Fish stock advice.

[Renee_H]

The regulars know how neurotic I can be. So talk me through this. 5+ years ago my youngest child (now 11) wanted one of those glofish tanks. We set up a 20gallon and added 3 glofish tetras (lemon, blueberry and strawberry) and added a dwarf catfish oto (dyson). They’re still alive so I’ve done something right. But recently she wanted the tank out of her room so I bought a new 20gallon and redecorated and set it up in my family room. I found myself at a fish store this time instead of at a chain store and the owner kept me there talking for atleast an hour- bless his old heart - sweetest guy) I bought live plants and new filters from him.
Ok enough rambling. Basically he said my tank is understocked and suggested I up my glo tetras to a total of six and my otos up to four. He said they’re schooling fish and will be happier healthier and live longer. Initially I was all for it.
Now that said I have a terrible habit of assigning human emotions to all of my animals. I feel I know my fish and their personalities (yes I insist they have them) very well. The plan today was to add three new tetras to the tank. But I’m in all my feelings and convinced Lemon Blueberry and Strawberry will NOT like this.

Slap some sense into me. Add more to my tank or leave these four happy healthy fish alone. Am I truly doing them a disservice having my tank understocked as this gentle sweet man suggests?

 

[wellington]

They are schooling fish and if you were buying them for the first time, I would suggest buying at least six. Now that you have had them this long with no problems and you really don't want more at this time, I would leave well enough alone. They obviously are doing well as is. Adding new ones could very well upset the tank and possibly cause the ones you have to get sick or die even if you quarantined the new ones which always should be done before adding new fish.
Stick with what is working for you. With rising prices, many fish stores are not doing so well. Last thing people do when times are harder on them is to buy more fish. As sweet as the guy might have been, he was trying to see you more than what you really need, not taking into account how long and well the fish you have are doing. That's not a nice fish guy when he cares more about a sale than the fish
I work at a fish store. The guy I work for will not sell fish if he knows it will mean possible death to the fish you have or are buying.

 

[Renee_H]

They are schooling fish and if you were buying them for the first time, I would suggest buying at least six. Now that you have had them this long with no problems and you really don't want more at this time, I would leave well enough alone. They obviously are doing well as is. Adding new ones could very well upset the tank and possibly cause the ones you have to get sick or die even if you quarantined the new ones which always should be done before adding new fish.
Stick with what is working for you. With rising prices, many fish stores are not doing so well. Last thing people do when times are harder on them is to buy more fish. As sweet as the guy might have been, he was trying to see you more than what you really need, not taking into account how long and well the fish you have are doing. That's not a nice fish guy when he cares more about a sale than the fish
I work at a fish store. The guy I work for will not sell fish if he knows it will mean possible death to the fish you have or are buying.

Thank you so much! This makes me feel better.

 

[Tom]

The regulars know how neurotic I can be. So talk me through this. 5+ years ago my youngest child (now 11) wanted one of those glofish tanks. We set up a 20gallon and added 3 glofish tetras (lemon, blueberry and strawberry) and added a dwarf catfish oto (dyson). They’re still alive so I’ve done something right. But recently she wanted the tank out of her room so I bought a new 20gallon and redecorated and set it up in my family room. I found myself at a fish store this time instead of at a chain store and the owner kept me there talking for atleast an hour- bless his old heart - sweetest guy) I bought live plants and new filters from him.
Ok enough rambling. Basically he said my tank is understocked and suggested I up my glo tetras to a total of six and my otos up to four. He said they’re schooling fish and will be happier healthier and live longer. Initially I was all for it.
Now that said I have a terrible habit of assigning human emotions to all of my animals. I feel I know my fish and their personalities (yes I insist they have them) very well. The plan today was to add three new tetras to the tank. But I’m in all my feelings and convinced Lemon Blueberry and Strawberry will NOT like this.

Slap some sense into me. Add more to my tank or leave these four happy healthy fish alone. Am I truly doing them a disservice having my tank understocked as this gentle sweet man suggests?

I agree with Wellington. Leave well enough alone. 3 is enough to school, and they are obviously content with the situation. Otocinclus are not schoolers and are perfectly happy cleaning the tank all alone.

An understocked tank is never a problem. Water stays cleaner longer, and the fish are less stressed. You have more room for error, and you can go longer between water changes, or keep the same frequency of water changes, but change less water. It's always better to have fewer fish than possible. I have a 135 in my entry way with 9 fish in it.