Please help with adding fish

[allstarme]

I have asked this question before but im still not sure what to add to my tank. I have a weird mix of fish. What would be good for this tank:

20 Gallon

6 Zebra Danios
1 Cichlid (Not sure of the type)
1 Bala Shark
1 Clown Pleco

Id like to add maybe 4 or so more fish, maybe schooling. Let me know your ideas.

 

[dolphin]

Hi allstarme

What are your water parameters?

This will then give us some idea of the type of fish that you can have.

 

[allstarme]

Well im not sure what you really want to know but I keep the temp around 76, nitrates, ammonia and nitrates are all at normal levels. The ph is consistently around 7 or 8. I do 25% water changes every two weeks. Also, I have no live plants.

 

[dolphin]

Hi allstarme

My sugestion would be a few barbs. Rosy barbs, tiger bards etc.

 

[Lipreader]

It would be good if you can have at least one bottom feeders to help eat the food that fell to the bottom. This can help keep the tank a bit more tidy because there won't be as much food at the bottom to rot.

 

[CFC]

No to the bala shark,they get way too big for a 20g tank,try to keep to fish that grow to no more than 4".

 

[juliethegr8t]

I agree with dolphin, I think barbs would be a nice addition to your tank! My tiger barbs and zebra danios have always got along wonderfully, and if you keep the barbs in a school, you shouldn't have any major problems with them bothering you other fish. In my opinion, they're fun fish - very active and pretty!

 

[jumpman]

If you want a school of tiger barbs maybe you could exchange your bala shark for some??? cfc is spot on...way too big for a 20g

 

[Alex]

Not only to bala sharks get too big, they are shoal fish and you'd need at least 3 to keep them happy (and a much bigger tank).

Like usual I'll say corys are nice bottom dwellers, some are very hardy and there are loads of different sorts, remember you'll need a few of them as they are shoal fish too, but they are lovely and some of them are really fun too watch, (my panda corys play all the time).

I wouldn't get any log finned fish as danios can be nippy, do you like hatchets, my marble hatchets fill the top of the tank nicely and their different shape is an interest aswell.

 

[allstarme]

Hey thanks for all the great suggestions. I think im going to get rid of the bala shark and pick up some barbs and some cory's. I have a couple questions though. Do local fish shops take back fish? How do I transport him? What type of barbs should I get. Are some more aggressive then others? Thanks again.

 

[CFC]

I think you have made the right decision,the bala would have been very unhappy in a 20g.To transport the fish back to the lfs just bag it the same way as they do when you buy them.Most lfs will take back fish they have miss sold and should allow you to swap it for something more suitable.
Any of the smaller barbs will be suitable for a 20g ,tigers are quite pretty but can be nippy.

 

[dolphin]

Hi allstarme

If you are worried about the fish putting a hole in the bag, double bag it, (one bag inside the other).

Rosy barbs are nice, and you can get long fined ones. All the corrys are nice, well I think so, but my wife does not!