Suggestions for my 20gal. tank.

SimonWoodstock

SimonWoodstock

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Sep 14, 2003
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Hey, I have a 20gal tank setup that I have some guppies and a betta in that has cycled and I was thinking about setting it up as a carnivorous tank. I plan on moving the fish that are in it now to some 10gal tanks. I'm looking for suggestions on fish that won't grow too large for a 20gal. but will get large enough to eat feeder guppies and such, and also maybe some alge eating and maybe an odd fish to add a little character (banjo cat or a kuhli loach) to it. I am considering looking for some smaller cichlids or perhaps gouramies...maybe a pair of leopard puffers?(do they get too large). ...I have a friend with a 55gal. with a pair of oscars and enjoy watching them chase feeder fish around, that is why I am considering this.

If a 20gal. is too small for a tank like that, i could use some suggestions of some fish i could put in it, that would get along of course, along with a unique one or too....I really like the banjo cat.

I am not a newbie to this hobby, but I have been out of it for 2 years, and all I had before were guppies, tetras and glass cats.

p.s. If a pic of my setup would be of any help, I can take one and email it to you.
 
There are some smaller predators that would do well in a 20. The leaf fish comes immediately to mind--they look like floating leaves, and drift among floating plants, waiting for a fish to chomp. A pair would be about the max, and since they tend to avoid the bottom of the tank, either some kuhli loaches or cories should be suitable. However--kuhli's are not algae eaters, and will need regular feeding with a suitable sinking omnivore food.

Another interesting option would be the african butterfly fish, which also lurks amongst floating plants. They are amazing predators, and stay around 4-5 inches. A closely covered tank is imperative with these fish, as they are amazing jumpers.

Leopard puffers will get too large for more than a single fish in the 20, and they will not play well with others. Plus, they need to be fed a variety of shelled foods, like snails, to keep their beak from overgrowing. Leopard is not really a specific species of puffer, but rather a common name assigned to any spotted puffer, so you'd need to verify species as well to avoid purchasing a fish that requires brackish to marine conditions.

However, keep in mind that a diet of nothing but feeders is not ideal. Feeder fish are seldom able to provide adequate nutrition--even for oscars, they should be used only as a treat.

For algae, if needed, I would go with a single bristlenose.
 
My Calvus /Orange Compressicepts was full grown and only 5", semi-aggressive cichlid that loved guppies. He survived my first 10g by himself, and didn't require a lot of swim room (but does require having his own cave). Plays well with others (so long as they don't try to get in his cave :D ). Beautiful fish to boot.

Pretty much any fish, when hungry enough, with a mouth large enough will eat almost any fish small enough to fit in it.
 
Do carnivorous fish present a problem when it is time to vacuum the gravel on the bottom or do any cleaning like that? I have a 20 gallon as well that I was thinking about putting some cichlids in. Would they bite me or anything if I had my arm in the tank cleaning it?
 
Many fish are bold and curious, and will check out your arms and hands as you work in the tank. For most, this is not a problem. Bigger fish, including many cichlids, will nibble and bite, and can break the skin. Oscars are notorious for biting fingers, as are true FW eels, like the American swamp eel. Some fish that could do some damage feel threatened, and will attack, but most just nudge you around and nibble the hairs. For some fish, using a net to chase them off, or a temporary divider to keep them confined is good.

Certainly not a big enough threat to stop anyone from getting a specific fish though--and much less a threat than some SW species that are poisionous, like lions. Being aware of what the fish is capable of, and prone to doing, takes a few experiments. My dwarf puffers are a pain during cleaning--they watch every move from about 1 inch away, and have been vacuumed up more than once.
 
Thanks alot, I will keep on the look out and read more about those fish. Do you know if any of the 3 fish mentioned will get along with a betta? or should I move him out with the others?

Also, should I rule out Gouramies?

All comments were helpfull, and any new ones will also be appriciated. Thanks again.
 
A betta will be too large for either a leaf fish or african butterfly to eat, and they will probably ignore him. The cichlid shouldn't be trusted--might not eat him, but will likely nip fins and harass a betta. A betta will eat guppy fry as well, if it can catch them.

Gouramies will be similar, and the dwarf gouramies might be small enough to be a snack. Mixing gouramies and betta is not a good plan--they tend to fight.
 
Leaf Fish

I'm considering the leaf fish now, but from what I've read they are "Exclusively a fish-eater, eating almost its own weight in food per day".

I will have a tank setup with guppies and can buy some feeder fish from the LFS when needed, but are there no dry foods that they will accept also? I don't want to be in the situation where I have nothing to feed them and anything happen to them from it.

Should I make a new post so I can see if I can find someone who has Leaf Fish to find answers?

I am new to Aquaria Central, I'm not trying to see how long I can make this one post go..sorry
 
You can train them to eat frozen formula, but it takes some patience. Most people do this by introducing the prepared food at the same time as the feeder, so this fish learns to identify this new stuff as food. It takes a while, but can certainly be done, and I recommend it for all predators--much easier to meet their nutritional needs if they will take a variety of foods. Also, very few predators need to be fed every day once they are adults--a few fish every other day or third will be plenty.
 
Cool! Now I to see if my LFS can get them for me. Thanks alot, you've been a great help. When and if I get everything going I will put a picture of it on here to show how it turned out.
 
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