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June 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| What fish species for a community?
I'm nearing the end of my fishless cycle on my 20 gallon tank and would appreciate some thoughts on what I should put inside. I was thinking of creating a small community as I've had single bettas before. I was thinking a dwarf gourami, three cories and then some sort of other schooling fish. Would something like this be appropriate? What would be the best fish species to go with a gourami and cories - tetras, guppies, barbs? I'd add each species separately I think so that my biological filter can handle the new addition but is there a good order (i.e. cories first, gourami first, etc.). Your advice is appreciated! | 
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June 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Check out some dwarf cichlids. A pair of apistos, maybe some west africans? They do good in a 20g tank. | |
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June 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| I agree that some apistos or west africans would be a great choice for your tank. Cockatoo cichlids are a great beginners apisto and are very beautiful. You could also do a school of threadfin rainbows! | |
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June 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Is your 20 a 20 Long? And are you using plants?
If you wanna stick with your original plan 4 corys with 6 rummynose tetras and 3 DG's sounds great.
Im stocking my 20 Long with 3 Kulih loaches, 2 Bolivian Rams and 6 Rummynose tetras
I would put your DG in 1st because they would be the hardiest IMO | |
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June 4th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| For your original plan, I'd put the DG in last, as they're the only fish in that list that are in any way territorial and may not 'welcome' new fish added to their tank. I've also read that labyrinth fish of any sort don't mix well with guppies. Of course it all depends on the fish's personality!
I've done a DG with cories and cherry barbs, and I'd highly recommend that (especially the cherry barbs, one of my all-time favourite fish!) Currently I've got a 'micro-community' in a 10g with a honey gourami, five pygmy cories and six galaxy rasboras. I am totally in love with pygmy cories - they are so extremely cute! they do all the normal cory things, but they're just teensy, just over an inch, and look like a cross between a regular cory and a silver version of a neon tetra. You may want to consider some of the teensy fish, as that way you could have a larger school with the same bioload. The honey gourami is about 1.5" long and a soft yellow colour with red-edged fins; in behaviour he's just like a DG. Other options would be dwarf emerald rasboras and ember tetras.
Have fun! | |
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June 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by prairielilly  For your original plan, I'd put the DG in last, as they're the only fish in that list that are in any way territorial and may not 'welcome' new fish added to their tank. I've also read that labyrinth fish of any sort don't mix well with guppies. Of course it all depends on the fish's personality!
I've done a DG with cories and cherry barbs, and I'd highly recommend that (especially the cherry barbs, one of my all-time favourite fish!) Currently I've got a 'micro-community' in a 10g with a honey gourami, five pygmy cories and six galaxy rasboras. I am totally in love with pygmy cories - they are so extremely cute! they do all the normal cory things, but they're just teensy, just over an inch, and look like a cross between a regular cory and a silver version of a neon tetra. You may want to consider some of the teensy fish, as that way you could have a larger school with the same bioload. The honey gourami is about 1.5" long and a soft yellow colour with red-edged fins; in behaviour he's just like a DG. Other options would be dwarf emerald rasboras and ember tetras.
Have fun! | Gourami's don't like Guppies? My DG adores my guppies, he even schools with them haha! | |
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June 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Thanks for all the replies! My tank is a standard 20 gallon tank with plastic plants (no live ones this time around). I want to keep things fairly simple to start and so I don't really want cichlids. My pH is 7.6. I certainly don't want to overstock. That's why I thought one dwarf gourami, three cories, and like 6 little schooling fish would be a good idea. I kind of thought that would provide action to all areas of the tank. Is this conservative or too much? There are so many schooling fish, I want to make sure I get something that isn't so fussy that they'll die if I look at them the wrong way!
Crimsonbull57, I thought dwarf gouramis had to be alone in a smaller tank (sort of like bettas)?
prairielilly, I've never seen pygmy cories at the pet store, just bronze and peppered. I'll keep a look out though. I'll also keep an eye out for honey gouramis.
Would adding the schooling fish first make the most sense, then the cories, and then the gourami as prairielilly suggested? I was thinking adding each 'set' one week apart since LFS has 50% fish on Tuesdays. I'm just not sure. The only reason I said a gourami and cories is that I like them and they're in different areas of the tank. | |
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June 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by ABCDemily Gourami's don't like Guppies? My DG adores my guppies, he even schools with them haha! | If I have read something to the effect that a DG MAY not get along with guppies, I think it bears mentioning when someone asks whether or not a DG will get along with guppies. I also stated that it depended on the fish's personality. ANY stocking scenario will work for some/most people, but not for everyone, and people should be informed of possible good and bad outcomes.
I'm glad your situation is working for you, but laughing at people for providing information isn't polite. | |
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June 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| eepruls: you're right about keeping only 1 DG in that tank. Adding 3 of them would result in a bloodbath, in all likelihood. I do think you should add your schooling fish first and the DG last. | |
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June 5th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| I agree with adding only one DG and adding last.  | |
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June 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by prairielilly If I have read something to the effect that a DG MAY not get along with guppies, I think it bears mentioning when someone asks whether or not a DG will get along with guppies. I also stated that it depended on the fish's personality. ANY stocking scenario will work for some/most people, but not for everyone, and people should be informed of possible good and bad outcomes.
I'm glad your situation is working for you, but laughing at people for providing information isn't polite. | Over here a 'Haha' is more a 'lol' type phrase, no harm meant | |
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June 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by ABCDemily Over here a 'Haha' is more a 'lol' type phrase, no harm meant | all good, no worries  | |
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June 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by prairielilly all good, no worries | | |
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June 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by ABCDemily Over here a 'Haha' is more a 'lol' type phrase, no harm meant | That's how I read it as well! 'Haha' isn't an evil laugh or 'You Suck' type comment. It's just happiness! Sort of like, "My DG and guppies are happy together! Crazy eh?" I think prairielilly might have interpreted it incorrectly initially.
Anyways, I've decided to keep the schooling fish to something very simple. I'm probably going to get either Bloodfin Tetras, Cherry Barbs, Gold Barbs (might nip though), Zebra Danios, or Rummy Nose Tetras. | |
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