While I was helping the 10 year old learn how to test the water last night we came up with a wish list for stocking our aquarium and i told him I would post it for feed back. (tank is 39 or 40 gallons, plastic plants but will slowly transition to some live)

Currently have (all small sized)

6 Danio Zebra's (danio and glow fish)
3 Platies (2 red wag, 1 Mickey Mouse)

Wish list (added slowly no more than once a week or every 2 weeks or more - depending on how the water tests)

5 Skirt Tetra
8 Neon Tetra
2 Balloon Molly
5 Ghost Catfish
1 Algae Eater (Otocinclus?)

Is this doable? If so what order is the best to add the fish? Full schools at a time or partials?

Is this too much? If so, what should i get rid of from the list? he really wants the Ghost Catfish but I know they are larger fish and may be difficult to keep alive with fewer than 5.

OK, so you can do everything on that list except the ghost catfish. If you have your heart set on those, make those your main fish and see what else works. I used the rule of 1 inch of fish=1 gallon of water. When I added it up (minus the ghost catfish) the total was 37 inches of fish. Mollies get pretty big and aren't the easiest fish to keep, but again, if you want them, go ahead.

Oh, and one more thing you should know: Danios are big fin nippers, and will definitely nip the fins of fish with long flowing, fins like skirt tetras