How long should I wait after adding fish to add more?

Taysius

Taysius

Research first, buy later.
Nov 10, 2009
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Indiana
Real Name
Jennifer
Hi there. I have a 10 gal that has been established for about 9 weeks now. I started out with 3 Serpae Tetra for cycling. After 6 weeks of that I ran to Petsmart and bought 3 Buenos Aires Tetra. I hated them. My little Serpae hid in the back corners with shredded fins. I returned the Buenos after a few days and started reading on what would be better suited.

I now have 6 Serpae and they all seem to be very calm and happy in each others' company. (Before the Buenos my 3 were a little nippy, now they are just calm.) I added the recent 3 on 11-12-09.

I know that it's bad to fully stock your tank in one day, so that's why I've been going 3 at a time. I'd like to add maybe 4 Schwartz or Salt&Pepper Cories. Approximately how long should I wait to add them? Are they even a good choice? (Have had a difficult time choosing tankmates.)
 
Thanks! I was planning on waiting longer than a week anyways. Holidays always slow down my plans but hopefully I can add something before the new year! Any advice on the cories? Are they a good choice for my tank?
 
I've always heard to wait a week between fish.
A REALLY great cory for your small tank would be Pygmy cories (Corydoras habrosus), which only grow to around 1.5 in. MsJinkzd had some she just sold out of, but she's planning on getting more. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210955 The advantage of these cories is the small size, which means you could get 6 of them. Cories are much happier in larger groups.
 
biomajorstudent said:
I've always heard to wait a week between fish.
A REALLY great cory for your small tank would be Pygmy cories (Corydoras habrosus), which only grow to around 1.5 in. MsJinkzd had some she just sold out of, but she's planning on getting more. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=210955 The advantage of these cories is the small size, which means you could get 6 of them. Cories are much happier in larger groups.
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I've considered the pygmies as well, but I heard they were more of a mid level swimmer? They were my original cory of choice actually. I guess I could try them and if my Serpae were too rough I could return them.
 
jm1212 said:
your tank is stocked. dont add any more fish. serpae's get relatively large for tetras, and six of them is honestly alot for a 10.
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Really? :( The aqadvisor said I was only 73% stocked.
 
Taysius said:
I've considered the pygmies as well, but I heard they were more of a mid level swimmer? They were my original cory of choice actually. I guess I could try them and if my Serpae were too rough I could return them.
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They are mid-bottom level fish, unlike most cories, which are strictly bottom dwellers.
I would think they'd be okay, but serpaes can be a little nippy. Usually that's just with long finned fish, though, so the cories should be okay.
 
Stocking is tricky, Tay. I'll admit I tend to overstock a little, whereas others tend to understock. It depends on a lot of variables (temperature, filtration, water change schedule, etc.). Just add fish slowly, have your tank overfiltered, and do 25-50% water changes every week.
 
biomajorstudent said:
They are mid-bottom level fish, unlike most cories, which are strictly bottom dwellers.
I would think they'd be okay, but serpaes can be a little nippy. Usually that's just with long finned fish, though, so the cories should be okay.
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I had to move my serpaes into their own tank because they were going after the rainbows, corys and Odessa barbs in my community tank.
 
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