Stocking questions

[Quim]

I have a 20 gallon and I'm cycling it now. I have been looking for some different fish to put in. I think I was 5 panda cories, 5 dwarf rainbow fish, a dwarf gourami and a mystery snail. I've read they should all co-exists, but I'd like to hear from real people with experience with these fish. So would this work? If not, any other different fish I could get?

 

[cgthebeast]

I would get a smaller schooling fish, neons or flame tetras. Other then that, your good.

 

[Quim]

A smaller schooling fish instead of the rainbow fish, or in addition to the rainbows?

 

[NYgiantsRP]

I wouldn't put the rainbows in a 20g, they are very active swimmers are a little to large. Maybe 6 harlequin rasboras, or 10 galaxy rasboras.

 

[cgthebeast]

Instead

 

[Fishperson]

I wouldn't put the rainbows in a 20g, they are very active swimmers are a little to large. Maybe 6 harlequin rasboras, or 10 galaxy rasboras.

Galaxy rasboras are not rasboras. They are actually called celestial pearl danios, or CPDs.

 

[azmodan]

Rummynose, lemon, cardinal, and glowlight tetras are all nice alternatives.

 

[NinjaNomad196]

Maybe start a betta sorority with AFDs and pygmy cories?

 

[Quim]

Okay I've done a little more research. How about the 5 panda Cory's, 5 zebra danios, 1 or 2 dwarf gourami's and 3 platys? Too much?

 

[cgthebeast]

1 dwarf gourami and I think you would be good as long
as you had plenty of fiiltration

 

[NYgiantsRP]

Galaxy rasboras are not rasboras. They are actually called celestial pearl danios, or CPDs.

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner! Just giving them the common name for research purposes.

 

[NYgiantsRP]

Okay I've done a little more research. How about the 5 panda Cory's, 5 zebra danios, 1 or 2 dwarf gourami's and 3 platys? Too much?

Definitely only 1 dwarf gourami. And maybe only 2 platy. They have very high bioloads for a small fish.

 

[Quim]

Ok 1 gourami, and 2 platy. Both male or female platys? Which sex is more active and social?

 

[Galligak]

Ok 1 gourami, and 2 platy. Both male or female platys? Which sex is more active and social?

1 gourami- Great!
2 Platy- All good: just get the same sex, it doesn't matter which one, unless you want a load of platy fry Just a tiny warning these poop a lot, so be prepared to clean the bottom of the tank a lot, or at least I had to! Not saying that their overall fun-ness doesn't make up for their bio-load, because it does.

You can add some fish for the bottom of the tank as well: your could do pygmy/dwarf corydoras, or maybe just some ghost shrimp. I think if you added something to the bottom you could have something at all levels!

 

[Quim]

I was planning on 5 panda Cory's for the bottom along with a mystery snail.

 

[Galligak]

That's good then. Also, the pandas may grow too big for your tank, just a FYI I like to keep them in 20g+ tanks, although a 10 might work.

 

[Quim]

I've read pandas grow to be 2", so everything I've read says for me not to get a fish bigger than 4 to 5". I have a 20 gallon tall.