New Starter Needing Some Help

[deadmeat30]

Hey everyone, im new to keeping fish, and have been doing some research on what i want and i am just about to start cycling my tank. I have a 20 gallon hexagonal tank, 18" tall. Im looking at getting a Betta, and a group of 10-15 neon tetra's. Once the tank is matured, i was liking the idea of cherry shrimp. Would all of these get on together? Also would i have enough room for some other fish, say a pair of something? I understand the 1" of fish per gallon.

thanks in advance,

Alan

 

[fatheadminnow]

Actually, neon tetras need to be in a established tank, a tank that has been running 6+ months.

A freshly cycled tank is prone to fluctuation in the water parameters, and neon tetras can't live that well in these situations.

-FHM

 

[deadmeat30]

Actually, neon tetras need to be in a established tank, a tank that has been running 6+ months.

A freshly cycled tank is prone to fluctuation in the water parameters, and neon tetras can't live that well in these situations.

-FHM

thanks for the info . so what would be a nice fish that could start of my tank once fully cycled? would prefer a fish that i can group.

 

[CKutz]

harlequin rasbora.
they group really nicely, are mid dwellers, dont get too big..and seem pretty hardy to me, i got some at the end of my fishless cycle and they have all done great. get a group of 6-8...i'm not sure if they would have enough room to swim side to side though. that's the problem with those tall hex tanks, they don't have much width..it can make picking fish for them a little difficult. hopefully some one with better ideas will be on

 

[sharpie21]

any pics of this fish?

 

[neutral]

any pics of this fish?

http/images.google.com/images?hl=en&...mp;aq=f&oq=

 

[deadmeat30]

harlequin rasbora.
they group really nicely, are mid dwellers, dont get too big..and seem pretty hardy to me, i got some at the end of my fishless cycle and they have all done great. get a group of 6-8...i'm not sure if they would have enough room to swim side to side though. that's the problem with those tall hex tanks, they don't have much width..it can make picking fish for them a little difficult. hopefully some one with better ideas will be on

thanks for the advice, Im off to my local TFS today, have a look and get ideas for what to put in my tank in about a months time.

Alan

 

[Miss Wiggle]

hi there, are you cycling the tank fishlessly using pure ammonia?

A betta is not really a good choice for a community tank I'm afraid, they aren't called siamese fighting fish for nothing! They are prone to aggression and anything with long colourful fins will be a big target for them, likewise because the betta is a bit slow swimming anything nippy like tetra's will pick at their tail and long term this will lead to stress.

If you're dead set on the betta then I'd recommend that you look for a small 5 gallon tank and keep one by themselves in it.

In a 20 gallon tank you could have a shoal of neons or the rasbora's as suggested above, then a pair of small feature fish such as one of the smaller gourami species or a pair/trio of dwarf cichlids such as apistogramma. You could have a handful of cherry shrimp as well

 

[deadmeat30]

hi there, are you cycling the tank fishlessly using pure ammonia?

A betta is not really a good choice for a community tank I'm afraid, they aren't called siamese fighting fish for nothing! They are prone to aggression and anything with long colourful fins will be a big target for them, likewise because the betta is a bit slow swimming anything nippy like tetra's will pick at their tail and long term this will lead to stress.

If you're dead set on the betta then I'd recommend that you look for a small 5 gallon tank and keep one by themselves in it.

In a 20 gallon tank you could have a shoal of neons or the rasbora's as suggested above, then a pair of small feature fish such as one of the smaller gourami species or a pair/trio of dwarf cichlids such as apistogramma. You could have a handful of cherry shrimp as well

thank you very much for your advice Miss Wiggle, looks like ill be getting a small tank now then as well, lol

 

[Miss Wiggle]

it's an addictive hobby this!

 

[deadmeat30]

it's an addictive hobby this!

lol, im learning that! I want a bigger fish tank already! hehe