I'd like some fish recommendations too

[emmaS]

Hi,

I have two tanks (one empty) and would like some fish recommendations. I have gone to 3 LFS to look but have not yet bought any fish. One of the tanks still needs to cycle so that may change the fish recommendation. Okay so here's the info:

20 Gallon--Inside are currently :
4 tetra (1 neon, 2 harlequins, one unsure, kinda reddish w/ black end mark--my sis told me but I couldn't remember)
1 pleco (fairly big about 6-7 inches in length)
I want to add:
4 more tetra
2 female betta

Could I add an angelfish with the betta? I don't want an aggresive fish to the tetra--that's why I'm opting for female betta. Any other fish suggestions? Btw, I like pretty fish. I think tetras, especially neon and white skirts are pretty. I think the male bettas are prettier than females but my LFS told me not to put a male betta in w/ tetra.

Okay now the 29 gallon (no fish in it--have to cycle)
What kind of fish could I use to cycle? My sis told me feeder fish that I could return to the store, but I'd like to keep the fish w/ the tank. Can I use tetras? Preferably the neon, cardinal, or white skirt kind? I also know eventually I want a pleco. After the fish are cycled, what fish should I add?

 

[coupedefleur]

A nice alternative to angelfish: Pearl Gouramis! They are very beautiful, especially when they mature, and they glide around the tank like angels. They are interesting to watch, and they watch you just like angelfish do.

On the plus side, their mouths are smaller and they're less likely to chow down on smaller tetras or livebearers. They have a special labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe some air, so they use less o2 from the tank than an angel of a similar size. Like angels, you don't want to put them in with nippy fish that will bite their ventral fins.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_gourami
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabantids1/a/pearlgourami.htm

Neons or cardinals don't work well to cycle a tank. Unless you have a very large tank and very few fish and know what you're doing.

Instead of a pleco, you will want an Ancistrus- "bristlenose pleco" or ottos. They don't get as huge. If you're not getting fish that would eat them, ottos are a really good choice as well.

There are lots of pretty fish around, though some fish look a lot better when they're happy. There are a lot of fish that lose their color in a dealer's tank or in a bag at a fish auction, but are spectacular when you get them home and established. And there are some fish that look really snazzy when they're young, but wash out and lose all their markings as they mature.

The type of behaviour that a fish has can also be a big part of the enjoyment of keeping fish, and you don't always think of that until you've been in the hobby for a while. Even though corydoras aren't colorful, a large number of us will tell you that nothing beats watching a happy group of 6 to 8 of them going around a tank!

For the 29 gallon, you might want to look into getting a different type of fish rather than the same sort you have in the 20 gallon.

 

[Marinemom]

Well, for the 20 gallon, is it completely cycled? I think by reading what you wrote that it is. I would increase the number of neons and rasboras so they have a proper school since they are both schooling fish and they will be much happier schooling with thier own kind. What kind of pleco is in this tank? Is it a common pleco? If it is you need to get him out of there because that tank is way too small for him and he wil grow very fast. Instead I would recommend a bristlenose pleco. They max out at 4-5 inches and are very peaceful fish. They will not bother any of your other fish. Or you could try 2-3 otos. They like to be in groups so I would recommend no less then three of them. However they can be sensitive to water conditions. They stay in the 1-2 inch range. Personally I would not add an angelfish with a betta. They are likely to fight or you might have the betta nipping at the fins of the angelfish.

For the 29, it is not much bigger than the 20 so the same goes with the pleco. I would recommend the bristlenose pleco. As far as thre fish go, I would not use neons or cardinals to cycle a tank. They are not hardy enough and will most likely die from the cycling process. You might want to consider a fishless cycle or if you want to use fish then use fish that are hardier then the neons and the cardinals. Danios are a great choice for this. They are active and fun to watch and as they mature then thier colors really start to come out. As with all fish if they are happy then they will display thier colors very well.

Marinemom