Stocking A 20 Gal

[wigdean]

I've scrapped my idea of a rasbora/danio tank and I'm considering going along the lines of this. Obviously the betta may be a problem but unfortunately there is no room in my other tanks and he has to stay. In the past I've kept the same betta with a couple of platys temporarily and there were only problems when one of the platys got a little nippy and betta had a go back. Anyway...

3 x Pygmy cory (more if possible, I understand the need to keep them in groups)
4/5 x Harlequins
4/5 x Galaxy Rasbora
1 x Betta Splendens
1 x Pitbull Pleco

Just a couple of questions. Firstly, would that mix be fine? Secondly, would I be able to increase the number of pygmy corys or add in a couple of slightly larger fish (dwarf neon rainbows/bolivian rams if at all possible)?

I won't be purchasing the galaxy rasbora for a while though. I think I'm going to wait until tank bred are available at my lfs. It could take a while obviously but there's no rush.

 

[lilfishie]

the betta should be ok with the cories and plec maybe the harliquins because from experience tey keep themselves to themselves not sure about the Galaxy Rasbora as i have never kept them, cories prefer to be in groups of around 6 so maybe up there number, plecos are high waste producers so for the betas sake you'll have to keep the maintainance good as bettas prefer clean water

 

[wigdean]

Maintenance isn't a problem. Seems like I'm constantly cleaning fish tanks.

May replace the plec with some shrimp actually. Bit of a difference I know!

My experience of the galaxy rasbora is that they keep themselves away from other fish and tend to do their own thing. Never once seen my galaxys chase or be chased in my other tanks so they should be fine. Slight worry over the size of them as they tend to be small when they first arrive at the lfs.

 

[lilfishie]

maybe you could reserve them at you LFS then pick them up like a month later so you know there healthy and chance to grow a little, shrimp are great, and hey come in different colours, but your betta may think of them as a meal, i have shrimp with my females and they don't bother him but my males would. i think Galaxy Rasbora prefer fast flowing water which the betta wouldn't but i'm not sure on that so you'll have to ask in the Cyprinids, Characins and Atherinids forum and find out

 

[wigdean]

The last time I kept amano shrimp with my betta (removed them to another tank, I'm always switching things around!) he just seemed confused that something he usually eats can be so big.

That's a good idea with the lfs, thanks. They do have tanks that have fish that are reserved for members of staff, so I can't see there being too much trouble if I ask them if I could keep a group there.

My main concern is the neon rainbows/bolivian rams. Really would like a pair of either of them but have absolutely no idea whether it's a good idea.