Room for one more fish?

[Squirrelbuddies]

Tomorrow is a holiday here, so I'm thinking this is a great excuse to get another fish!

My 20 gallon community tank currently has the following:

2 pearl gouramis
1 black lyre tail molly
4 cory cats

Do I have room for one more? Water conditions are great and I do a 15-20% water change weekly.

If there's room for one more, should I add another cory? Or maybe something totally different? I definitely do not want another livebearer.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

you totally have plenty of room!

go for another cory, man... they are just too cute!

 

[Mr Miagi]

Indeed, there is room for some more, but it depends on what. Dont over do it! What are you aftre?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

hrm... you have:

pearls = 4 inches
molly = 3 inches
cory = 2 inches

in total you have about 19 inches.... ok, so maybe you don't have as much room as i thought... another cory or one of the calmer loaches (who doesn't love a hillstream?)

 

[rdd1952]

Based on the 1" per gallon rule, you are probably pretty close to full. I'm a newbie but I would think that if you do weekly water changes, you could fudge a little past the 1" per gallon rule. I am a little over it without any problems so far. Corys are schooling fish so the another one would just make them happier, provided they are all the same kind.

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

I think another cory would be the natural choice....I just didn't know if perhaps there was another small fish I hadn't thought of (and doesn't mind being the only one of it's kind.) The molly is in there by herself because the other two mollies were beating up on her so they were moved. Now she's happy as a clam swimming amongst the gouramis.

The loach sounds cool -- but they like being with other loaches, right?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i think some do and some don't. i know a hillstream loach (hong kong butterfly) can be on its own, but then again its not a true loach. i personally think they rock, but they aren't necessarily everyone's cup of tea, looking like leopard-print bumps on a log.

 

[DannyBoy17]

I would get 2-4 more Corys, depending on filtration. Hell, when I first started in the hobby, I kept 12 Cory's in 20g with some Tiger Barbs. None of them died (had great filtration), I ended up giving them away, and got Piranhas (every young boys dream). Man, I wish I had those Corys...

DB

 

[Raechal]

I don't really like the inch per gallon rule, so I don't use it. I think you could add another fish if you want. I mean it seems like your tank is pretty spread out evenly. You have the cories for the bottom, the gouramis and mollies for the top/mid section. I think you have plenty of room for another cory and maybe another fish if you keep the water good and have good filtration.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

I don't really like the inch per gallon rule, so I don't use it.

yeah but it does make for a quick filter on all those people who want to keep 2 oscars and a pleco in a 30 gal.

 

[OohFeeshy]

I use it as a rough guideline, at the moment I'd rather use it and be understocked because I'd much rather have an understocked tank with happy fish than an overstocked one with dead fish.

 

[mandi]

I would go with another cory or two. They're lovely little things.

I'd avoid the hillstream loach though. They originate from cool-water streams and rivers, and are more suited to cold water tanks (with white cloud minnows for instance) than they are to tropical. They also prefer tanks with a strong current.

 

[snar]

maybe some tetras

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Well, I think I'm off to the lfs to fetch 2 more little cory cats!! It's snowing terribly outside....looks like a Christmas postcard scene! Just need to bundle up and bring along the insulated bag for the fish...

 

[Raechal]

I don't really like the inch per gallon rule, so I don't use it.

yeah but it does make for a quick filter on all those people who want to keep 2 oscars and a pleco in a 30 gal.

Hmm? I don't really like it because you can't fit a 15 inch oscar in a 15 gallon.