20 gallon quandary

[scratch22]

Hi there, am new to the forum but looking through other threads you sound like a very knowledgable bunch of people so I am sure you will be able to help me.

I have spare 20 gallon tank and am tired of the usual community setup. Having kept a lot of small tropicals and coldwater fish over the years, and drooling over pictures of interesting fish with more personality, now Ive gained a bit of experience I'd like to try summit a bit different. I dont have much room so this is as big a tank as im going to get at the moment, not ideal i know. Do you people have any suggestions of interesting species that would be suitable? I was thinking of getting a peacock spiny eel but have no experience with anything more eely than a loach so not to sure of their needs. any replies greaty appreciated.

cheers
Tom

 

[Fish00]

puffers
Fresh water
4 dwarf puffers ####.com
or
2 south american puffers
or
a pair of red eye puffers
or
1 congo puffer
or
2 golden puffer
Brackish
figure 8

 

[pica_nuttalli]

obviously, you won't be getting puffers for a community tank. they're charming and entertaining little beasties, but not fin-friendly.

i've only heard good things about peacock spiney eels and was tempted to get one myself at one point in time. what i can think to tell you:

• they get to be about 10 inches, with a potential 14 inch max.
• they'll eat whoever they can fit in their mouths, so no smaller-bodied fish like guppies.
• as they're substrate dwellers, it would probably be advisable to avoid any additional bottom dwellers like loaches or cory cats.
• also you'll want to make certain you have a small and rounded substrate so your eel doesn't damage himself when he burrows. you might could use sand, but i'm not sure on it.
• most people report good luck with feeding tubifex cubes. i imagine shrimp and sinking cichlid pellets would also be accepted. fry are always popular things to snack on. (you could try mollies.)
• a moderately planted tank with some long pieces of decor would encourage the eel to stay out of the gravel and visible.

what do you think of a pair of lyretail mollies, a dwarf gourami or two, and then your eel?

 

[scratch22]

Sorry if i gave the wrong impression, but this would not be a community tank, it would probably be single species. Thanks for the replies. any other suggestions ?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

oh, then a puffer or two for sure. the smaller varieties are very lively and make excellent species tanks.