stocking advice

[houndour]

I'm quite happy with my tank the way it is but my boyfriend complains that he can never see the fish! That's cos he doesn't sit infront of it for more than 1 second to see the fish venture out after scaring them away.

Anyway, I promised I would ask if I could add anymore fish.

I have only a 20 gallon tank (23 US gallons). It's planted. Fluval 104 external filter.

Fish:
2 dwarf gouramis
3 guppies
5 cory metae (grow to 2 inches)
3 botia striata
3 amano shrimp

I guess the botia prob grow the biggest...4 inches I think. They are 1.5 - 2 inches at the mo.

So I think I'm stocked fully...maybe technically overstocked when they are full grown and you go by the 'rules'.

 

[@ombomb]

2 dwarf gouramis X 2 = 4"
3 guppies X 1.5 = 3"
5 cory metae (grow to 2 inches) X 2 = 10"
3 botia striata X 4 = 12"

Total (without the shrimp) = 29"

Your tank is more than full already.

 

[houndour]

thanks

 

[dwarfgourami]

Can't you plant him in a comfy chair with a drink in his hand? The boyfriend I mean, not the fish. Get him to take the time. I like telling people that a fishtank should look more like a jungle, less like a group photograph. Peering into it should be something of a voyage of exploration (unless, of course, you've got livebearers, don't leave anything to be epxlored, do they, just come up and stick their greedy little mouths into your face).

No but honestly, that sounds an absolutely gorgeous tank. Don't mess with it, it's perfect.

 

[houndour]

Peering into it should be something of a voyage of exploration

You are so right...and apart from the guppies, it really is. Even the dwarfs can appear invisible at times! I love sitting there and then suddenly a botia will come out for a good 10 minutes looking for food in all the nooks and on the plants.I find the best time to watch is around 9 am (on weekends) before the lights come on. It's just dark enough to bring all 3 botia out.