What fish can I get?

[fishkeeper123]

I have 8 leopard danios, 2 panda garras, in a 75l tank. I want to add a bristlenose pleco, and some more community fish. What can I add and how full is my aquarium?

 

[Andy Sager]

I'd add a smaller variety of pleco ( under 13 cm) and it will depend on what other community fish you are interested in as the tank is not all that large. If you are looking for an algae eater, you may want to consider Otocinclus instead of a pleco as they will remain small and may be more compatible with the Garras.

 

[fishkeeper123]

I'd add a smaller variety of pleco ( under 13 cm) and it will depend on what other community fish you are interested in as the tank is not all that large. If you are looking for an algae eater, you may want to consider Otocinclus instead of a pleco as they will remain small and may be more compatible with the Garras

What kind of pleco grows to under 13cm? From what I have read it says that bristlenoses normally grow to around 10cm. I’m not sure on what community fish to get, i like the idea of platys or rasboras would they work?

 

[Andy Sager]

What kind of pleco grows to under 13cm? From what I have read it says that bristlenoses normally grow to around 10cm. I’m not sure on what community fish to get, i like the idea of platys or rasboras would they work?

There are a few plecos that fit this. Clown Plecos ( there are 3 varieties of these) are good but they need natural wood in their diet so unless you have or add some wood, not a good choice. Dwarf Snowball Pleco ( L471 ) and the L201 Snowball stay under 13 cm. and don't need wood as food. Bristlenose can get over 15 cm so they will depend on what the dimensions ( length and width) of your tank is. The L444 rubbernose pleco get to about 13 cm max. Just make sure you get that one and not some of the other types of rubbernose that get larger. So you do have some choices.

For the fish, Platies would be fine but I'd get only male platies so that you don't get overpopulated with fry. There are multiple varieties of Rasboras. They can range from microrasboras to the larger porthole rasboras that can reach 13 cm. Again, the dimensions of your tank will help determine which varieties of rasboras would be appropriate for your tank.

 

[fishkeeper123]

There are a few plecos that fit this. Clown Plecos ( there are 3 varieties of these) are good but they need natural wood in their diet so unless you have or add some wood, not a good choice. Dwarf Snowball Pleco ( L471 ) and the L201 Snowball stay under 13 cm. and don't need wood as food. Bristlenose can get over 15 cm so they will depend on what the dimensions ( length and width) of your tank is. The L444 rubbernose pleco get to about 13 cm max. Just make sure you get that one and not some of the other types of rubbernose that get larger. So you do have some choices.

For the fish, Platies would be fine but I'd get only male platies so that you don't get overpopulated with fry. There are multiple varieties of Rasboras. They can range from microrasboras to the larger porthole rasboras that can reach 13 cm. Again, the dimensions of your tank will help determine which varieties of rasboras would be appropriate for your tank.

The tank is 24 inch wide, depth 12 inch, height 15 inch(only 3/4 full).

 

[Andy Sager]

The tank is 24 inch wide, depth 12 inch, height 15 inch(only 3/4 full).

That's the issue. You have the equivalent of a 20 high so there really isn't a lot of swimming room left to right/ right to left. You have a good tank to have top fish, middle fish and bottom fish that can stay out of each other's way but not really larger swimming fish. That means you want to stay with smaller Rasboras ( i.e lamb chop, Green Kubutai, rummynose) and not the larger varieties and a smaller pleco. IMO, the bristlenose should not be one of the choices unless you get a smaller one and have plans to upgrade to a larger longer tank in the future. While the pleco may not get long, they get wide and will take up space in the aquarium. (I tried to find an old pic of my Long fin Albino Bristlnose pleco breeders to show you how large they looked in a 20 gallon long but I can't find the picture. )
There are some other fish that you may like such as Hatchetfish ( top swimmers and you need a lid on the tank because they can jump), Cardinal Tetras, Glo-lite Tetras, Head & Tail Lite Tetras, Black Neons, Exclamation point Rasboras, Male Guppies ( if you don't get Tetras ) Female Bettas ( use females instead of a single male)....the list is long. I'd see what your favorite fish store has and if you ask if they would fit into your tank and fish collection, just remind them of the tank dimensions more than the gallons/ liters because not all fish that can live in a 20 Long can live well in a 20 high.

