Sorry i just read you want suggestions other than corys, you could try otos but they are harder to look after.
The perfect fish only tank setup for starter
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Lupin
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You still have the option to pick 6-8 Pangio kuhlii or Turboschistura arakanensis if you like them.
Just a suggestion: shrimp tend to be fascinating to a kid, and cherry shrimp are easy to keep. When you come back and can quarantine them, African Dwarf frogs are adorable, as long as you are not overstocked at that point, and make great bottom dwellers.
I don't think you have room for a small school of upside-down catfish, but wanted to throw that out there, as they are interesting and hardy, and I could be wrong. There are freshwater gobies, also, the small ones:
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=545
I don't think you have room for a small school of upside-down catfish, but wanted to throw that out there, as they are interesting and hardy, and I could be wrong. There are freshwater gobies, also, the small ones:
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/show_article.php?article_id=545
Hi Lupin, I still need to keep something at the top layer, not just bottom dwellers. With 6 kuhlii i would exhaust the tank limit on fishes cause its only a 20 gal. I could not find any reference on fishbase about Turboschistura arakanensis. Did you misspell it ? Now that the recommendation is not to worry so much about snails, i am not going to keep any burrowers. My idea is to keep a mix of top and bottom dwellers, as i beleive giving good living space for each member reduces tension and diseases. Besides, the bottom dwellers would clean up the left overs at the bottom and help to some degree keep conditions clean in water.
By the way, i did not mean to rule out corys. Panda corys is good suggestion.
I think you should consider something like 3 cories, 7 white cloud mountain minnows (or similar very small schooler as I think that danios need more swimming room) and a betta or kribensis. I would also work with dark stones, a piece of driftwood and a substrate to match the stone, think hardware store slate and a hammer ("crush" the edges with the hammer to round the edges a little).
I wouldn't be afraid of adding a couple java ferns and maybe java moss tied to the rocks and wood either as it will need almost no maintenance and no special lighting while helping to control nitrates and contributing to fish health.
[indeed I am shamelessly endorsing naturally scaped and at LEAST somewhat planted tanks, its simply better for the fish]
I wouldn't be afraid of adding a couple java ferns and maybe java moss tied to the rocks and wood either as it will need almost no maintenance and no special lighting while helping to control nitrates and contributing to fish health.
[indeed I am shamelessly endorsing naturally scaped and at LEAST somewhat planted tanks, its simply better for the fish]
...and on the 8th day, God created snails. In your tank. And ONLY in your tank.
Seriously though, as far as snails go, I think you're being a bit too paranoid. If you purchase new substrate and fake plants, there is no way a snail is getting into your tank aside from you putting one in there. The only wai I could see it happening is if you got some fish, and some snail eggs got scooped into the bag along with the fish, and you dumped all the water into the tank. If you float the bag (or drip acclimate) and then net the fish into your tank, there is pretty much no chance of them being introduced that way.
When you're talking about a tank size like 20 gallons (you never mentioned whether it's Long or High), I don't think you really need to worry so much about top/middle dwelling fish. Anything that's not exclusively a bottom dweller (loaches, cories, etc.) will swim all around your tank. In my 29g I have some Harlequin Rasboras, and they don't necessarily confine themselves to one section. I see them all around my tank, from the bottom to the top.
Seriously though, as far as snails go, I think you're being a bit too paranoid. If you purchase new substrate and fake plants, there is no way a snail is getting into your tank aside from you putting one in there. The only wai I could see it happening is if you got some fish, and some snail eggs got scooped into the bag along with the fish, and you dumped all the water into the tank. If you float the bag (or drip acclimate) and then net the fish into your tank, there is pretty much no chance of them being introduced that way.
When you're talking about a tank size like 20 gallons (you never mentioned whether it's Long or High), I don't think you really need to worry so much about top/middle dwelling fish. Anything that's not exclusively a bottom dweller (loaches, cories, etc.) will swim all around your tank. In my 29g I have some Harlequin Rasboras, and they don't necessarily confine themselves to one section. I see them all around my tank, from the bottom to the top.
Keep in mind,there are some BENEFICIAL snails too. If you look in the fish classifieds,many people SELLthem. :^)
I personally love MTS,they live in the gravel, and clean up the food others dont eat. Their populations only explode if they are overfed. Their presence can actually help the water stay cleaner, longer.
And dont go for a pleco, if you want to avoid unnecessary amounts of waste.
Not sure how old your daughter is, but have you considered a Mickey Mouse platy?
And cherry shrimp are very pretty algae eaters.
I personally love MTS,they live in the gravel, and clean up the food others dont eat. Their populations only explode if they are overfed. Their presence can actually help the water stay cleaner, longer.
And dont go for a pleco, if you want to avoid unnecessary amounts of waste.
Not sure how old your daughter is, but have you considered a Mickey Mouse platy?
And cherry shrimp are very pretty algae eaters.
I agree, cherry shrimp are quite fun. Harlequin rasboras are pretty & hardy, 8 would be good, or whiteclouds. Livebearers are not my favorites but all males would keep them from overpopulating the tank (look for his gonopodium). Platys are hardy & come in lots of colors, maybe 4. This is the stock I'd choose.
If you don't love loaches or corys don't get them. (many of us are bottom feeder nuts)
Zebra danios are too active for a 20g high even a long is a bit tight.
Dwarf gouramis just don't seem healthy enough these days to recommend.
Tetras come in many sizes, nippiness & sturdiness. Be careful & get 6-8 if you get any (rasboras are similar looking & a much better choice IME).
Remember to understock the tank especially since you're not going to be there to help much. Make sure your child understands & can carry out 30% water changes every week (or that an adult will). This & not overfeeding is the best way to ensure a heathy tank.
If you don't love loaches or corys don't get them. (many of us are bottom feeder nuts)
Zebra danios are too active for a 20g high even a long is a bit tight.
Dwarf gouramis just don't seem healthy enough these days to recommend.
Tetras come in many sizes, nippiness & sturdiness. Be careful & get 6-8 if you get any (rasboras are similar looking & a much better choice IME).
Remember to understock the tank especially since you're not going to be there to help much. Make sure your child understands & can carry out 30% water changes every week (or that an adult will). This & not overfeeding is the best way to ensure a heathy tank.
Lupin
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I'm not mistaken with the name. Here it is. The name is still being argued. Someone wanted to rename it as Turboschistura shanensis because they are found in Shanan river system and not the Arakan river system.
