Help Stocking a 30 Gallon Freshwater Fish Tank?
by Aquaboy on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 | 4 Comments
I need help stocking my 30 gallon fish tank. I haven’t started it up yet. I know I will have to cycle it.
I would like it to be a Community Semi- Agressive.
Other articles you might like;
- Is These Pellets Healthy + More Qs-?
- Would This Hurt The Guppy Fry?
- 90g Reef Aquarium Setup Day 5
- Ideas On Fish For Freshwater Community Aquarium?
- Work Experience Melbourne 2011?
There are quite a few options depending on the type of tank you are wanting.
Community?
Species specific?
Semi-aggressive?
Aggressive?
Single Fish?
Multiple Fish?
mollies, guppys, african dwarf frogs, pictus catfish, cory cats, tetras, weather loaches, kuhli loaches, whatever are small fish.
oh wow. This is perfect
option #1
6-7 tiger barbs
1 red tailed shark
option #2
5 dwarf puffers
option #3
5 cory cats
A school of any schooling fish
option #4
2 convict cichlids
option #5
some other cichlids
your options are open. Go to your pet store write down names. go home and google like crazy
Your best options are fish that are between 2-6 inches
1. Gourami (pearl, blue, orange etc) ~ 4-6 in
Semi Agressive
In my opinion stick to females as they will cause a lot less problems. Get at least 3 to spread aggression if you get more than one. Pearl females are the most docile of this group IMHO.
2. Dwarf Gourami ~2 in
No experience with these but I hear they are good community fish. Beware of them being picked on by the larger gourami.
3. Mollys, Platys, Swordtails ~2.5-4 inches:
Non Agressive but a little nippy with each other. Are large enough to not be bothered by more aggressive species. Keep at least 2 females for every male. They have a preference for their own type (dalmation, black, gold dust, calico etc.) but will hang out with other types as well.
4. Tiger Barbs ~2-4 inches
VERY nippy, don’t expect anything with long fins to last long. Keep in a group of at least 6 so they are too busy with each other to bother anyone else.
5. Larger Tetras ~2-6 inches
Can be nippy, keep in group of at least 6
5. Rainbowfish ~3-5 in
No experience with them personally. Keep in small groups.
******EDIT
#6 Rams (bolivian, blue) ~ 2-3.5 in
Just saw these at the store, so cute, thinking of getting one myself.
#7 Paradise fish ~4 in
I read they are very agressive so be careful.
#8 Dwarf Puffers
They need a species only tank as they are very aggressive
#9 Glass Catfish
I see them a lot, not much info on them.
#10 Bottom Feeders
Cory cats and True siamese algae eaters would work. If you get a really aggressive fish you might have to avoid snails/shrimp as they might get eaten, do your research.
ADVICE:
Avoid cichlids (angelfish, discus, oscars, convicts, electric yellow etc. ) they are territorial, usually grow to be very large, and will eliminate a lot of your stocking options, unless you only want 1 or 2 big fish in your tank and nothing else, for example a pair of angels. Most of the ones sold in stores are not fully grown, don’t be fooled.
Stay away from tiny community fish like guppies, danios, small barbs, and small tetras like neons. They will either be eaten or scared or harassed or fin nipped in a semi-agressive tank and end up spending all their time cowering in the side of the tank.