20 gallon stocking

[deven]

Hello all!!


I'm looking for stocking advice for a 20 gallon freshwater tank I am currently fishless cycling. I'd like to get 4 black skirt tetras and 2 guppies. Other than that I am wide open except for the following thoughts:

- I'd like to avoid breeding
- I'd like a peaceful tank so prefer to not have too aggressive a species
- I don't want any goldfish

I like the looks of cichlids, but have heard they are quite aggressive. I also like Platy's and Mollies but don't want the babies. Would Cory Catfish work?

What do you recommend and how many of each??

Thanks!!

 

[Cynic]

I'd be hesitant mixing black skirts and guppies in a 20G for fear of fin nipping

 

[Scottyhorse]

Is it a 20 gallon long, or tall? If it's a long, you can add more fish then in a tall.

If you do a 20 long, here is what you can do:
2 Male Guppies
2 Male Platies
6 Black Skirt Tetras (They can be nippy and a little agressive, so you want a larger school)
5 Cory Cat Fish of your choice

or

1 Honey Gourami
6 Black Skirt Tetras
2 Male Guppies
6 Cherry or Gold Barbs
1 Bolivian Ram Cichlid

Tell me what you think and I can give you more options

 

[Fishtankfan]

Don't get serpea tetra if you plan on getting fancy guppies. Mine nip my guppies fins. Makes me feel bad but I can't afford to regime the guppies or the serpae. I'd get a dwarf gourami if I were you. They can be so nice to watch

 

[deven]

This is awesome!! Thanks!! It is a 20 tall. Does that change the recommendation much? Any advice on how to introduce them? I am also going to setup a quarantine tank for the ones not in the initial introduction to the tank.

 

[Scottyhorse]

It doesn't have as much floor space, but you'll probably be okay. Have you looked at hatchet fish? They are pretty cool and stay only at the very top of the tank.

 

[deven]

Any advice on what to feed either of the broods listed above? I have basic Tetra fish flakes, but nothing else right now.