Utter Newbie - First Stock Advice Request.

Hi!

So, we've bought a starter tank (40L), got it filled and the filter running, put the ornaments in and are now in the process of thinking what our first fish are going to be in a week or two!

I understand that we don't want to ram whatever we can in so using the fish profiler we were thinking of starting out with a couple of colourful platies.
The idea then being to add a couple of mollys in a month or so, then a male fighting fish after that.

Using the fish stocking guide on this website, that doesn't seem to cause too many problems, but I would very much appreciate any advice seasoned pros may have!

We'll be testing the water prior to first stock ( bought the strips etc ) of course.

We've lined the bottom with sharpish gravel and have lots of hiding places set up in fittings and plastic plants.
I've also bought a small airpump and stone as I thought it was required ... reading more it seems I'll be using that for aesthetics as the filter will sort out the oxygen ( Note to self .. read before purchase! )

I've currently got the temperature set to 25 degrees.

Also, can we add a shrimp and/or snails at any point without issue?

Many thanks in advance!

Fdm

fdm, you need to cycle the tank before getting any fish. Here is the method.
If you really don't want to do that then here is the way to cycle with fish in the tank. Note that you can only get a few fish to start with and no more for several weeks until the filter bacteria can take care of the waste from those first fish. Future additions need to be small as well so the bacteria don't get overwhelmed.

Mollies are not suitable for a 40 litre tank. They need a tank at least 36 inches/90 cm long. And platies need 24 inches/60 cm minimum. Figures from Seriously Fish.

A betta is fine though.

Btw I'm getting small shoaling fish, not small shocking fish! Not sure what those would be!

My tank is small too - 55l, so I'm looking at small shocking fish to go in there.
Have you considered ember tetra? See my thread "bought a tank" sorry I've no idea how to post a link! For more ideas from others. Not sure your tank will be big enough for some of the fish you have in mind.