which stocking option is better?

[aloaring]

Well i am getting a new 20 Uk gallon tank and have been thinking about what to put in it
what is defineately going in as i already have them is:

1 whiptail, 1 medusa plec and 1 banjo catfish and 3 ghost shrimp on top of these i was thinking of

1st option:
4 pygmy cories
3 cherry shrimp
8 sparkling gourami

2nd option
4 pygmy cories
4 nannocara anomala
3 cherry shrimp

these are going to be ordered from trimar if my lfs can't get them at the right price. what do you guys think of these options. i 'm going to have the tank densely planted with lots of hiding places. Has anyone got any other ideas? i already have a tank of female bettas and now want something different!!

 

[cometcattle]

Hi aloaring.

I like both options, but I'd even think of doing 3 - 4 sparklers and 2 nannocara anomala. With 8 sparklers, you might run into aggression problems between them.

I love cherry shrimp (I just bought 4 ), but I might be a bit worried about the banjo. I've never kept banjos, but cherry shrimp might make an expensive snack. They are usually pretty small when you get them. Here's a great shrimp site. You should read both his articles:

http/www.petshrimp.com/index.html

Also, I would wait to add the shrimp untill your plants have grown in a bit. I keep mine in a well planted 10g, with lots of java moss.

 

[aloaring]

thanks comet cattle,
Well the banjo catfish hasn't eaten any ghost shrimp actually i hardly see it eat !! but i do have a small 2 gallon with a male betta in so they can always go in there if they are really small!! i've had two nannocara before, they were a breeding pair but the male was extremely agressive to the female he actually ripped her tail off at one point and was recommened to have 1 male and 3 females! i might do 4 nannocara and four sparkling gourami. Do you think that would work?
i really like small fish for some reason and nannocara have such personalitys!!

 

[cometcattle]

I think that would work. If you end up putting the shrimp in the 2g, I'd take the betta out. Every time I've tried ghost shrimp with a betta, the betta ended up killing them.

If you love small fish with a huge personallity, you should consider doing a shelldweller tank in the future.

 

[endilliteracy]

Definately go for the gourami. I love those little guys.

My betta has 3 ghost shrimp in his 10 gal and he does fine with them, so do the 4 cories I have in there.

 

[aloaring]

Ohhhh shelldwellers i hadn't even thought of them!! I think i know a shop that stocks them as well i'll have to do some research!!

My betta has already lived with shrimp and the worst he does is steal their food !! Evil little betta!!

My tank is taller than it is long and i've just been thinking that instead of the gourami i 'd need some kind of surface dwelling fish with the nannocaras . i'm thinking of endlers as the are rare around here and if they breed i could sell them locally. i am also tempted by pygmy half beaks but i think they need a longer tank!

All ideas welcome, come on people help me out!!