How many B. splendens to stock in 46gl?

[artgecko]

Hey folks,

I have recently added a group of 7 brochis to my 46gl bowfront planted tank to go along with the lone brochis that I "adopted" from someone who was tearing down their tank... So now I have a very happy group of 8 swimming all over the tank.

I will be rearranging my tanks and rehoming some of the fish from the 46gl shortly and this will leave some room for additions to the tank. This will leave the 8 brochis, 1BN (~3" adult) and 1 Clown pleco (~2.5" adult) in the tank. I am also considering either a group of 12 harlequin rasboras or a group of 8 dwarf neon blue rainbows (praecox) to add as schoolers. I am hoping that this arrangement will allow for at least some of the brochis eggs / fry to survive if they spawn.

I would love to add about 3-4 more brochis, but am not sure if this is advisable for the size of the tank. I could just wait for them to spawn and hope that enough fry survive to increase the size of the school eventually (I am not planning on removing the eggs to raise fry).

The tank is ~ 36" long x 12.5" wide (smallest width at the ends of the tank). I am planning on adding more driftwood (to what I already have in there) and planting the back and sides of the tank fairly heavily, leaving the front mostly open for scavenging room. I will also be putting in a sand substrate (although I haven't decided which type yet).

I would also welcome any advice you have on feeding the brochis properly so that they grow and become conditioned to spawn. They are currently getting Omega One shrimp pellets and spirulina rounds, whatever veggie / general freshwater omega flakes get to the bottom, and frozen bloodworms each night. I also have frozen brineshrimp that I can feed, but am not sure if they like brinshrimp. I have been thinking about ordering some earthworm, beefheart, and general "catfish" pellets, but am not sure if these would be advantagous.

Thanks for your help!
Art

[MatsP]

I'd say that another 4-8 brochis would be fine for that tank-size and the remaining stock. It would depend on your water change regime and such, but I don't see any direct problem with it.

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Mats

[artgecko]

Thanks for the reply!

I'll definately pick up another 3-4 then...The LFS had some "stragglers" that got put into other tanks solo (with, say platies, etc.) so I'll see if they will go around and net them out for me.

I'm doing 1, 15 - 20% change a week and am using 2 HOB aquaclear filters (AQ300s).

Art

[MatsP]

I generally do about 40-50% water changes on some of my tanks... But then they are fairly heavily stocked...

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Mats

[apistomaster]

The proposed foods are all good to have on hand but for breeding Brochis spp you will find conditioning the breeders with plenty of live black worms is helpful.
You could stock the tank with all female Betta splendens and one male. Or you could try a more peaceful wild Betta species like Betta imbellis, The peaceful Betta or I highly recommend tank raised Betta spp "Mahachai". Large groups of mixed sexes coexist peacefully.