One of the most pertinent questions asked by those new to the realm of aquarium ownership is how many fish can I put in my new aquarium? A quick trip to Yahoo Answers on any given day will reveal a plethora of questions regarding aquarium stocking.
One all too common question, especially from younger beginner aquarists, involves goldfish.
"I have two goldfish in my 5 gallon aquarium.
Is it okay to add some more fish?" This particular question sends the red flags a flying.
Goldfish are arguably the most abused fish in the aquarium world.
Depending on the specific breed, goldfish can reach anywhere from 8 to 12 inches in length.
This is a large and messy animal.
They need ample room and adequate filtration to reach their maximum growth potential and live a long and healthy life.
The iconic image of a couple goldfish swimming around in a non-aerated fish bowl amounts to nothing short of animal cruelty.
Unfortunately, many inexperienced aquarium owners are inadvertently given incorrect information in relation to stocking their aquarium properly.
They are told that you need one gallon of water for every inch of adult fish.
If you apply this as a general stocking guide, then a fully grown Oscar only requires a 10 gallon aquarium to survive and remain perfectly healthy.
The problem with this equation is that a 10 inch Oscar would barely be able to turn around in a 10 gallon aquarium.
So what then are the proper rules of thumb for stocking a new aquarium? Proper Aquarium Stocking: Rule #1 There are actually two "Rules of Thumb" concerning fish and aquarium size.
The first is 1 gallon of aquarium for every 1 inch of fish.
This rule applies to smaller fish species.
You can easily keep 8 or even 10 neon tetras in a ten gallon aquarium.
Ten tetras take up less room, generate substantially less waste and consume less oxygen than a single 10 inch Oscar.
Proper Aquarium Stocking: Rule #2 The second rule of thumb applies to larger species.
It is 5 gallons of aquarium for every inch of fish.
Accordingly, you would require a MINIMUM tank size of 50 gallons to accommodate a 10 inch Oscar.
Note the word MINIMUM is capitalized.
You will require a minimum of half that much space again for each additional fish in a community tank.
So two 10 inch Oscars would need a minimum tank size of 75 gallons.
These rules can be applied unilaterally in the aquarium world.
They pertain to everything from cold water goldfish and freshwater tropical fish to saltwater species.
These rules should be applied to the potential adult size of an individual species and not its size at the time of purchase.
When in doubt, it is always best to error on the side of caution.
Bigger is Always Better.
A General Note of Caution for New Aquarium Owners Aquarium stocking parameters are based on routine partial water changes and regular testing of your water conditions, especially in a saltwater tank or marine reef application.
While over stocking can prove potentially devastating to your tank's population, poor water conditions can be deadly.
As an aquarium owner, it is your responsibility to maintain proper living conditions for the creatures whose care you are entrusted with! A properly stocked aquarium with routine water changes will help insure that your fish will live a long and healthy life.
One all too common question, especially from younger beginner aquarists, involves goldfish.
"I have two goldfish in my 5 gallon aquarium.
Is it okay to add some more fish?" This particular question sends the red flags a flying.
Goldfish are arguably the most abused fish in the aquarium world.
Depending on the specific breed, goldfish can reach anywhere from 8 to 12 inches in length.
This is a large and messy animal.
They need ample room and adequate filtration to reach their maximum growth potential and live a long and healthy life.
The iconic image of a couple goldfish swimming around in a non-aerated fish bowl amounts to nothing short of animal cruelty.
Unfortunately, many inexperienced aquarium owners are inadvertently given incorrect information in relation to stocking their aquarium properly.
They are told that you need one gallon of water for every inch of adult fish.
If you apply this as a general stocking guide, then a fully grown Oscar only requires a 10 gallon aquarium to survive and remain perfectly healthy.
The problem with this equation is that a 10 inch Oscar would barely be able to turn around in a 10 gallon aquarium.
So what then are the proper rules of thumb for stocking a new aquarium? Proper Aquarium Stocking: Rule #1 There are actually two "Rules of Thumb" concerning fish and aquarium size.
The first is 1 gallon of aquarium for every 1 inch of fish.
This rule applies to smaller fish species.
You can easily keep 8 or even 10 neon tetras in a ten gallon aquarium.
Ten tetras take up less room, generate substantially less waste and consume less oxygen than a single 10 inch Oscar.
Proper Aquarium Stocking: Rule #2 The second rule of thumb applies to larger species.
It is 5 gallons of aquarium for every inch of fish.
Accordingly, you would require a MINIMUM tank size of 50 gallons to accommodate a 10 inch Oscar.
Note the word MINIMUM is capitalized.
You will require a minimum of half that much space again for each additional fish in a community tank.
So two 10 inch Oscars would need a minimum tank size of 75 gallons.
These rules can be applied unilaterally in the aquarium world.
They pertain to everything from cold water goldfish and freshwater tropical fish to saltwater species.
These rules should be applied to the potential adult size of an individual species and not its size at the time of purchase.
When in doubt, it is always best to error on the side of caution.
Bigger is Always Better.
A General Note of Caution for New Aquarium Owners Aquarium stocking parameters are based on routine partial water changes and regular testing of your water conditions, especially in a saltwater tank or marine reef application.
While over stocking can prove potentially devastating to your tank's population, poor water conditions can be deadly.
As an aquarium owner, it is your responsibility to maintain proper living conditions for the creatures whose care you are entrusted with! A properly stocked aquarium with routine water changes will help insure that your fish will live a long and healthy life.
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