20L stocking question
- Thread starter tbirdie
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Re: the pandas... 4 would be minimum, I'd go for 6. The more you have, the more outgoing they'll be. They'll fill up your bottom space well.
Ditto, maybe 3 but at least 4 would be better. Total charmers.
Hm, so you think I'd have room for:
2 ottos
2 amano shrimp
1 ghost shrimp
8 rasboras
4 panda cats
and maybe
2 center piece fish?
I was thinking of Kribensis but I'm afraid they might nip at the panda corys or compete for that space. Maybe I should look for a mid-level pairing centerpiece fish. Suggestions are welcome!
I'd like to potentially add more shrimp and ottos if I have room in the long run, but I don't want to push it.
2 ottos
2 amano shrimp
1 ghost shrimp
8 rasboras
4 panda cats
and maybe
2 center piece fish?
I was thinking of Kribensis but I'm afraid they might nip at the panda corys or compete for that space. Maybe I should look for a mid-level pairing centerpiece fish. Suggestions are welcome!
I'd like to potentially add more shrimp and ottos if I have room in the long run, but I don't want to push it.
Sure.
If you are thinking of a more bottom type dweller for a centerpiece fish, how about a Bolivian ram? I wasnt into them, because they arent as colorful as their little cousins, but then I had one in a large community tank and he had good color and good personality and was really cool. He got quite large too, they're a good bit bigger than German rams.
Kribs are neat fish, but can also act pretty 'cichlid-like.' The single Bolivian ram didnt, altho I dont know how a pair would act.
Others might know better, but is a 20 long too shallow for a pearl gourami or a pair of them? They are beautiful and peaceful and make nice upper level centerpieces in a peaceful tank...which yours sounds like.
If you are thinking of a more bottom type dweller for a centerpiece fish, how about a Bolivian ram? I wasnt into them, because they arent as colorful as their little cousins, but then I had one in a large community tank and he had good color and good personality and was really cool. He got quite large too, they're a good bit bigger than German rams.
Kribs are neat fish, but can also act pretty 'cichlid-like.' The single Bolivian ram didnt, altho I dont know how a pair would act.
Others might know better, but is a 20 long too shallow for a pearl gourami or a pair of them? They are beautiful and peaceful and make nice upper level centerpieces in a peaceful tank...which yours sounds like.
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I'm always worried about figuring out which fish will actually do okay alone, lol. That's why I said pair. If I don't need a pair, that's fine too.
I like the pearl gouramis, but the book I bought today (yes i am obsessed, it seems) says they are kept best in a tank with a min size of 36". So I figured I was probably out of luck for 1 or a pair?
The bolivian and german rams are both ones I have been considering. I think the german is gorgeous but also probably too advanced for me to start out with just yet. The bolivian does get larger, so I wasn't sure if it would be okay in my tank or not. I have read in one spot that he needs 24", which I have, but in another place that he needs 30 gallons. So I wasn't sure. Do they do okay alone?
The reason I said a mid-level centerpiece fish, is because I was worried that I might have too many bottom dwellers already.
(On a side note : I'm liking the Lemon Tetras and pearl danios too, lol. So I suppose if I can't get panda cats at the LFS, I could always get some of them.)
I like the pearl gouramis, but the book I bought today (yes i am obsessed, it seems) says they are kept best in a tank with a min size of 36". So I figured I was probably out of luck for 1 or a pair?
The bolivian and german rams are both ones I have been considering. I think the german is gorgeous but also probably too advanced for me to start out with just yet. The bolivian does get larger, so I wasn't sure if it would be okay in my tank or not. I have read in one spot that he needs 24", which I have, but in another place that he needs 30 gallons. So I wasn't sure. Do they do okay alone?
The reason I said a mid-level centerpiece fish, is because I was worried that I might have too many bottom dwellers already.
(On a side note : I'm liking the Lemon Tetras and pearl danios too, lol. So I suppose if I can't get panda cats at the LFS, I could always get some of them.)
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Dont always go by the books. Peoples' real experience is often better.
And in all the books I've ever read, only Innes' ancient book actually came out and said that pencil fish 'dont really like each other.' Every other book says they school but most species dont...at least not in the numbers normally kept in the hobby. They all pick their own corners/places and steer clear of each other.
Just an example.
And in all the books I've ever read, only Innes' ancient book actually came out and said that pencil fish 'dont really like each other.' Every other book says they school but most species dont...at least not in the numbers normally kept in the hobby. They all pick their own corners/places and steer clear of each other.
Just an example.
Oh okay, interesting. I bought the book to supplement the info I was finding online. It's kind of hard to search the forums and figure out if a fish is great for this tank size, and I figure a fish might have a great personality in a larger tank and do well.... but that doesn't mean it will in a 20L. Perhaps I should post a topic that is specifically about the fish type in question, so the name is in the subject and everything.
So, from your experience you think 1 bolivian would do well in my tank? And the bottom level wouldn't be too crowded?
So, from your experience you think 1 bolivian would do well in my tank? And the bottom level wouldn't be too crowded?
I really like the panda cory, but my hubby really wanted to do some dwarf baby tears as a ground cover over atleast some of the tank. I'm guessing any cory would rather sand/round gravel than ground cover, and possibly tear it up. So many moving parts to this equation, considering that baby tears may not even GROW in our tank.
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Dont worry about ground cover and cories. They'll love to go thru all of it looking for food. And I dont remember which one dwarf baby tears is, but it may be a high light plant. Either way, it would take some time to take over the entire bottom of the tank. You should ask about it in the plant section.
And sure, why not post about keeping individual fish, like the pearls? You'd probably get a variety of answers and a variety of conditions.
And sure, why not post about keeping individual fish, like the pearls? You'd probably get a variety of answers and a variety of conditions.
So, from your experience you think 1 bolivian would do well in my tank? And the bottom level wouldn't be too crowded?
Definitely not too crowded on the bottom and yeah. Esp a single Bolivian. Maybe others could say if a pair would remain peaceful.
