Stocking Ideas?

Shovelman · Nov 4, 2010

Hey there everyone! I have a 20(us)gallon tall (I know a long is more ideal as it has more area), and was wondering if anyone had any stocking ideas?
Info: -Standard florescent light bulb hood.
-Aqueon 20 gallon filter (soon might be getting a better filter).
-At the moment standard medium grain black and white gravel (depending on fish stock i might kind of redo the gravel with a finer grain for plants-obviously give it time for the bacteria colony to re-stabilize/ recycle)

One idea of mine was a school of glass catfish with a dwarf gourami, but I'm hesitant on the dwarf gourami because they are somewhat more vulnerable to disease, maybe a Betta instead?
-Any suggestions would be great! Thanks!

Aqua Tom · Nov 4, 2010

bassbonediva · Nov 4, 2010

Bettas don't make good community fish. Experience speaking, here.

How about 5 glass catfish, 4 kuhli loaches or julii cories (or panda cories...any type of smaller cory) and a pearl gourami?

SlyPolak · Nov 4, 2010

If you get a better filter you may be able to push your stocking a bit....

how about some male guppies and some honey gouramis... a few small cories for the bottom?

Shovelman · Nov 5, 2010

Hmmm interesting ideas everyone. While i was pondering what options I have, I forgot to note that the Glass catfish NEED a current! So im thinking the dwarf gouramis and such are out since they prefer barely moving water..

And if anyone has any more so exotic species? I know you cant do all that much in a 20 tall, so any more suggestions would be great!

Carlovel1 · Nov 5, 2010

I wouldn't get Glass Catfish, one of the 2 common species gets to around 6", the other species slightly smaller. IMO, I would do this:
3 Honey Gourami
6 Glass Bloodfin Tetra
5 Panda Cory

Shovelman · Nov 5, 2010

Carlovel1 said:
I wouldn't get Glass Catfish, one of the 2 common species gets to around 8", the other species slightly smaller. IMO, I would do this:
3 Honey Gourami
6 Glass Bloodfin Tetra
5 Panda Cory

I'm going to do panda Cory's as i just fell in love with my parents emerald and peppered Cory because their awesome, and fun to watch! I really kind of want to stay away from tetras, as i haven't had good experience and i just don't want to use my 20 gallons on them. I was also thinking a 'Pair' of GBR (German blue rams) but if i get my 75 gallon ill be doing a shoal of discus and GBR in there so id like to make my tanks different.

Shovelman · Nov 5, 2010

I just remembered that at my LFS they had a blue crayfish and i noticed it had eggs, so they took it out and let them hatch and seperated the mom after the eggs hatched. It was pretty cool, but now their selling them for half price which is $15, instead of 30-35 (very pricey). If I stack with some hiding places and rock structures or what not would it be ok in my 20 tall? ive had a crayfish before. It would probably be the only thing in the tank since you run the risk of it attacking/eating other fish. Would ottos zip away fast if they feel or are threatened? And the max size crayfish they had at the LFS was only about 4-6 inches. probably not full grown but any input would be appreciated.

Oh and also, whould it deroot/and or eat plants? im going to partially redoo my tank with some finer gravel and a T5 lighting with the plant fertalizer you put underground, so I can host more 'Moderate' light plants better than the 1 watt per gallon i have it at, if even less from what its at now.