Biscato33

Hello fish hobbyists and aqaurium lovers,

I'm not exactly new to this hobby of fish keeping, but a little advice from more experienced people would be nice. I haven't been online in a while, so I'm still yet to update my aquarium info, but here's my question.

Question: I have a 20 gallon tropical community tank. In stock right now are:
5 Neon Tetras
1 Zebra Danio
3 Oto Cats
I'm quite sure I have more room for fish in my tank so, what should I get? Tell me your fave fish, but keep in mind that the fish have to be compatible with the tank, and the fish. I'm eager to hear your replies, so please throw them at me! I can't wait!

~ Ali

Allie

Your tank is almost stocked. You could get a pair of dwarf cichlids of some kind...if you loose the 1 danio.

Biscato33

Thanks, Allie

I don't know much about dwarf cichlids, could maybe you, or someone else tell me more? Keep the fish coming though, I want to hear lots of variety, looking forward to more suggestions! PLEASE POST!

~ Ali

livetowin

maybe a dwarf gourami but like allie said get rid of the danio

Allie

Kribs are really cute http://cichlidforum.com/profiles/species.php?id=1350
These south american dwarves http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...ory.php?cat=30
or these
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profile...ory.php?cat=29

Biscato33

What do you mean "get rid of the danio" ? I've had him ever since my tank was established. I got him with 2 other zebras, but the other two died. He's doing fine right now, though.
Allie, I really appreaciate your replies. I haven't had much experience with cichlids, would you reccomend anything else?

livetowin

if you dont want to get rid of the danio you could always try platys or guppys

freshwaterguy

Your aquarium is almost fully stocked it has been suggested that you remove (perhaps take Zebra Danio back to LFS) and look at Dwarf Cichlids, I would recommend a bigger aquarium than 20g if purchasing more fish or a second aquarium for Cichlids of which there are a wide variety, Good luck, keep us all posted

Biscato33

Thanks freshwaterguy,

Livetowin, in my expireince with guppies, they breed alot, and I wouldn't have another tank for the fry. I could get males, but like freshwaterguy said, my tank IS almost fully stocked, and male guppies might not fare well together.
The LFS I got my danio is from is quite far away, and it would be quite hard to transport. Do you have any more suggestions about possibly a dwarf gourami? I was looking at them, and saw they were very beautiful. I've done some research on them, and they apparently are quite easy to care for.
I don't think I really would want to get another tank at this moment, starting the fish hobby and all. Cichlids just don't click into my mind. Anyways, I'm really learning, please keep the replies coming, and I'll keep you posted!

THANKS!

~ Ali

Amanda

OR you could add another danio. Although everyone seems to be set on getting rid of that poor danio, lol.

Biscato33

Hey,

Thanks for replying, Amanda! The danios were great when they were in a group,but now I'm not really set on buying them again. I only got them because they were the only fish I'd ever had when I didn't know anything about aquarium chemistry, and all those good things, so I went to my LFS, and got the fish I knew about when I started the serious but fun ACTUAL aqaurium hobby (lol), but then I found out there were so many other fish and I was amazed, so, I don't want to get rid of that little guy, because, in a sense, you become attached to your fish so, ya. LOL!
More suggestions! I'm welcoming them with open arms!
THANKS!!

~Ali

NeonTetra

You can get a couple of small cories like panda or peppered. Or you can get a couple of mollies. Mollies come in all sorts of varieties like lyre-tail and balloon-bellied, but you would probably want two males or two females as they are as easy to breed as guppies.

livetowin

yea ik they do breed a lot with dwarf gouramis you want to have just one because with 2 they will fight but they do add a lot of color to your tank

Butters

well, if you dont wanna get rid of your danio, just get some more. If your tank has been running for a while you can get away with more than 20" of fish. As long as you keep up the maintinence you can easily go past 20" of (small) fish.

FishKing

Maybe some schooling tetras.

Biscato33

Hello everybody!

Thanks for all the replies! I'm so excited that people are really getting into answering this thread! !!
NeonTetra: Mollies would add colour, but I don't know much about them, would two males be okay? How do you sex them? I know they would add alot of brilliance, personality, and color, but maybe someone could tell me more, if they agree or disagree with NeonTetra!
livetowin: Yes, I've heard 2 gouramis will fight if they don't have enough space. It might be neat to get one male!
Butters: Hmm, I know maintinence is a big thing if you have lots of fish in your tank, and I'm good about that! Those glo danios would be neat, but I don't think my LFS has them in stock! Maybe another suggestion?
FishKing: I already have some neons, and I was debating for a while to get more tetras. I was also debating about Harlequin Rasboras. Any more info on those? Anyone?

a BIG to everyone who replied, and keep those suggestions coming!