 

[fishkeeper123]

I’ll take your advice on board. Would my long tailed leopard danios(long fin) work with longer finned fish like bettas, guppies or swordtails?

 

[fishkeeper123]

That's the issue. You have the equivalent of a 20 high so there really isn't a lot of swimming room left to right/ right to left. You have a good tank to have top fish, middle fish and bottom fish that can stay out of each other's way but not really larger swimming fish. That means you want to stay with smaller Rasboras ( i.e lamb chop, Green Kubutai, rummynose) and not the larger varieties and a smaller pleco. IMO, the bristlenose should not be one of the choices unless you get a smaller one and have plans to upgrade to a larger longer tank in the future. While the pleco may not get long, they get wide and will take up space in the aquarium. (I tried to find an old pic of my Long fin Albino Bristlnose pleco breeders to show you how large they looked in a 20 gallon long but I can't find the picture. )
There are some other fish that you may like such as Hatchetfish ( top swimmers and you need a lid on the tank because they can jump), Cardinal Tetras, Glo-lite Tetras, Head & Tail Lite Tetras, Black Neons, Exclamation point Rasboras, Male Guppies ( if you don't get Tetras ) Female Bettas ( use females instead of a single male)....the list is long. I'd see what your favorite fish store has and if you ask if they would fit into your tank and fish collection, just remind them of the tank dimensions more than the gallons/ liters because not all fish that can live in a 20 Long can live well in a 20 high.

If I did get a bristlenose how long would it take to outgrow the tank? And if it stayed at under 13cm would I still need to change tank?

 

[Andy Sager]

If I did get a bristlenose how long would it take to outgrow the tank? And if it stayed at under 13cm would I still need to change tank?

They tend to be slow growers but there are a lot of factors that can alter their growth rate so it's hard to say how long you would have. My small ones doubled in size in about 6 months but they were in grow out tanks for other fish so there was a lot a space and a lot of food for them to eat. (I actually had 3 babies in a swordtail grow out tank and about 8 months in, I went to clean the box filter and there were pleco eggs under a rock in the tank. ) Too little food and the fish will grow slower but that's not really healthy for the fish.

As for your danios, they will get along with the fish you mentioned as well as the ones I mentioned. I will say that swordtails in a tank that short is not the best. They need swimming space. For colors, I'd go with Platies as they are in the same family as swords and are a little more compact in size so you get color without the size issue. You get males so that you don't have fry issues because like any livebearer, they will overpopulate a tank rather quickly.

 

[fishkeeper123]

I think I’m going to go for a bristlenose pleco and if/when it outgrows the tank I’ll expand to maybe a 200l and I’ll get some platies. My tank is currently unheated and I am planning only on changing to heated tank when adding the new fish. Would this work as I know platies need an already cycled tank but it would be fully cycled(for a unheated tank) or would I need to heat the tank to the temperature a few weeks before so it’s cycled before I add them? And what temperature would be the best?

 

[Andy Sager]

I think I’m going to go for a bristlenose pleco and if/when it outgrows the tank I’ll expand to maybe a 200l and I’ll get some platies. My tank is currently unheated and I am planning only on changing to heated tank when adding the new fish. Would this work as I know platies need an already cycled tank but it would be fully cycled(for a unheated tank) or would I need to heat the tank to the temperature a few weeks before so it’s cycled before I add them? And what temperature would be the best?

You have me a little confused. Cycling a tank means you are establishing a microbe bed ( a.k.a. Biological filter bed) to convert ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate. The only part temperature plays in this process is the length of time it takes the bed to establish. Your pH will have more effect in the filter bed than the temperature will. Ideal pH range is 7.3 and 8.0. Below 7.3 or above 8.0 will slow down the cycling process. A pH under 6.0 will stop the whole process. Ideal temps are 25-30 C. Below 25 will only slow down the growth of the bed and above 30 can do the same because it's stressing the microbes. So IF your unheated tank falls between 25-30 C, there is no need to heat the tank to cycle the tank.
For the platies, they can handle a temperature between 25 -30 C so if your tank is even 27C without the heater, you don't need one for the Platies. Just acclimate them slowly if they are coming from warmer water. ( They should really go into a quarantine tank before the main tank anyway. )

So here we are with this question: Has your tank completed the cycling process ( Ammonia went up then down, Nitrite went up then down and nitrates are rising.) with the fish you already have? If not, I would wait until it has before add any new fish. Plecos are not good fish for uncycled tanks because the ammonia in the water is heavier than the water so you could be creating a layer of ammonia filled water at the bottom where the Pleco will be causing issues for the pleco. So let's go from here.

