Should I do it?

[Barry Tetra]

Hi TFF.....

So recently I’ve found out that my friend have a 8 gal tank with
3 Chinese algae eater (about 3 inches)
2 bichirs (10 inches)
10 bamboo shrimps
1 red eared turtle
And 1 small arowana
And he said this tank have been set up for 3 years now.


I have 20 gallon tank spare right now and can I adopt 3 of the Chinese loach?

@Colin_T

 

[CassCats]

Chinese algae eaters need a 55 gallon minimum.

 

[itiwhetu]

They will be happier in your 20 rather than the 8 they are in

 

[Colin_T]

Chinese algae eaters fight when they reach sexual maturity. You end up with one 12 inch fish in the tank and any other bottom dweller gets bashed. So no, don't bother getting them.

The shrimp might be interesting to get.

 

[Barry Tetra]

Chinese algae eaters fight when they reach sexual maturity. You end up with one 12 inch fish in the tank and any other bottom dweller gets bashed. So no, don't bother getting them.

The shrimp might be interesting to get.

He won’t giveaway his shrimps sadly...

 

[Barry Tetra]

Okay he got crayfish too!

@Colin_T What about crayfish in 20 gal?


I have a bad experiences with crayfish, I used to have 2 of them and
male killed female with tons of eggs on her abdomen.

 

[Colin_T]

It depends on the species of crayfish but most get too big for a 20 gallon tank.

They are all territorial so need plenty of space. Keep one on its own unless you have a big pond for them.

 

[Barry Tetra]

It depends on the species of crayfish but most get too big for a 20 gallon tank.

They are all territorial so need plenty of space. Keep one on its own unless you have a big pond for them.

Well then....I think I’m going to let that tank be a Qt tank for now...

How do you set up Qt tank though?
Do I need to cycle the tank and add substrate?

 

[mcordelia]

You can either keep it cycled by periodically adding ammonia, or you can have an extra sponge filter in your main tank that you then transfer over to the QT when you set it up for fish. many QT's are bare bottom depending on the needs of the fish being quarantined (observation vs treatment).

 

[Dajuyu]

Okay he got crayfish too!

@Colin_T What about crayfish in 20 gal?


I have a bad experiences with crayfish, I used to have 2 of them and
male killed female with tons of eggs on her abdomen.

So hows the crayfish doing ... isnt gonna outgrow the tank anytime soon ?
I am not surprise if the crayfish is the sole survivor of the tank after taking all other fishes as meals. I mean in such a small tank.