~ Ali

Butters

I wouldnt get a dwarf gourami now, not until this desease thing passes over. I would do horrible, unspeakable things to get a school of harlequins in my new 20 gallon, but I cant find em to save my life. If all else fails, add some more neons, they would appreciate it.

livetowin

i can find harlequins at petsmart or petco

Lucy

I thought I posted here, did anyone mention glo fish? They're danios anyway except colorful.
Or perhap some ghost shrimp, they're lots of fun and go crazy when you feed them blood worms.

NeonTetra

I just read in the molly profile here in fishlore that mollies prefer to be in a tank with their own species. So you can get two platys. But, like mollies and guppies, they are prolific breeders. Platys come in different colors like red, yellow, orange, and there is one species with mickey mouse on its tail!! Male platys are smaller and have a anal fin.

Glofish would be cool too.
Here's a link all about glofish.http://www.glofish.com/

Biscato33

Hi everyone!

It's great to hear from everyone, and still happily accepting more replies!
Butters: Good idea, I didn't think a dwarf gourami would be a good idea either at the moment. Even though I did say that dwarf gouramis are just great! The disease is really "eating" them away. Like the smiley: lol. More neons would be nice, but I'm kind of looking for possibly another species of fish. Oh and by the way, at my LFS they always have harlequins. Any suggestions if I should get those? I was thinking since their a schooling fish, I would have to get quite a few, and that would over-populate the tank. sick fishies isn't good:
Lucy: I had another thread that said I was debating ghost shrimp, and I was. Hmmm. I could take it into consideration. Ahhh, the Glo fish. The brilliance of the modern fish-world. I'm actually not sure if they have them at my LFS. Hmmm. <--- trying to remember... I guess I'll have to drop by at the LFS in a couple of days and tell you. (I'd love to get some.)
NeonTetra: Platys look interesting and beautiful. <--- that could be a small exaggaration of my reaction to the pictures of platys, even though I've seen them before. But I need to know more about them. Would a couple of females be okay? Would that over-stock my tank? Could the females already have become pregnant from the tank at the LFS? Anyone can reply, I'll be glad to hear your answers!
<---Team Ali cheering on your great replies!

~ Ali

Butters

glad that you wont buy a DG now, I would really like to get one for my 20 gallon also, but I just dont wanna risk it having the virus. As for the platys, I would go for males becuase females can store baby juice in them and then they can just pop out babys when they feel like it. As for the harlequins, I'd go with 5-6 becuase you already have neons in there, and you probably shouldnt have more than 2 schools of small fish in there, might get crowded. hope all goes well!

Blub

Danios will nip long fins unless they are in a school. I'd get 3 - 4 more, and nothing else. They cannot thrive in 1's!

Biscato33

Hey!

Thanks for the awesome replies! I have a question for you guys now. Do you think it would be good to get one more zebra danio and two leopard danios? Leopard danios will school with zebra danios, right? If I got those three fish, would it be over-stocking my tank? Please answer!

,

Ali

Butters

Hey Biscato, I'm not really sure about the schooling of leoperds and zebras but you can get about 3-4 more danios, then I think your tank will be good to go! But if the danios are anything like my cories, they will eventually adopt each other. But I would wait until someone else helps you on this one. good luck!

Blub

Well, as Butters said 3 - 4 more danios wouldn't overstock you, and yes, leopards and zebras will school.

Iron waffle

I would get 3-4 more danios and/or some platys, they're both active types of fish that in my experience, like each other's company. just make sure they're all males or females, they both breed very easily. Leopard and zebra danios would make for some nice colorful variety.

Biscato33

Hi!

Thanks everyone for replying so quickly! If I got 4 more danios would I have to do more matinence than usual? I do matinence once every other week, sometimes more if something happens in the aqaurium. I might get 2 zebras and 2 leopards if that would be okay, and depending on matinence issues. Anyways, I probably wouldn't mind doing it once a week, but I just want to know.

!!

~Ali

Blub

You should be doing a weekly water chage, even with 1 fish in the tank. If you are dreadfully overstocked, then you might have to do twice weeklys. (That's what my nano's get!) So, get the extra danios, and weekly water changes.

Butters

ya, I agree with hatchet on this one. I do weekly water changes on my tank. except my betta tank, he gets it like once or twice a month.