 

[fishkeeper123]

I bought my tank, filter and set up second hand. I assumed that it the tank would have already been cycled as no proper spikes( I have only seen a very small amount of nitrite levels.) My tank is normally at 22 degrees( but when I add the bristlenose and platies I’ll add the heater) but struggling to find a temperature would work the best with danios( as they like colder waters) and the other fish, any recommendations on what the best temperature would be to set the tank at?

 

[Aiken Drum]

Leopard danios are just a captive bred colour varient of zebra danios. I keep zebra danios in tropical aquariums just fine. They are generally at 24 or 25c, and in the summer can be 26c or higher.

 

[Andy Sager]

As Aiken explained, the captive raised variants are not as picky about the cooler water their wild counterparts would require so Aiken's numbers should work for all the fish.

 

[fishkeeper123]

That's the issue. You have the equivalent of a 20 high so there really isn't a lot of swimming room left to right/ right to left. You have a good tank to have top fish, middle fish and bottom fish that can stay out of each other's way but not really larger swimming fish. That means you want to stay with smaller Rasboras ( i.e lamb chop, Green Kubutai, rummynose) and not the larger varieties and a smaller pleco. IMO, the bristlenose should not be one of the choices unless you get a smaller one and have plans to upgrade to a larger longer tank in the future. While the pleco may not get long, they get wide and will take up space in the aquarium. (I tried to find an old pic of my Long fin Albino Bristlnose pleco breeders to show you how large they looked in a 20 gallon long but I can't find the picture. )
There are some other fish that you may like such as Hatchetfish ( top swimmers and you need a lid on the tank because they can jump), Cardinal Tetras, Glo-lite Tetras, Head & Tail Lite Tetras, Black Neons, Exclamation point Rasboras, Male Guppies ( if you don't get Tetras ) Female Bettas ( use females instead of a single male)....the list is long. I'd see what your favorite fish store has and if you ask if they would fit into your tank and fish collection, just remind them of the tank dimensions more than the gallons/ liters because not all fish that can live in a 20 Long can live well in a 20 high.

Would a honey gourami work in my fish tank set up instead of platies? And if so how many would I be able to get?

 

[Andy Sager]

Not really. Honey gouramis like calm water and danios like current. The Platies would make a better combination.
A side note on Gouramis: There is a virus ( iridovirus) that was created through the breeding of dwarf gouramis to create the fancy colors that to date has no cure. The last report I saw said it's been found to be inside approx. 30% of the gouramis coming from all Asian farms. This virus is contagious and can infect 100 different species of fish including all anabantids ( Gouramis, Paradisefish, Bettas, etc). Sadly, unless you can get wild caught gouramis, I wouldn't put any gourami in a community tank anymore. IMO, If you wanted them, they should be in a species only tank to reduce potential disasters.

 

[fishkeeper123]

Thanks for the advice, I didn’t know that about gouramis. I definitely won’t get one then.

 

[Andy Sager]

Thanks for the advice, I didn’t know that about gouramis. I definitely won’t get one then.

Sadly, I have removed them from my want list as well due to this. I'm more interested now in the wild caught Chocolates, licorice or Sparkling Gouramis and those definitely are species only fish.

 

[fishkeeper123]

I am going to add the bristlenose pleco soon what is the best way of adding them? I don’t really want to quarantine them as it will be final fish I will add to the tank before I expand. However if it is necessary what is the smallest tank size I would be able to get?

 

[Andy Sager]

I am going to add the bristlenose pleco soon what is the best way of adding them? I don’t really want to quarantine them as it will be final fish I will add to the tank before I expand. However if it is necessary what is the smallest tank size I would be able to get?

Unless you are getting the fish from a trusted home breeder, I would quarantine any new fish, especially a bottom dwelling fish since internal worms are quite common in bottom dwelling fish species. As for the tank size, I would use a 10 gallon tank. Since most medications are designed for 3, 5 or 10 actual gallons of water, I would measure out 5 and 6 gallons of actual water, mark the tank at those levels so that IF you needed to medicate the fish, you just half the dosage for 10 gallons or double the dose for 3 gallons. ( Follow the directions of the medicines to dose properly. )