New friends for my fish

[P2therp27]

So I have a few fish I had in mind that I thought I'd like to add to my current stocking, but, would like to see if anyone has some suggestions... What I have now is:

1. 20 gallon long (cycled)
2. Floramax substrate
3. Medium/heavily planted
4. 8 serpae tetras
5. 3 bolivian rams

 

[JuiceBox52]

What about a shoal of small tetras?

 

[Jackkelly]

I have a dwarf Mexican crayfish that I think would be an interesting addition.

 

[AquaticQueen]

I would add some sort of cory if your substrate isn't too sharp.

 

[AquaticQueen]

I have a dwarf Mexican crayfish that I think would be an interesting addition.

The water may be a little warm for a dwarf Mexican crayfish.

 

[P2therp27]

I would add some sort of cory if your substrate isn't too sharp.

I was thinking that too...

 

[qldmick]

Thats good things should come back to normal on the next moult, I noticed you haven't put the moult in with him, you want to he needs it for his first meal, he should be good to you back with the others in three days

I have a dwarf Mexican crayfish that I think would be an interesting addition.

All crays will eat plants too.

 

[Flyfisha]

My suggestion is at first glance going to sound boring. But I seen the difference a larger school of the same species can have and seen the confusion of adding another species.
I suggest a few more serpae tetras to increase what is the absolute minimum size of a school to the bare minimum.

 

[Jackkelly]

All crays will eat plants too.

I have mine in a well planted tank and he does not eat the plants but loves to use them to explore.

 

[qldmick]

I have mine in a well planted tank and he does not eat the plants but loves to use them to explore.

Ok I have kept 5 Australian species and I think they all eat plants. I feed my current cherax albidus peas and carrots, in think there about the same as plants for them.

 

[richiep]

I've got the Australian Red claw and they devastated my plants nothing is safe from them

 

[Masoud]

i would add some albino cory,they are amazing and fun to watch and bring ton of energy to your tank

 

[MacZ]

Get some floating plants and then add some Nannostomus.

 

[P2therp27]

I like the idea of adding more serpae, but i also love cory... could I do both? And if so how many more tetras could I add with 6 cory?

 

[P2therp27]

Get some floating plants and then add some Nannostomus.

Beautiful fish! Not available in my area tho

 

[Flyfisha]

I personally am not a big fan of the stocking site Aqadviso.com but here is what it has to say about
Albino Corydora and serape tetras.Please ignore the water change routine recommended . Or double what it says for weekly water changes?

 

[MacZ]

I like the idea of adding more serpae, but i also love cory... could I do both? And if so how many more tetras could I add with 6 cory?

Not in a 20. Actually you are already scratching at the bioload-limit. Also, the cories might get into the rams territories, which would stress both species out. Generally except you have a really big footprint in your tank cories and any dwarf cichlids don't mix well.

 

[P2therp27]

Also, the cories might get into the rams territories, which would stress both species out.

Thats a good point. I wouldnt want that.

I dunno, I just feel like something is... missing. I do like those pencil fish MacZ mentioned because they are more..."fish like" like something you'd see in a river bed or a pond. To me, mollies and patties and any other fish like that, that are just one solid color don't quite look right in a freshwater planted tank... but thats just me.

I'll leave it be for awhile and see what i feel like in a month or so. Thank you everyone, for all your suggestions.