Anyone have some stocking ideas for a twenty gallon tank?

P

PaperThick

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Nov 27, 2002
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It is nearing the end of it's fishless cycle and my parents are starting to get into the fish buying mode. They don't fully understand the limitations of the tank though - and I'm fresh out of cool ways to stock a smaller tank like this.

They don't want Zebra Danios, Neon or Cardinal Tetras, or any Bettas. They would like to have a pair of Dwarf Gouramis though, so any ideas compatible with these fish would be great. Any and all input will be appreciated.

Thanks!
 
Hmmm.... I have had pretty good success with small mixed african cichlids with the bigger gouramis, but I don't think that would go too well, since I'm pretty sure Africans get bigger than dwarves....

I would definitely recommend a cleanup fish like a couple of cory cats (your folks will fall in love with them....), but as far as other fish (besides the ones you mentioned), I am fresh out of ideas. A couple of dwarf gouramis, a couple of cories, maybe a small-type pleco (5" full-grown and slow-growing, like a queen arabesque or something), would be all a tank that size really needs, I would think....

Anyone else have a suggestion? Maybe more than just one pair of gouramis in different color schemes?....

Good question, PT!
 
Thanks for the suggestions thus far.

How about any ideas without a pair of Dwarf Gouramis? Does that broaden the scope of what can be done a bit?
 
Having Dwarf Gouramis doesn't hurt the choice of tankmates... Especially seeing that D Gouramis are open water swimmers and usually leave anything else alone...

What I would suggest however, seeing that they want Dwarf gouramis is:

2 Dwarf Gouramis
4 Kuhli Loaches

Both are farely hardy fish and are good for beginners. Keep us informed, and good luck! ;)

You could even buy some Dwarf Cichlids such as Apistagramma or Kribensis... They're very neat too. Have fun! :D
 
I agree with Panzer on the Khulies =) great fish but make sure to get a group of them. They tend to hide alot under rocks and such in my experience but if you provide enough plants (mine were fake) they will prop themselves in the plants.

I myself am re-stocking my 20G long as well. Currently has 6 Black Khulies (cant find the standard ones around here lately), 3 Cories and a pair of Hillstream loaches. I myself am looking for something else more open water (since stuff I have hugs the bottom or hides ;) and have been considering dwarf gouramis as well but any other suggestions here will be considered as well. Was going to start a thread on it but I'll let this one fly ;)
 
Yo! I am in the same boat!! When I was given my 20 gallon, I was told it was a 29 gallon. So I had the tank for like 6 months before realizing it was a 20 gal. (Made me very made!:mad: ) Anywho, thinking that it was a 29 gal, I was told that I could house to small firemouths; I bought them and they wouldn;t leave each other alone. So I boght a tank divider yesterday. I am thinking about either a pair of julies or maybe a pair of apistos of some sort to restock the tank with. As dither fish, maybe some zebra danios, or maybe a small tetra school of some sort!! I would really like to stick with the swarf or small cichld breeds if possible. (No more kribs!! I have 2 pairs as is!!) Any other ideas will be well noted!! Thanks!!
 
african butterfly cichlid.....
maybe egyption mouth brooder??

both grow no larger that 3"

are very interesting fish...
 
Instead of gouramis, could go with 4 dwarf rainbows. Only get to about 3in max and fairly active middle-top.
 
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