20 Gallon Stocking Ideas

[astronomicallee123]

I am getting a new tank on Saturday and would like to see some ideas for some good stocking. I'm open to anything!

 

[azmodan]

Hi!

First off, do you plan to get a 20 gal long or 20 gal high? Because the long has a slightly longer footprint it will allow for a little more stocking possibility so try to get one of those if you can. A typical 20 gallon community tank would look something like this:

6-8 schooling fish
6-8 schooling fish
1-2 centerpieces, depending on the fish
~ invertebrates

Obviously you can be quite flexible with this basic example depending on the actual fish, such as:

10 neon tetra
5 panda cories
1 dwarf/honey gourami
1-2 peacock gudgeons

or

6 marble hatchetfish
10 rummynose tetra
1 German blue ram
1 honey gourami


Some good schooling fish for that size tank include neon, cardinal, rummynose, lemon, and glowlight tetra, as well as harlequin rasboras, marble hatchetfish, and a few of the more peaceful barbs (cherry, 5-banded, checker, etc). Cories are shoalers that will tend to stay a bit lower, but you want to make sure you target smaller types like panda, pygmy, and julii. Some good centerpiece fish are dwarf and honey gourami, German or Bolivian rams, and even other dwarf SA cichlids like apistogramma. Fun little invertebrates you could add to your tank include nerite and assassin snails and amano shrimp.

Finally, please note that some of these suggestions are made based on the idea that these fish will be properly researched. This is important because all fish for the most part require specific conditions or requirements, such as marble hatchetfish needing a tight lid on the tank or German blue rams needing a "mature" tank. Let us know what you're considering and don't forget to cycle the tank!

 

[astronomicallee123]

I know all about the cycling! I do have 3 other tanks but I just wanted some feedback! I like those ideas a lot. I love gouramis. They are some interesting fish. I have some albino Cory's, but I would love some pandas. I actually had that in mind so thanks on that. I am getting a 20 high unfortunately but it's a local pick up off of Craigslist. Only 20$ and no problems so I'm lucky I suppose.

 

[azmodan]

Cool, no offense meant. We just like to spread the good word of cycling to anyone who might not know here at AA!

Another idea that's completely different is that you could do a heavily planted dwarf puffer tank. You could probably do 3-4 DPs in a 20 gallon tall.

 

[astronomicallee123]

Oh none taken! I just wanted ideas!

 

[astronomicallee123]

As in figure eights?

 

[Scottyhorse]

Dwarf Indian Pea Puffers.
Other ideas could be:

1 fancy gold fish

female betta sorority

you could do brackish and do a few mollies or fiddler crabs?

Might be boring, just wanting to throw a few ideas out there!

 

[azmodan]

As in freshwater dwarf puffers.

My Dwarf Puffers - YouTube

Fully freshwater, max size about an inch.

More info ---> Dwarf Puffers : Home

 

[astronomicallee123]

I am seriously considering puffers. I've wanted them for months anyway. So cute