Choices

[squishy_1984]

Hi, i have just become a member and am fairly new to the world of aquatics.
I have had my tank running for near on 2 months now, it is a 20g tank and has 3 swordtails and 4 corydoras.
I am wanting to put 2 dwarf gouramis and 5 cherry barbs.
I have 2 questions, will they all live happily together and are the numbers of fish i have stated okay for the tank size.
thanks in advance
jon

 

[WILDER]

You can only keep one dwarf gouramin in that size tank, so you might be better of with honey gouramis as you can keep a group of them, cherry barbs can be fin nippers, and mine didn't get along with the corys they chased them around the tank, best to only keep two cherry barbs.

 

[squishy_1984]

thanks for the info, does anyone have any suggestions rather than the cherry barbs as i dont want the coreys to be chased around the tank
thanks
jon

 

[WILDER]

How about a shoal of tetra's, black neons are nice striking tetra's, and harlequins are adorable and lively.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=86434

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=43531

 

[Durbkat]

You could get 5 to 6 black widow tetras but that would mean you couldn't add a gourami just the tetras. Also tetras are really hardy and I have several of them and have never lost a single one due to bad water quality issues.

 

[squishy_1984]

ill go and have a look tomorrow. really wanted a gourami in the tank though!
jon

 

[WILDER]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=78079

 

[squishy_1984]

the harlequins look lovely, hadnt seen them before.
jon

 

[WILDER]

Look better in the tank, as photo's don't always do them justice.

 

[squishy_1984]

ill makea few calls 2moro, c if i can find any. thanks foryour help

 

[Inchworm]

Hi JonDawg

If you live somewhere where you can find a pair (male and female) of dwarf gouramis, I think you could safely add them to your tank. The trouble is that in many places the stores don't carry females and keeping two of the males together could be a potential problem.

Another very nice tetra is the glowlight tetra. They are small tetras with soft and pleasing color.

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/tet-glow.htm

Please don't be in too big a hurry to fully stock your tank. Once you do, that will be the time when you find the most perfect and beautiful fish you have ever seen. You will absolutely have to have it and that will mean you need to buy another tank...........................





I'm not kidding about that. This kind of thing happens so often that we have a name for it. It's called MTS aka Multiple Tank Syndrome.

 

[squishy_1984]

yeah, i already bought a 5gtank. will be putting a betta in there inthe next few days with any luck.

Yeah the tetras are very appealing. always wanted a gourami tho.
Would like to have 2 small gouramis and a shoal of small tetras but i've been told it would be too crowded.

what's your opinion?

 

[sylvia]

Didn't read everything but, inr esponse to your original post - cherry barbs would be fine but, as they are not schooling fish, would be better kept as a trio (1 male, 2 females). There are no fish in your tank that may get nipped (IME they aren't nippers) and, as a trio, should destract each other anyway. Dwarf gouramies are a possibility in your tank along with what you already have and the 3 barbs but they are best kept in trios (1 male, 2 females). Inchworm already mentioned how it can be difficult to get hold of females. If you can't get females, a couple of males would work instead in a 20 gallon but you need to make sure there are plenty of hiding places - especialy tall or floating plants. A better alternative wuld be the hardier and slightly smaller honey gourami (colisa chuna/sota). Females of this species are easier to come by and a trio would do perfectly in your tank.

I assume your swordtails are 2 females and a male? Then the numbers (3 swordtails, 4 cories, 3 cherry barbs, 3 dwarf or honey gouramies) are fine. You wouldn't have room for anything else though.

BTW, if you aren't sure of how to destinguish between a dwarf and honey gourami, take a look through the pinned articles (and various relevant threads) in the gourami section.

Edit: concerning your last question, if you get just one male honey (because their smaller) gourami and 5 of the smaller tetras (eg: neon or false rummynose) you could just about pull it off. Don't try it with nything that gets larger than that though - and not with mroe than one MALE honey gourami.

 

[CroNiC]

Hi JonDawg

If you live somewhere where you can find a pair (male and female) of dwarf gouramis, I think you could safely add them to your tank. The trouble is that in many places the stores don't carry females and keeping two of the males together could be a potential problem.

Another very nice tetra is the glowlight tetra. They are small tetras with soft and pleasing color.

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/tet-glow.htm

Please don't be in too big a hurry to fully stock your tank. Once you do, that will be the time when you find the most perfect and beautiful fish you have ever seen. You will absolutely have to have it and that will mean you need to buy another tank...........................





I'm not kidding about that. This kind of thing happens so often that we have a name for it. It's called MTS aka Multiple Tank Syndrome.

Agreed to the MTS. I am a live witness

 

[squishy_1984]

thankyou for your reply, will have to get some more plantation now.
Was exacly the answer i was looking for. Thankyou all for replying.
jon

Hi JonDawg

If you live somewhere where you can find a pair (male and female) of dwarf gouramis, I think you could safely add them to your tank. The trouble is that in many places the stores don't carry females and keeping two of the males together could be a potential problem.

Another very nice tetra is the glowlight tetra. They are small tetras with soft and pleasing color.

http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/tet-glow.htm

Please don't be in too big a hurry to fully stock your tank. Once you do, that will be the time when you find the most perfect and beautiful fish you have ever seen. You will absolutely have to have it and that will mean you need to buy another tank...........................





I'm not kidding about that. This kind of thing happens so often that we have a name for it. It's called MTS aka Multiple Tank Syndrome.

Agreed to the MTS. I am a live witness

lol, i can see the day coming for me. I havn't been doing it for long but i'm hooked!