20 Gallon Stocking Plan

[AquaticHamster]

(not sure if this is in the right category, forgive me if it's not ')

I recently set up a 20 gallon (bout a month ago) and I want to start stocking it with the fish I have on my list soon. Heres what I was thinking:

1 Pearl gourami
5 harlequin rasboras
2 cories
1 red fire dwarf gourami
3 platies
1 swordtail
1 guppy

I already have the dwarf gourami, 1 platy, 1 cory, and currently 9 guppy fry but Im only keeping one of them. Im trying to get rid of the fry before I truly start stocking.
Anyway, would this be an okay stocking plan? I have a 20 gallon tetra EX20 filter and a fully established 10-15 gallon filter that I used on a ten gallon before I set up the 20. I plan for the tank to be planted, since I bought a really good plant substrate and better lighting. Ive been reading all over and researching the fish on my list that I havent tried before (which is really only the pearl). I've read multiple things about pearls, some places say they can be kept in 20 gallons, others say they can only be kept in bigger tanks. I read they really only grow to about 4 or 5 inches. Either way, I really want one and its definitely the first and favorite fish on my list. I might not do the swordtail or the rasboras, but I most likely will do the rasboras so I have a school. So basically, Im just wondering if I should take some fish off my list. I know its kinda of large for a 20.. the list was even bigger but I crossed off many of the fish i had on there. X]

So what should I do?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Tank dimensions, please? I do hope it is at least 3-foot long, adult Swordtails need some space (as do fiesty Platties).

Two gourami can be problematic, one becomes a bully and the other bullied to death.

Peppered Corydoras with the rest of those fish is not ideal, they are better suited to a heaterless tank that changes temp with the seasons, having no issues at all with 15C. A truely tropical Corydoras species would be much better suited, the obvious common one being C. sterbai, happy ta anything from 24C upto ~28C.
Other conflict in my eyes is that your Swordtail and Platties would probably enjoy a fair bit more current than your Gourami and Guppies will appreciate.

 

[AquaticHamster]

Tank dimensions, please? I do hope it is at least 3-foot long, adult Swordtails need some space (as do fiesty Platties).

Two gourami can be problematic, one becomes a bully and the other bullied to death.

Peppered Corydoras with the rest of those fish is not ideal, they are better suited to a heaterless tank that changes temp with the seasons, having no issues at all with 15C. A truely tropical Corydoras species would be much better suited, the obvious common one being C. sterbai, happy ta anything from 24C upto ~28C.
Other conflict in my eyes is that your Swordtail and Platties would probably enjoy a fair bit more current than your Gourami and Guppies will appreciate.

Dimensions are 24" by 12", 20 gal tall.

I know two gouramis can fight, but I researched a bit on the two I want and they appear to both be friendly and will get along well with other gouramis and community fish. The pearls are supposed to be very peaceful. Ive seen large groups of them in tanks before.

Are you totally sure about the corys? Ive had mine for a while and he is perfectly happy with his tankmates, if a bit shy. And I always see them in pet stores.

Again, I may not do the swordtail. The currents pretty average and my guppies are just fine in it.

 

[Tuxyu3]

Gotta watch out for those gouramis, two females should be ok and a male and a female may work (even cross-species) but I would advise against two males as they may fight as they mature. When gouramis are in large groups I think they manage because any aggression is distributed evenly and they feel more secure.

Oh and by the way, I'm not trying to put you off or anything just food for thought

 

[wirralbull]

you should listen to nobody or goat. i dont understand y ppl keep a single fish of each species. interaction between multiple fush of the same species is so much more interesting. i would have a trio of fire(possibly red honey gouramis) 6 corries and 8 rasbora

 

[AquaticHamster]

Gotta watch out for those gouramis, two females should be ok and a male and a female may work (even cross-species) but I would advise against two males as they may fight as they mature. When gouramis are in large groups I think they manage because any aggression is distributed evenly and they feel more secure.

Oh and by the way, I'm not trying to put you off or anything just food for thought

Well Im thinking of possibly getting a female pearl. But my concern doesnt lie in the agression of my fish, seeing as Ive researched quite a bit and all the fish I plan to get are generally peaceful. My concern lies more in possible crowding of the tank. Which im trying to figure out here since I dont want an unhealthy tank. Thanks for the help though.

 

[AquaticHamster]

you should listen to nobody or goat. i dont understand y ppl keep a single fish of each species. interaction between multiple fush of the same species is so much more interesting. i would have a trio of fire(possibly red honey gouramis) 6 corries and 8 rasbora

I dont plan to get a single fish of each species. I just prefer a variety than a tank full of fish of all the same species. And Im not going for a trio of gouramis or that many cories and rasboras. I only want a couple cats and a small school of 5 rasboras. Id also rather have two different gouramis than three of the same kind.

 

[Salam]

you should listen to nobody or goat. i dont understand y ppl keep a single fish of each species. interaction between multiple fush of the same species is so much more interesting. i would have a trio of fire(possibly red honey gouramis) 6 corries and 8 rasbora

I dont plan to get a single fish of each species. I just prefer a variety than a tank full of fish of all the same species. And Im not going for a trio of gouramis or that many cories and rasboras. I only want a couple cats and a small school of 5 rasboras. Id also rather have two different gouramis than three of the same kind.

If you are that adamant then you are asking for trouble and you'll have some unhappy fish

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Tank dimensions, please? I do hope it is at least 3-foot long, adult Swordtails need some space (as do fiesty Platties).

Two gourami can be problematic, one becomes a bully and the other bullied to death.

Peppered Corydoras with the rest of those fish is not ideal, they are better suited to a heaterless tank that changes temp with the seasons, having no issues at all with 15C. A truely tropical Corydoras species would be much better suited, the obvious common one being C. sterbai, happy ta anything from 24C upto ~28C.
Other conflict in my eyes is that your Swordtail and Platties would probably enjoy a fair bit more current than your Gourami and Guppies will appreciate.

Dimensions are 24" by 12", 20 gal tall.

I know two gouramis can fight, but I researched a bit on the two I want and they appear to both be friendly and will get along well with other gouramis and community fish. The pearls are supposed to be very peaceful. Ive seen large groups of them in tanks before.

Are you totally sure about the corys? Ive had mine for a while and he is perfectly happy with his tankmates, if a bit shy. And I always see them in pet stores.

Again, I may not do the swordtail. The currents pretty average and my guppies are just fine in it.

So it is something like 24x12x16 inches...

Long term, I would not house a Pearl Gourami or Swordtail, based purely on adult size grounds (~12cm). Adult Peppered size is also way too big for a 60cm tank, these should become ~7cm chunky catfish, Panda or one of the mini species (pygmeus; hastatus; habrosus are much better suited... some of these will swim midwater).

Swordtails and Platties are too fiesty in smaller tanks like many livebearers, I lost a couple of my Ilyodon xantusi while quarantining them in a 62x39x55cm. Bullied fish need space to escape the bullying, plus these are pretty active fish.

Harlequin Rasboras could just about work, I'd prefer them in a longer tank long term myself.

Like my Aqua One 620T, this is a tall tank with a relatively small surface area for its volume, so stocking needs to be on the conservative side. The fish need to be small (typically <6cm ish) and quite sedate. I would go for...
3x Dwarf Gourami (one male only)
6x Harlequin Rasbora or 6x Platty (bearing in mind you already have one, but I can easily forsee this ending in trouble, Platties are very "Jeckyll and Hyde" fish)
10x Kuhli Loach or 6x Panda Corydoras