OMG I am so excited!

[lmw80]

Ok, so, after circumstances out of my control...3 years ago, I had to move back home, aftern owning my own apartment for over a year. A year and a half ago is when I got into aquariums. Although my boyfriend and I currently have a 46, 16 and 5 gallon at his house, my parents have only allowed me to have a 10 gallon.

So, here I am, 24 years old...living at my parents house till Daniel and I save enough money for a house. Well...my yearly review at work came up...and it was an amazing review (I may actually become the office manager in 2 years when the current one retires). And, it was like I was in grade school again, and I was being rewarded for a good report card, lol. They told me to keep next months rent and get myself a 20 gallon!!!! WOO-HOO!!!

I am extatic! Ok, so right now I have my 10 gallon slightly overstocked, so this will be good for them. Plus, I can get another small community fish, or another school of tiny tetras. Currently, in my 10 gallon I have, 1 adult blue gourami, a school of 7 neon tetras, 2 corys and a 1 1/2-2" rubber-lipped pleco.

Ok, here is what I know:
I know I want to get another bronze cory...to make it 3 instead of 2. I also know that I want to make the substrate sand. Given that after everything...I will only have room for either one more small community fish, or another school of maybe 5-other-than-neon tetras, I need some ideas.

Any and all suggestions are welcome! I cannot wait!!

 

[oscarbreeder]

Well I really dont have any suggestions but congrats on the great review and getting a new tank.

 

[Endgame319]

Black Phantoms!

 

[smilla4]

Congrats on the review!!

 

[An t-iasg]

Hi Lori,
Wow! Congrats on the great review and I hope you move up to office manager also when the time comes!

I never had a community tank. But I've seen some diamond tetras and they are beautiful. But they are bigger than neons and maybe they are too big for what you're planning.

P.S. How is the betta at work getting along with the remaining ghost shrimp?

 

[lmw80]

Wow, thanks everyone! I have been approved to take community college classes on office management to better prepare me since I am so young to be an offie manager...they will reimburse me for any classes.

The thought did cross my mind...would my parents really know the difference between a 20 and a 29?? I wish there were a 25 gallon....that I could easily pull off...but I have never seen any...anyone else seen them?

Diamond tetras...I will definitly check them out. Black Phantoms...aren't they bigger tetras, or is that the black skirts I am thinking about?

As for the ghost shrimp....ironic you should ask that question today. This morning I came in and I looked at him real quick...fed them..and rushed into my morning meetings. When I came out, the shrimp was still in the same spot....I poked him, and my suspicions were confirmed...he was dead. I took him out to examine him...no limbs missing...both eyes were in place...no bites or chuncks out of him anywhere....weird. And even after he died, Bidget the Betta didn't touch him...

 

[An t-iasg]

Sorry to hear about the ghost shrimp. At least it doesn't seem like the betta did anything to him.

 

[lmw80]

I know....very weird though....

Well, part of my plan for my new tank is to have a sand substrate. I plan on getting maybe 5 ghost shrimp...I hear you can actually see the tunnels the ghost shrimp dig in the sand. Being that the blue gourami is really their only predator, I am hoping the sand will protect them. Ever since I heard about ghost shrimp digging tunnels, I wanted sand substrate.

 

[swanandmokashi]

Sad to hear about the shrimp

 

[Guest]

would my parents really know the difference between a 20 and a 29??

Probably not, but that's certainly up to you if you choose a little fibbing. At 24 they ought to let you get what you want, within reason. A 29 is certainly within reason!

 

[Christmasfish]

The thought did cross my mind...would my parents really know the difference between a 20 and a 29?? I wish there were a 25 gallon....that I could easily pull off...but I have never seen any...anyone else seen them?

Diamond tetras...I will definitly check them out. Black Phantoms...aren't they bigger tetras, or is that the black skirts I am thinking about?

You can do a half fudge..tell them that "long" tanks look different than the regular....(they do) adn then say it is a "long"




Black phantoms are bigger I think....they didn't make the cut for the tetra mix in my future SA tank. Red phantoms are indeed small but high bodied. All but a few of my penguinfish are now 3 inches..but they remained all same sized at about 1 in. And are good tetra for minding their own beeswax.

 

[lreilly]

My betta took the shrimp down whole. I had sand, did not seem to help them. But then they all have their own personalities.

I do not think you parents would know, but I do not know you parents.

 

[TankGirl]

I have black phantoms, and they are fabulous. The males are like black skirts with their "skirts" trimmed off, and females have a bit of red anal fin showing, and smaller. Get more females than makes if you go that route, but their behavior is very enjoyable and I am quite fond of them. They don't get the ragged appearance you often see with the skirted tetras.