binskiboi

Hi, fellow fishlore members. I recently started a tank 3 months ago. After cycling my 20 gallon tank I put in 1 blue gourami, 2 blackskirt tetras, 2 redswordtails, and 2 rainbow sharks (YIKES!). So here's the story.... The jack's aquarium worker told me I could put in 2 swordtails. (little did i know they were both male and males would NOT get along without at least a few females per male). I then purchased a blue gourami, and 2 blackskirt tetras. I then sited the rainbow sharks and thought they were cool. I asked for one then said, unknownly "Would it be okay for me to put 2 rainbows in a 20 gallon?" He replied, ofcourse!. So I bought two. a week later 1 rainbow was dead. 1 blackskirt was dead. and the two MALE swordtails wont stop fighting. So im taking out the last blackskirt and one of the males and donating them back. The 1 rainbow shark, blue gourami, all get along fine with eachother. I have read different forums and have learned to NEVER TRUST A PET STORE WORKER!!!! I cant decide what to put in now.

here is what will have left
1 male swordtail
1 blue gourami
1 pleco
1 rainbow shark



what else could i put in my 20 gallon tank? (in a few weeks im upgrading to a 40gallon tank so dont worry i know the rainbow shark needs more space!) any help would be GREATLY appreciated.


P.S. i would LOVE to put a bala or red tailed black shark in but i know those probably wont work even in the 40? >.<

thanks.

~Binskiboi



I also came up with an idea a second ago: since my blue gourami and my rainbow shark are both very kind to all the fish, maybe i could take out both swordtails instead of one (they are both very aggressive) and just have 1. redtail shark, 1. rainbow, and 1. blue gourami? that would be awesome although i know there could be some problems!

Shawnie

Hi binskiboi....welcome to fishlore!!

unfortunately, rainbow sharks and red tails are virtually the same and will NOT get along together at all...so only the one would be recommended even in the 40g...balas get to 12 inches so he wont fit in either tank do you know what kind of pleco? thats going to make a huge difference on what else you can add / remove ...and MOST of us have been where you are at now with bad advice from LFS

binskiboi

http://is.gumtree.com/ad_image/live/big/272168551.jpg he looks like that and is 4 inches. and i always heard plecos got along with nearly all fish because of their boniness? please enlighten me!

fishfreak2009

the red tailed and the rainbow shark would fight to the death very fast. Even with many hiding places in a six foot tank the two I had killed each other. Both species are very similar,and they will also go after small bottom dwelling fish when they get older. As for the bala shark they do best in schools and I would recommend at least a 5 foot system fot them. I used to keep them. The biggest grew to sixteen inches. I hope that you do not have a common pleco. They get huge. Look at this one.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/fo...o+canal&page=6

It in itself is overstocking the tank. You could leave a swordtail, the rainbow, and the gourami. Try adding an African Butterfly fish. It is very neet looking. Just make sure you keep the lid on tight. As for the pleco, you could trade it in and buy some female swordtails.

binskiboi

what kind of pleco and cool looking fish should i get im going to the petstore in 10 minutes. after i give the fish back ill have 1 blue gourami and 1 rainbow shark and a common pleco?

Shawnie

the common should go back also hes going to get up to 2 feet and he is a huge waste producer...why dont you take him back and look for a nice school of cories? (3-4) and a school of cardinal or neon tetras? (4-5)

fishfreak2009

try for one of the smaller species. Make sure you take back the old pleco. Try for a bristle-nosed pleco (Ancistrus species) they stay small and do a much better job then the common pleco. As for other species try an African Butterflyfish. They are very neat. Just make sure you keep your tank covered.

I was actually refering to the school of 12 cories I had with these two sharks. They all ended up getting shredded and being returned to the store.

binskiboi

wait so your saying the 2 sharks did okay with eachother and just the cories were beaten up?

fishfreak2009

no the sharks attacked each other as well. They do not mix with any other small bottom dwellers including each other. The rainbow shark killed the red tailed shark.