Stock a 20 gallon tank

Nameless · Senior Member Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 958

So what can I put with these things so that they are not in conflict with anything? Maybe I should just give up with wanting one!

Nameless · Senior Member Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 958

Now, I am now going to change the setup cause I don't think all the fish will look good in it. Now the tank is decorated white a fine white gravel thing, with white, beige and blue decorations. So now the setup is: about 3 male guppies, 3 ghost shrimp, 3 pygmy cories, 5 neon tetras and 1 dwarf gourami.

Is this alright? Or should I add or take away some?
Can I have 1 sparkling gourami.

Thank you!

Trickster · Member Joined: 05 Apr 2005 Posts: 309 Location: My Chair

Gouramis act kind of like oscars, they dont do well in pairs cuz then the weaker one gets picked on, u need groups of 5 or high if u wana keep more then 1 gourami. I think ur tank sounds good, nice set up, maybe add a molly or something,

In my 20 gal i got:
well just read my signature.
(In mine i am at maximum stock)

Nameless · Senior Member Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 958

I just added the sparkling gourami because I want to add more fish, but I don't know which kingd, and secondly I don't know if I would like the dwarf gourami cause they don't seem to have as much individualism or any very distinct personality as people say, I could be wrong, I have not owned one yet, but they seem that way in the pet store.

sakura.seppun · Posted: Mon May 30, 2005 2:40 am Post subject:

I have two Dwarf Gouramis, both male, and they both must be next to each other at all times, they've also befriended my newt. I know this sounds crazy but I swear I've seen the newt riding on one of their backs. They're very active. I enjoy them alot and would recommend them.

Nameless · Senior Member Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 958

Alright, I am going to change my stocking again. This time I am going to do it with a combination of species and different colors. I thing for sure is that I am going to have neon tetras, next, I am going to have some pygmy cories, then I am going to have s mix of mollies, platies and guppies, then I am going to have about 3 or 4 ghost shrimp and then I am going to have either a sparkling, dwarf, gold or blue gourami or I am going to have an angel in there. So how does that sound, hopefully that will not cause the tank to seem washed out due to the choice of the white substrate. I choose to have some white mollies to blend with the substrate and then some black mollies to to even it all out then some blue guppies to go with the blue shells and some really bright sunset platies cause they are really brightly colored. However, I don't know how I am going to work this all out. I am thinking the following:

3 neon tetras
3 ghost shrimp
3 pygmy cories
1 black molly
1 white molly or platy
1 ballon molly
2 sunset platies
2 neon blue or something with blue male guppies
1 angel or gourami

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

Your previous stocking list sounded better. I would stick with the dwarf gourami because it won't get as big. That will be easier on the bioload and they will be less likely/able to hurt the smaller fish like the pygmy cories. I think an angel would be too much with all the other fish. And 3 is okay for neons, but more would be better.

If it were me, I'd go with:

5 neons
1 dwarf gourami
3 or 4 ghost shrimp (I don't think they add much bioload)
3 or 4 pygmy cories
4 or 5 of some combo of mollies/platies/guppies

I have white sand in two of my tanks and I don't think it makes any of my fish look washed out. Give me a minute and I'll see if I can post some pics of my pygmy cories, dwarf gourami, and neons.

-Chelle

Nameless · Senior Member Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 958

K, what if I chose to get only 3 neons, 3 cories, and 3 ghost shrimp, could I then add one more molly, platy or guppy? My first list was alright, but I wanted to add more fish and more color to make my tank look better. Also, could I still have to blue gourami, since I am not too fond of the dwarf gouramis.

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3436

You're going to have to cut out a few other fish and really watch for aggression if you go with the blue gourami. They get 6" vs the 2" of the dwarf gourami.

-Chelle

Nameless · Senior Member Joined: 04 Jun 2004 Posts: 958

Or what I can do I guess is buy both and try to see if the blue gourami gets along well with the other fish and if he does, I just have to worry about maintaining my bioload. If not then I will just put him in the tank with my senegal bichir and put the dwarf there.