restock)
-Plus some cherry shrimps

I'm thinking of adding:
-4 more corys to complete their group
-12 celestial pearl danio

Do you think I'm overstocking my tank?

Thanks for your input.

I'm no expert on rummies, but I've got a hunch their frantic swimming might be due to feeling exposed. Most fish appreciate having a place to hide, even if they don't always use it. @happyone, I know you've got experience with these guys - am I on the right track?

The lack of overhead cover is one reason I've never attempted an Igwumi setup. They're visually stunning, but I worry about the stress it could cause for the fish.