Help Me Stock My Tank?

[briielzebub]

Hey, I'm kinda new. I was on here a couple years back but forgot my log in info and had a different email address. So I'm back.

I have a 20 gal tank that id free for messing with since I gave all my baby convicts away. Its already cycled. Yesterday I bought 2 black phantom tetras and one farowella catfish. I'm hoping to grow some live plants in it (had to give up the idea of that before cause my convicts kept diggign them up). I definently want to finish my school of black phantoms, but what else should I add? I want one or two really cool larger fish, and maybe a couple cories, loaches, and a bristlenose. I love south american cichlids/central american cichlids.
What ideas can you guys give me?
Thanks!
Brii

 

[mommyof2bettas]

I've heard zebra and zipper loaches are nice but don't get too big (3 inches each) you could get a couple of one of those. You could also get 3 cories, panda and pepper are really cute IMO. I'm not sure if a bristlenose would fit in there. Maybe someone else can help you there, and I'm also a small-fish kinda person so I can't help you with the larger fish. Maybe some livebearers? sailfin mollies would look really nice and they're bigger than other livebearers.

HTH!

 

[briielzebub]

Yeah I have a few zebra loaches in my tank back home and they're fantastic. I'm thinking maybe I'll get a dojo loach for this tank at least because they're the funniest fishes ever. I need to get a hundred gallon tank and jsut fill it with loaches, haha.

 

[Tessla]

No dojo loach I'm afraid, they get much too large for a 20 gallon and are very active. If you're looking for something similar, kuhli loaches are great though they tend to hide a lot more than the dojos. They'll also require sand, not to mention most bottom feeders will prefer sand over gravel. Zebra and zipper loaches as mentioned are great, the dwarf chain loach is a bit smaller and would give you a bit more room. If you do go with loaches or corydoras, stick to one species and keep a group of at least four together, they're much happier and more active that way. Planet Catfish has some great info on plecos if you're interested in keeping one of the smaller species, bristlenoses get a bit large and I'd actually take the farlowella back as they also get rather large for your tank.

For larger fish, maybe you could consider a single male gourami (many species that would do well in this size tank, check the gourami forum) or some blue rams.

 

[Rex740]

I have a Farlowella, 3 phantoms, and 2 dojo loaches (i have also much more fish). If you have any questions just ask. But if you get dojo loaches or other loaches there is a chance the farlowella will be shy and stay stuck to glass or plants or high places. I'm not sure if its true but im just saying that because my farlowella is never on the bottom but always on the glass.

I would also like to say i keep my dojo loaches in gravel or pebbles or whatever its called.

 

[Rex740]

Question: My phantoms look different from the usual ones. Mine have very large fins. is mine a different species or something?
This is what mine look like. (this is not my actual fish) http/www.geocities.com/ramcichlid/BlackPhantomTetra.jpg


ALSO HERE ARE PICS OF MY DOJO LOACHES!!!!

My 4 inch...

My 5 inch... with a phantom

And together!!! with a phantom

 

[briielzebub]

I guess I can live without a dojo loach even though I love having them around (and so do the cats!). But I would really like to keep the farlowella. I could easily switch these fish into my 20 long, and the fish in that into the normal 20. Would that help with him?

 

[briielzebub]

I'm not really a fan of kuhlis. I've had a couple for ears and didn't even know they were still there until I compeltely renovated the tank. I'd really love to have the zebra loaches. Do they have to have sand substrate? My ones back home seem fine with the gravel. Maybe I'd even take those 3 and put them in this tank since they're constantly bothered by the yoyo loach. How many could I fit into the 20 or 20 long tank? Would I have to have just them and no cories?

And I had a couple ideas for the larger fish...I don't really want just one, I'd prefer a pair of fish that are larger than my tetras.
Could I have 2 dwarf gouramis? Or a couple of kribs? Or maybe a couple of bosemani rainbows?

 

[Rex740]

You mean 20 foot long? It doesnt matter where you put the farlowella. He will do fine in both even with dojos.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

farlowella (twig catfish) taken from the fish index:

Tank Requirements: Farlowella Acus requires good, stable water conditions and is prone to dying if these are not maintained. Needs a heavily planted tank with preferably broad leaved plants (mine likes to lie on these) and a fair bit of algae for it to consume. Should not be kept with hyperactive, boisterous fish. Also because of its' size it needs a reasonably large tank. Not for new setups.
Size: 8in or 20cm

 

[LisaLQ]

Both dojos and farlowella will probably get too big for your tank I'm afraid. Also just found this on dojo loaches:
http/www.loaches.com/species-index/weath...nguillicaudatus

Which says they prefer cooler water than tropical. Chain loaches would be a great alternative, and khulis can apparently be quite social when kept in larger groups (although - I guess a large group could overstock the tank). If you're not dead set on loaches, cories are fantastic (IMO a must for most peaceful communities!).

A good alternative to a farlowella is a rineloricaria (I hope I spelt that right, I've got two of them lol!). They are whiptails too, and yet only get to 4-5". Mine love their planted tank (with bogwood for them to hide on/eat)

As far as cichlids go, you might get away with a pair of rams if you stick to only a group of loaches or a group of cories (for fear of overstocking once you've got your phantoms and little plec). But I'd probably wait for a few more opinions on that, as mine are in a big tank (6ft) and I'm not 100% sure if they'd be suited to small tank life (but I'd think they would be?).

 

[Tessla]

I have four kuhlis in a ten gallon, they're very active around feeding time and whenever they aren't bothered by motion outside of their tank. I have a sandy substrate in their tank but they rarely dig as there's a nice piece of bogwood for them to dart under whenever they feel threatened and lots of plants. No larger fish in the tank with them, the largest is a betta (and a sissy betta I might add). The trick seems to be in making them feel secure, mine act like crazy miniature dojo loaches with stripes.

Zebras and other botia types don't need a sand substrate, but they like it better than gravel as it's easier for them to root around in it without damaging their barbels. If you put three zebras in your tank I wouldn't put another group of bottom feeders in with them, if you went with the dwarf chain loach you could do a group of four or possibly five.