New Tank Need Advice

[ocean_baby]

Hi everyone!
I currently have a 20g tank (US) with 4 peper corries, 1 golden apple snail, 2 ghost shrimps, 5 male platties, 1 female sword tail and 3 female guppies,and some plants. What other fish could I get and how many? I don't want any more platties or guppies....THX

 

[2day]

Hi
Just thought of some from the top of my head. What about endlers, bristlenose, balloon mollies etc. I am sure they would look good in the tank. Not too sure how many you could have, but they are just some alternatives

 

[ocean_baby]

hehe how about non livebearers? any ideas ??

 

[smmetz]

That tank is about fully stocked.

here is the breakdown of the number of inches of fish you have, using the lower end of the expected adult sizes of your fish, and not counting the snail or ghost shrimp for anything:

4 peper corries = 4 * 2.5" = 10"
1 golden apple snail = 0
2 ghost shrimps = 0
5 male platties = 5 * 2" = 10"
1 female sword tail = 2" (if we don't count the extra long tail against it)
3 female guppies = 3 * 1.5" = 4.5"

That is about 25" of fish in a 20 gallon tank. Also, the sword tail fish might want some company?

If you really want 1 more fish, here are a couple suggestions:
Rubbernose Pleco / Bulldog Pleco / Rubberlip Pleco (all different names for the same fish)
Cave Blind Tetra, Mexican Tetra, Blind Cave Fish, Silvery Tetra (all different names for the same fish)
or possibly:
Dwarf Gourami, Neon Dwarf Gourami, Sunset Gourami, Fire Gourami - you should check if your other fish might nip the fins on these though, not sure myselt.

 

[ocean_baby]

That tank is about fully stocked.

here is the breakdown of the number of inches of fish you have, using the lower end of the expected adult sizes of your fish, and not counting the snail or ghost shrimp for anything:

4 peper corries = 4 * 2.5" = 10"
1 golden apple snail = 0
2 ghost shrimps = 0
5 male platties = 5 * 2" = 10"
1 female sword tail = 2" (if we don't count the extra long tail against it)
3 female guppies = 3 * 1.5" = 4.5"

That is about 25" of fish in a 20 gallon tank. Also, the sword tail fish might want some company?

If you really want 1 more fish, here are a couple suggestions:
Rubbernose Pleco / Bulldog Pleco / Rubberlip Pleco (all different names for the same fish)
Cave Blind Tetra, Mexican Tetra, Blind Cave Fish, Silvery Tetra (all different names for the same fish)
or possibly:
Dwarf Gourami, Neon Dwarf Gourami, Sunset Gourami, Fire Gourami - you should check if your other fish might nip the fins on these though, not sure myselt.

Well ram works also?

 

[dwarfgourami]

I agree with the beginning of Smetz' post: this tank is already fully stocked.

less sure about the second half though:

why would you suggest a highly active 3 inch fish (the blind cave) in a small tank that is already overstocked?

and why would anyone want to place a timid territorial fish with long fins (gourami) in a tank containing a swordtail? (though as she is a female, she may at least not be aggressive; and no, Smetz, she won;t have a sword, either)

or a heavy pooper like a rubbernose plec?

 

[smmetz]

I am no expert on Rams, but I thought it was best to keep them in pairs - so if that is true you need 2 of them. This would add about 6" more fish. Also, Rams need good, consistent water quality. Because the tank would be 50-60% overstocked with 2 rams, I think it would be hard to provide consistently good water quality. Even with just 1 ram, it might be challenging. If you are really good with changing at least 20% water at least weekly, vacuming the gravel every time, and have a way oversized fitler for a 20 gallon tank - then you could prossibly do it. Just be warned that overstocked tank + sensitive fish = recipe for disaster.

 

[smmetz]

why would you suggest a highly active 3 inch fish (the blind cave) in a small tank that is already overstocked?

and why would anyone want to place a timid territorial fish with long fins (gourami) in a tank containing a swordtail? (though as she is a female, she may at least not be aggressive; and no, Smetz, she won;t have a sword, either)

or a heavy pooper like a rubbernose plec?

I only made a couple of suggestions after warning that the tank is already overstocked. I thought that if I pick a fair sized species that only requires 1 fish instead of a few, it might satisfy the "need" for more fish without adding as much bio-load as a school of smaller fish - and would be better then getting 2-3 smaller fish that really like to be in bigger groups.

Our own fish profile implies that swordtails are friendly fish when it says "should be housed with other peaceful community fish ...". I was not aware that they are aggressive. Please PM a moderator to have the profile updated with this warning, if it is true. My mistake on the tail, forgot that only males have the tails. Here is the profile:
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=76754

Anyway, I said blind cave fish because I thought it was relatively hardy, and woud be OK in a 20 gallon tank.
( http/fish.mongabay.com/species/Astyanax_..._mexicanus.html says a 24" 15 gallon tank is sufficient)

I said rubbernose pleco, since I thought they only get about 3-4" large on average. I didn't think a 3-4" fish was going to poop enough to destroy a 20 gallon tank. Also, while they are sensative to water quality, I was under the impression that they are less sensative than Otos, and could be kept alone instead of in groups.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=34993

I said gourami with the warning to check if other fish might nip it's fins, admitting that I was not sure.


That explains my line of thought, which was in question. However, I do agree with the sentiment that the tank is overstocked already, and adding more would probably be a bad idea.

 

[ocean_baby]

any suggestions for other fish? I might put platties and sword tail in to my 10g cycling tank