new tank

[Dan the Moose]

hello, i just got a new 20 gallon tank, and was thinking of putting some smaller species (Double full red cockatoo, Black Striped Dwarf, DFR Agassizi, German Gold Ram, or any ram for that matter) into the tank. (im not planning on putting in one of each, maybe 2, 4 fish max) now, my questions is, what would you reccomend, ohw many, and how would you decorate the tank?? i am really big on planted tanks, and rocks and sand.

also, if i decided to go with maybe one ram, and a few tetras, or danios, or somehting of the like, what would make a good tank mate??

[Rbishop]

Apistos? A pair of blue rams?

[sarcare]

Rams would be nice with a school of some dither fish--maybe tetras. You could do a biotope with the rams, tetras, and some natural looking wood and live plants. That is similar to what I plan on doing for one of my 20g. A pair of rams and some rasboras--which aren't from S. America, but are pretty, small schooling fish.

I don't have any experience with apistos, but I'm sure they'd be nice.

As for rams, they are very sensitive to water quality and need higher temps then some other fish. Mine have crazy personality, though, and are so much fun.

[Jayhawk]

Bolivian are hardier and easy to keep for a new cichlid keeper than blue/gold/german rams (all the same fish species). They'd do great in a tank that size.

[Dan the Moose]

alright, im a little confused, what are apistos, dither fish, and biotope's?? thanks for the info as to the level of care needed.

[Rbishop]

http://www.apistogramma.com/cms/The_Gallery/

http://www.thekrib.com/Apisto/A-cacatuoides.html

http://images.google.com/images?svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&q=Apistogramma+agassizi&spell=1

dithers...various fish that you add to your tank to provide a sense of security to your showcase fish.

[sarcare]

A biotope is where you re-create the natural environment where the fish would live in nature. So bolivian rams would naturally live with some species of tetras and certain plants like swords might also be from that part of the world. Some people like to try to re-create as much as possible the environment, and will even add peat to the water to soften it and make it colored like the natural environment.

[Dan the Moose]

nice, i think im going to put the bolivians/double reds with tetras. and how do these fish with angel fish?