Amanda's New 55 gallon - HELP

Welcome to fishlore!!

Bala sharks get over a foot long and belong in groups. Requiring them to have very very large tanks. You should definitely rehome him..

20 gallons is far too small for an acara in my opinion. And I believe yellow labs should only be kept with other African cichlids.

Congrats on the upgrade! But you should definitely adjust your stocking.

Maybe the acara would be ok in the 55 in place of the bala shark?

 

The acara and the yellow lab will not work out long term. It's not a good idea to mix African rift lake fish (yellow lab) with non-rift lake fish (your other fish). Rift lake cichlids are usually too aggressive, especially towards other cichlids. A 20 gal isn't enough space for both, either. I would rehome the yellow lab unless you want to rehome all of your other fish.

Rehome the bala shark. They need to be in groups in a much larger tank.

Kuhlis, yoyos, barbs, and tetras should be in larger groups.

Kuhlis are peaceful an easily outcompeted by the yoyos and rainbow shark. Yoyos can be nippy and boisterous, and I wouldn't keep them with keyholes or gouramis either.

We can help you come up with a stocking plan using many (but not all) of your current fish. What fish is your favorite? We can plan a stocking around that

 

Welcome to fishlore!!

Bala sharks get over a foot long and belong in groups. Requiring them to have very very large tanks. You should definitely rehome him..

20 gallons is far too small for an acara in my opinion. And I believe yellow labs should only be kept with other African cichlids.

Congrats on the upgrade! But you should definitely adjust your stocking.

Maybe the acara would be ok in the 55 in place of the bala shark?

Would the Acara get along with a Rainbow Shark? B/C I have one of those too!

The acara and the yellow lab will not work out long term. It's not a good idea to mix African rift lake fish (yellow lab) with non-rift lake fish (your other fish). Rift lake cichlids are usually too aggressive, especially towards other cichlids. A 20 gal isn't enough space for both, either. I would rehome the yellow lab unless you want to rehome all of your other fish.

Rehome the bala shark. They need to be in groups in a much larger tank.

Kuhlis, yoyos, barbs, and tetras should be in larger groups.

Kuhlis are peaceful an easily outcompeted by the yoyos and rainbow shark. Yoyos can be nippy and boisterous, and I wouldn't keep them with keyholes or gouramis either.

We can help you come up with a stocking plan using many (but not all) of your current fish. What fish is your favorite? We can plan a stocking around that

My Rainbow shark is my favorite, then the blue gourami followed by the rosy barbs and my loaches. First I want to stock my 55 gal tank, then figure out who can live together in the 20 gal. and Thank you for all your help. I also saw that you are from Fl. That's where I live!

 

Would the Acara get along with a Rainbow Shark? B/C I have one of those too!

I'm not really sure on that. Size-wise they could both be in there. But I don't know about compatibility.

Maybe the gourami in the 20. And rehome the bala shark and yellow lab.

Then the 55 has a rainbow shark, an acara and a school of rosy barbs and a shoal of loaches. Or put the loaches in the 20 with the gourami and get a different bottom dweller for the 55.

Not sure about temperature compatibility with the different species though. But spacewise I think that sounds good!

 

Definitely rehome the bala and yellow lab.

I would keep the loaches in the 55 gal - a 20 gal is too small for them.

Also, what are zebra tetra? Can you take a pic?

What about this?

55 gal:
4-6x Yoyo loaches
1x Rainbow shark
1x EB acara
10x Rosy barbs
10x Zebra danios (assuming that's what you mean by zebra tetra)

20 gal:
1x Blue gourami
2x Keyholes
12x Kuhlis

Can you upgrade your 20 gal to a 29 gal? The larger tank would be much better for the keyholes and gourami, and the 29 gal can fit on the 20 gal stand. The lid will fight as well.

 

Can you upgrade your 20 gal to a 29 gal? The larger tank would be much better for the keyholes and gourami, and the 29 gal can fit on the 20 gal stand. The lid will fight as well.

Only if it's a 20 gallon long. Did the OP say if it was a long or a high? If they did, I missed it.

 

Only if it's a 20 gallon long. Did the OP say if it was a long or a high? If they did, I missed it.

I thought he did, but I must have been thinking of another thread.

 

I thought he did, but I must have been thinking of another thread.

You are such a huge helper and are involved in so many threads, I'm not surprised! Lol
I just wanted to clarify!

 

That sounds good to me, I only have 1 yoyo loach, could I get a couple dojo loaches to put in there? I would really like something with color. I only have 3 rosie barbs. Any suggestions for some color?

 

Yoyos should be in groups of their own species. If you don't want more yoyos, rehome them. Dojos could work with the right stocking.

Is the 20 gal a high or long?

Would you be willing to rehome other fish as well?

 

and I may be able to upgrade to a 29 gal in the future, just not till after the new year. I want to thank you for your help also!

Yoyos should be in groups of their own species. If you don't want more yoyos, rehome them. Dojos could work with the right stocking.

Is the 20 gal a high or long?

Would you be willing to rehome other fish as well?

the 20 gal is 24" long, and 16 1/2 tall. As far as rehoming goes, I have to rehome my Bala shark, and a yellow jewel cichlid. I made the biggest mistake right off rip by not doing my research!

the 20 gal is 24" long, and 16 1/2 tall. As far as rehoming goes, I have to rehome my Bala shark, and a yellow lab cichlid. I made the biggest mistake right off rip by not doing my research!

So, I should just get some more yoyos as far as the loaches go? I'm good with that, I think they're cool looking.

 

If you don't want dojos, then sure.

I'd rehome the gourami then. The 20 gal is a high, and too small for him. He might not do well in the 55 gal, as yoyos are nippy and may harass him.

 

If you don't want dojos, then sure.

I'd rehome the gourami then. The 20 gal is a high, and too small for him. He might not do well in the 55 gal, as yoyos are nippy and may harass him.

So, I could put the gourami, keyholes and Khulis (only have 2-pet store was out) in the 20 gal. and the rainbow shark, acara, and rosy barbs (3) and the zebra fish(they look like small angelfish but they're not) and the yoyo in the 55 gal, right?

 

No, the 20 gal is too small for the gourami, and it's too small for the kuhlis and keyholes together.. I was thinking it was longer.

Can you take a picture of the zebrafish? They shouldn't look like angelfish.

But yes to the 55 gal plans. I'd rehome the gourami and either the kuhlis or keyholes as well, and put the remaining species in the 20 gal.

 

No, the 20 gal is too small for the gourami, and it's too small for the kuhlis and keyholes together.. I was thinking it was longer.

Can you take a picture of the zebrafish? They shouldn't look like angelfish.

But yes to the 55 gal plans. I'd rehome the gourami and either the kuhlis or keyholes as well, and put the remaining species in the 20 gal.

They are skirt tetras. I have of them. I was looking at Rainbow fish, would they be good in my 55 with the Rainbow shark and Acara, maybe only like two of them?

I have six skirt tetras. And I don't know how to put pics on here yet.

 

So you have skirt tetra, not zebrafish?

So this could be your stocking:

20 gal:
8x Kuhlis OR 2x Keyholes, not both. Rehome gourami. Rehome either kuhlis or keyholes

55 gal:
1x Rainbow shark
1x Acara
10x Rosy barbs
10x Skirt tetra
4-6x Yoyos

I would not add rainbowfish to the 55 gal. You are already stocking on schooling species, in my opinion.