Single fish for 20 gal long?

[TropicalGirl]

I have an empty 20 gallon long tank that used to house a tropical community. I think I want to set it up, but keep it to one or two fish this time.

Any recommendations? I would rather be understocked than overstocked, and would like just one or if necessary, a pair, tropical or coldwater fish.

I've been considering a GBR or bolivian, some sort of apisto, a keyhole cichlid, or maybe a goldfish (one of the smaller breeds that is good in a 20). Would any of these fish be okay as a single in the tank? Would they be shy alone?

 

[NewToFish1989]

Believe a Parrot Cichlid's minimum tank size is 30 gallons just for one

Blood Parrot Care Sheet | A club for owners of Parrot Cichlids

Maybe even a small school of fish in you're interested in schooling fish.

EDIT: Saw you have a 20 gallon, not 30 gallon XD

 

[Khuligirl93]

Could try an angel or one of the larger gouramis. My angel loved it when she had a tank all to herself

 

[Sauroposeidon]

I was looking into a banded gourami for mine at one point. Beautiful fish.

 

[azmodan]

No goldfish. Pair of rams or apistos would be great, as would a single paradise fish. You could do the dwarf cichlids singly but they might be a bit more shy without dither fish around.

 

[TropicalGirl]

A paradise fish sounds intriguing, any ideas where I could order one? Aquabid doesn't seem to have many...

I was thinking maybe a keyhole cichlid?

 

[Sillyfishies]

4-5 dwarf puffers!

 

[azmodan]

A paradise fish sounds intriguing, any ideas where I could order one? Aquabid doesn't seem to have many... I was thinking maybe a keyhole cichlid?

I've seem paradise fish at my LFSs but as far as online goes liveaquaria probably has them (shipping would be a lot though just for one fish). Never had a keyhole before but if I were to guess I'd say a 20L would likely work fine, particularly if it is by itself. Could be wrong though.

 

[TropicalGirl]

I'm worried about aggression with dwarf puffers, I've heard horror stories of them ripping each other apart...

 

[Fishperson]

Shell dwellers
HUGE nano fish school (Rivercats has an awesome tank sort of like this)
Pair of dwarf cichlids

 

[Rivers2k]

F8 puffer

or

I like demansoni but they are really mean i was thinking a single demansoni would be cool.