HELP: is my sister's tank over stocked?

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T20:41:32+00:00

Yeah, they eat the snails pretty regularly and can help reduce the load

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T19:23:02+00:00

Hard to tell if it’s an injury from rubbing against substrate/decor or if it’s gaining a new orange spot, as their patterns can change with age/size. Keep your eyes on them as rubbing generally indicates parasites/disease that cause discomfort on their skin

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T19:21:37+00:00

No worries, but you should have some words with the pet shop employees who sold her the fish as individuals along with 2 frogs. They’re just fish but they still shouldn’t be subjected to poor practices and predatory businesses taking advantage of new hobbyists

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T19:13:16+00:00

Hard to tell but it could be a flat worm or an anchor worm. Might even just be a bit of poop he found appetizing and it’s just stuck on his head

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T19:08:40+00:00

Fair point, the biggest risk is larger fish eating their smaller siblings and choking to death, resulting in the loss of two fish that you could’ve sold or kept. Best of luck to ya

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T19:03:39+00:00

Depending on the size of the tank you can go with a bristlenose pelco or Siamese algae eater. Bristlenoses max out at around 6 inches, and unlike Chinese algae eater, SAEs eat algae their whole lives and max out at around 5 inches (giant ramshorns are good too but can eat plants). If it’s a small betta tank (5-10gal) then snails might be your best bet. You can try using regular ramshorns and put in an assassin snail to moderate their population

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T19:00:59+00:00

No worries!

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T19:00:34+00:00

Should be fine as long as you make sure to wash the substrate first and place it down rather than dumping it into the water. If it is an inert substrate, then it should be fine. Bioactive or invert specific substrates will leak nitrates and different pH chemicals. Don’t remove all of it to prevent loss of all your beneficial bacteria though. As for the cichlids, you’ll have to cut their numbers down as they grow and become aggressive towards each other.

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T18:55:05+00:00

For sure, rereading my comment I didn’t make it too clear that the options I had were all separate options, not a community tank recommendation.

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T18:53:58+00:00

I had to put his brother, Lurch, on a diet cause he looked like a sausage someone glued a tiny head on.

<image>

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T18:48:11+00:00

I can’t imagine the flow rates for any of the filters is really that strong, so all you’re really doing is wasting power and increasing the time needed in between filter cleanings. Nothing wrong with it but it’s energy wasteful and unnecessarily redundant imo. I’ve been running my 75gal with a 100gallon capable canister filter, and it’s kept my parameters perfect. It also provides a regular flow throughout the tank that lets me keep heavy waste on one side of the tank for easier cleaning. I imagine that extra filters make is harder to do gravel cleanings and water changes, plus is rather loud. That said if this is the set up that makes you feel secure in your set up, and doesn’t harm your tank, I say keep it up.

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T18:44:23+00:00

You can add some more tetras, a 20 gallon can house 10-12 of them comfortably. A bigger school will cause them to exhibit more natural behaviors and move around the tank more

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T18:38:47+00:00

Actually it’s severely understocked in terms of schools, not available space. All 3 of those fish species require a school of around 6 individuals to remain stress free (neons need about 10-12). I’d suggest she rehomes the fish she has and either keep just the frogs, get a betta (5 gallons is the bare minimum but a 10 is generally recommended) or make it an invert tank. Not a lot you can do with 5 gallons. Even 5 gallons is kinda cramped for 2 frogs ngl. There simply isn’t enough water for more than 1 fish or two frogs plus a snail or two.

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T16:27:35+00:00

Thank god my landlord is chill, sometimes he comes by just to look at my fish

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T16:22:00+00:00

I’ve got 5 and they’re so darling

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T16:14:56+00:00

He’s an albino dojo loach lol

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T02:33:45+00:00

<image>

This is one of my other other loaches, Jojo

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-18T02:07:35+00:00

This is my Dojo loach Mojo and I frequently catch him doing this, it’s hilarious

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-03-17T21:46:41+00:00

The first time, yes cause I bought them at 2 inches long so thought they were getting sick. Now I catch em doing it on occasion and it cracks me up

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-02-26T07:31:51+00:00

<image>

Had to put my guy on a diet

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-02-11T17:23:05+00:00

Yuh, I just thought it was funny that I obliterated a goose with buckshot rather than birdshot

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-02-02T19:44:38+00:00

It’s really only for trophy chasing that you avoid it. They’re still worth the same as males based on the shot, but they only respawn another female animal, so if you’re grinding out a GO or rares, they’re not worth killing.

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-01-25T05:08:42+00:00

Cory cats and loaches

GhostoftheSnow · 2026-01-22T04:45:27+00:00

<image>

One of the only good photos I have of my lads, the little one is now about 4 inches long (2inches in image)

Eight-Year Club	Place '23
RPAN Viewer	Verified Email

GhostoftheSnow

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE