Responsible Number of Fish

[greece86]

In a 260 gal tank, how many fish is a safe and responsible number to keep. I was thinking of: 1 yellow tang, 3 different butterfly. Note there will be no corals.

[TampaReefer79]

Every tank is different. The dimensions of the tank, the tank upkeep and filtration, top or no top, size of skimmer, compatibility of potential fish, adult size of each fish...all of these things are factors. And there are many more. It's not as simple as saying XX amount of fish in a XX size tank.

[catch1]

You have a lot of room. 260g is pretty damn big.

I wouldn't worry about the number of fish. I'd be more concerned with compatibility between fishes.

If it's a fish only tank, I'd throw in some angels. Really pretty fish.

But if you want numbers... I think 25 fish would be on the conservative side. You'd probably be ok with 50. Again, there are many many many factors. Size, species, etc.

Aggressive or peaceful tank?

When adding fish, just do it slowly. Not more than a few at a time. Aggressive fish last :) Butterflies first. They're usually pretty skittish and are on the more delicate side. Might not be good for beginners pending the species.

[Ethan_W]

You have a lot of room. 260g is pretty damn big.

I wouldn't worry about the number of fish. I'd be more concerned with compatibility between fishes.

If it's a fish only tank, I'd throw in some angels. Really pretty fish.

But if you want numbers... I think 25 fish would be on the conservative side. You'd probably be ok with 50. Again, there are many many many factors. Size, species, etc.

Aggressive or peaceful tank?

When adding fish, just do it slowly. Not more than a few at a time. Aggressive fish last :) Butterflies first. They're usually pretty skittish and are on the more delicate side. Might not be good for beginners pending the species.

50 small fish... your best bet is to get into contact with experienced reefers who have or have had tanks your size and ask their opionions on a list of fish you would ideally like to stock. make it long and they will tell you how many you should cut off that list and what will work. if you wanted you could put 1 queen trigger, or many community fish

[khaosinc]

But if you want numbers... I think 25 fish would be on the conservative side. You'd probably be ok with 50. Again, there are many many many factors. Size, species, etc.



I don't think I have 50 fish in my whole system....and my 750 is packed...

[catch1]

I don't think I have 50 fish in my whole system....and my 750 is packed...



Depends on what type :D

[cdeboard]

Yeah I have seen people with a 750 drop in 100 chromis among many other fish. Crazyness.

[catch1]

Yeah I have seen people with a 750 drop in 100 chromis among many other fish. Crazyness.




Yup. My point was that with his current list of fish (1 yellow tang and 3 butterflies) he can add a lot more similar type fish.

[agreeive?fish]

you could do 1000 guppies or one mean butt undy triger who has already gone postal or you could house several various fish of various sizes, activity level, tank usage area ect it all depends on what fish other than your inital list you are considering such as a V.lion or a grouper with a clown goby wouldnt work but then a tang and goby probably would work, there are so many varriables that its impossible to give a "number" and then you have to throw in the attitudes of each particular fish because none of them read our compatability charts nor do they care if we think they should get along with fish type x or what ever we as hobbist think