Hello MFK members! I am new to the aquarium hobby and, I must admit, I have become quite addicted. I recently purchased a 55g tank and I can't seem to stop buying fish. Now, don't get me wrong, everytime I go to PetSmart to purchase more fish, I tell the "expert(s)" exactly what I have in my tank already. I ask them if it's OK to buy more and they always say yes. Yesterday, however, when I purchased my latest editions to my tank, the fish handler (she was not an expert) told me that I have WAY TOO MANY FISH! Currently, I have 3 Bala Sharks, 1 Albino Rainbow Shark, 1 (regular) Rainbow Shark, 3 Albino Tiger Barbs, 3 (regular) Tiger Barbs, 3 Clown Loaches, 3 Striped Peacock Eels, 1 African Knife, 2 Striped Raphael Catfish, 1 Dinosaur Bichr, and 1 small Albino Clawed Frog (I had 3 frogs but I gave the two large ones away last week because they were eating EVERYTHING I put in the tank for the bottom feeders and not allowing the other bottom feeders the chance to eat.). Can someone offer advice on my current collection or at least tell me if I over did it? Thank you...
Too Many Fish In My Tank?
- Thread starter NewAtThis
- Start date
The Bichir and Knife will get big, at least a foot or more. Like most people are probably going to tell you, I would thoroughly do my research before EVER buying a fish. Those people at Petsmart are usually nice but they aren't "experts" by any standard and in any case will tell you whatever you want to hear to sell you something. It's sad but true. You can keep most of the stuff but I would be worried about the Bichir and the Knife, as well as the Loaches and the Eels.
what kind of filtration do you have your tank isn't to badly over stocked since all the fish are probably small
First the bala sharks will get pretty big around 12''-14'' eazy so unless you have a larger tank then you may wan't to consider finding them a bigger home
also the rainbow sharks will most likely start fighting when they get older
First the bala sharks will get pretty big around 12''-14'' eazy so unless you have a larger tank then you may wan't to consider finding them a bigger home
also the rainbow sharks will most likely start fighting when they get older
you will have issues at some point with the frog and bichir trying to eat some of the smaller fish.
how big is your filter? is your filter for a 55gal or for a 155gal? i don't think it is over stocked as long as your pushing 3x more filters in that 55gal tank. if you want to keep all those fish for life.....UP GRADE.
I just have the standard 30/60g double sided filter... I also have several live plants in my tank too will that help/hinder at all?
it will help, but not nearly enough. My honest suggestion is to stop and rethink your tank. What direction do you want to take in fish keeping? You have many options with a 55g. Maybe a school of 20-30 exodon paradoxus. Or maybe a small mbuna tank. Maybe a single specimen large cichlid. If necessary, you might just want to sell your fish and restart your aquarium. It will save you time, money, and many unneeded headaches 
