Fish for a 20g

[flitabout]

I am getting my son a tank for Christmas. I am trying to figure out what would be good starter fish for him. Cories are out he likes them about as much as I do, which is not at all. So I am trying to get ideas for him. He is kind of leaning toward aggressive. Which I know isn't any easy way to go with a tank that small. So basically I am just hoping you guys can throw me some ideas of fish that would be good in a tank that size.

 

[Brilliant_Barbs_21]

I am getting my son a tank for Christmas. I am trying to figure out what would be good starter fish for him. Cories are out he likes them about as much as I do, which is not at all. So I am trying to get ideas for him. He is kind of leaning toward aggressive. Which I know isn't any easy way to go with a tank that small. So basically I am just hoping you guys can throw me some ideas of fish that would be good in a tank that size.

A small school of tiger barbs works. Also a dwarf gourami. Choices are limited in a 20. Why don't you like cories!? Haha I'm addicted! then some mystery snails for a cuc. Definitely go with good lighting and make it a planted tank. IMO, no tank is complete without driftwood and live plants.

 

[flitabout]

Yep it will be a dirted heavily planted tank. As far as the cories go while their antics are cute I don't really care for for their looks.

 

[flitabout]

He loves the dwarf flame! Can I do those with barbs?

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

By the way a 20 long gives you more options than a 20 tall here's why I would put
1 dwarf gourami
1 Bolivian or blue ram
4 kuhli loaches
5 neon tetras/ glow light tetras
1 apple snail

 

[Fishman007]

Maybe go for 4-5 t-barbs,1 dg of your choice and sure flame will work, also you could get some oto cats and you will be stocked

 

[Evo8]

Tiger barbs are great fish..really active, and school well..I would put around 5 in and maybe a pair of gouramis? Stay away from neons with the tiger barbs they won't last long..also you could put a few shrimp in the bottom..cherry or bamboo are really nice and also make for a good clean up crew! Make sure you get a sucker fish too they're helpful with maintenance as well

 

[Brilliant_Barbs_21]

Tiger barbs are great fish..really active, and school well..I would put around 5 in and maybe a pair of gouramis? Stay away from neons with the tiger barbs they won't last long..also you could put a few shrimp in the bottom..cherry or bamboo are really nice and also make for a good clean up crew! Make sure you get a sucker fish too they're helpful with maintenance as well

Cherries won't last with tiger barbs. Bamboos might. Try bigger shrimp species if you go with shrimp.

 

[Evo8]

I had 12 barbs with about a dozen Cherry's in my tank at one point..never even bothered with them..I guess its just hit or miss..them again my tank is 3x the size so there's plenty of more space!

 

[Fishman007]

By the way a 20 long gives you more options than a 20 tall here's why I would put
1 dwarf gourami
1 Bolivian or blue ram
4 kuhli loaches
5 neon tetras/ glow light tetras
1 apple snail

I wouldnt do that. Kuhlis need a 20g minimum in my mind, neons need more room aswell, any type of ram would not be good with a dg, as i said 4-5 t-barbs, a couple oto cats, and the dg. A couple apple snails aswell

 

[flitabout]

By the way a 20 long gives you more options than a 20 tall here's why I would put
1 dwarf gourami
1 Bolivian or blue ram
4 kuhli loaches
5 neon tetras/ glow light tetras
1 apple snail

He loves your idea so it looks like that is what we are going to go with!

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

I wouldnt do that. Kuhlis need a 20g minimum in my mind, neons need more room aswell, any type of ram would not be good with a dg, as i said 4-5 t-barbs, a couple oto cats, and the dg. A couple apple snails aswell

Actually, neons need a minimum of 10 gallons, I don't even like that rule, but a 20 gallon LONG is excellent for both neons and kuhli loaches

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

He loves your idea so it looks like that is what we are going to go with!

Good to hear it! Those are some of my favorite fish so it will look good, just some warnings
1: make sure your tank is at the very least 5 months old when you get your ram, and add it last, they are very sensitive to parameters so wait until your tank is a bit stable
2 neons can be a bit challenging to keep alive, out of the 15 I bought in total, only one made it and it died when I made the transition from my 29 to my 55
3: add your kuhlis all at the same time, you risk less because they like to be in groups

 

[Goldfish loach boy]

Oh, and one more thing, you need to make sure you get a 20 LONG( 30"l by 12"w by 12" height and not a 20 high, if you get a 20 high it will mean no kuhlis and no ram, many people will say you can keep a ram in a 20 tall, but IME they will feel the lack of space and swim up to attack tank mated

 

[Bichir Bro]

EDIT: disregard this...

 

[Fishman007]

Oops i thought he had a ten gallon! Well yes kuhlis are fine and neons are good too.

 

[Fishman007]

Good to hear it! Those are some of my favorite fish so it will look good, just some warnings
1: make sure your tank is at the very least 5 months old when you get your ram, and add it last, they are very sensitive to parameters so wait until your tank is a bit stable
2 neons can be a bit challenging to keep alive, out of the 15 I bought in total, only one made it and it died when I made the transition from my 29 to my 55
3: add your kuhlis all at the same time, you risk less because they like to be in groups

It depends on the individual ram. My GBRs were in my tank after only 2 weeks of cycleing and they are still here and breeding like mad!

 

[Fishman007]

EDIT: disregard this...

What? You mean what loach boy just said? If so than do not disregard it... That is the best way to go and kuhlis and rams need atleast 30inch long tank to claim there territory.

 

[Brilliant_Barbs_21]

What? You mean what loach boy just said? If so than do not disregard it... That is the best way to go and kuhlis and rams need atleast 30inch long tank to claim there territory.

No I believe he didn't mean to reply to this thread so he edited it and wrote that

 

[Fishman007]

No I believe he didn't mean to reply to this thread so he edited it and wrote that

Oh lol. Sorry bichir!