Been Researching...

[ryan2170]

....and i have got a list of 11 different community fish i like: B)

Black Sailfin Molly
Neon Tetra
Green Neon Tetra
Pictus Catfish
Sterba's Cory Cat
Common Plec
Glass Catfish
Swordtails
Galaxy Rasbora
Yo Yo Loach
Clown Loach

I have a 20 gallon planted tank with a rock a load of pebbles and some bog wood to come,and would gradualy build it up over the months
All the fish above are community fish and non aggressive so looks ok to me but what do i know!! lol so was just wondering what any of you thought and your advice on weather this sounds gd or may be over stocked etc..


Thanks in advance

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

Are you aware and have you done a fishless cycle? If no, then there is a link here: fishless cycle,
Now to the point of this thread lol. It depends on how many you would want.
Clown loaches grow to be 1ft long so clown loaches are a no no for a 20 gal and the same with the common plec, they grow large, as these fish grow they require a 75 gal+.

The tetras are a shoaling species so you would need 6 of them and the same for the corys, and the rasboras. And, correct me if im wrong please but i think glass catfish are shoaling aswell.

IMO, if i had your size tank there i would get:

6 neons
6 corys
3 sword tails (1 male, 2 female) beware, these are livebearers so will breed quickly
3 mollies (1 male, 2 female) beware, these are livebearers so will breed quickly

With that your are pretty well stocked. What filter are you using and how many times do you do a water change and how much? If you have a good filter and are willing to keep doing regular water changes (30-40% weekly) then you may be able to have more fish. Hope you decide on what to get and good luck

thanks.
Will

 

[ryan2170]

sterba's cory cats arn't shoaling (well not from the research i've got)
Ive had clown loaches in there before and they were 5-7cm, also from the research ive got they only grow to 15cm (well from the research i've got)
and i no the pleco can get large but would take a long time to get to that size (so once its too big i may have a bigger tank by then but if not i will take it back to my LFS)
and yer foget rasboras they like to be in a shoal of 15 to 20 fish (which i found out after posting this topic)(But they grow not much bigger than 2cm so not going to take up as much space as a bigger fish would?)

Also clean it out once a week 40% (could do twice if i needed to) i have a fluval 2 plus filter and have very oxygenated water because of two bubble blowing things (sorry forgot wht there called lol)

so what about:
3 mollies
6 Tetras
3 catfish or corys (love these fish so have got o have some lol)
1 small/baby plec (which i had once before in this tank)
3 clown loach (which i had once before in this tank)

 

[SJ2K]

He was right about the cory's, clown loach and plec. Its always advised to not get fish on the chance that you may have a bigger tank later, if you dont and no one will take it, that fish will suffer! Wherever your research came from that said cory's dont shoal, its wrong.

Ive never heard of rasbora needing to be in shoals bigger then 6, it may be prefferable but not essential.

I have a tank of a similar size so id recommend:

6 Neon/Cardinal Tetra

3-6 Cory's OR 1 Bristlenose plec (far more suitable for that size).

2 Male guppies

1 Dwarf gourami.

 

[mark.w.jones]

As mentioned above a lot of those fish are really not suitable for your tank. I would say a definite no to the common plec, the clown loach and the glass catfish. Also, check carefully where your galaxy rasbora stock come from as they are becoming extinct in the wild although some are beginning to be captive bred now. Dwarf Gourami are not worth going for IMO, far to many suffer from internal bacterial problems leading to death. Bristle noses are a great looking plec but you'll probably never see it as they are almost entirely nocturnal. 2 male guppies is also not a good idea. Too small a group size would certainly lead to fighting and aggression between the 2. Cory's are also schooling and need a group of 5+ minimum.

Anyway...

I would suggest going for:

6 cardinal tetras
5 corys (species choice will impact on stocking).
1 Bull dog plec or Bristlenose
3 mollies (1M 2F)

 

[SJ2K]

IMO mollies and platys are a bit dull though, look alot like small goldfish. Thats why I suggested guppies I have 2 males, a friend of mine had 3, never a single problem. Its when women get envolved that problems arise, as always

 

[dwarfgourami]

Not all bristlies are nocturnal, I've always seen quite a bit of mine. I think the trick might be to provide a lot of cover, to make them more confident.

Male guppies seems to depend partly on personality and partly on tank size. A larger group is playing it safe.

Before you get mollies, test your water. If it is very soft and acid- get something else. I've tried to keep mollies under those conditions and it was a nightmare. Platies are more adaptable. I would get females only, whether of mollies or platies- they may still be pregnant, but at least that way the fry will dry up some time.

I would also choose either the plec or the school of corys for the bottom, seeing that the tank isn't very large. Plecs make a lot of mess and corys are prone to bacterial infections of their barbels if the substrate isn't clean. And they are competing over the same tank space.

 

[ryan2170]

Taking in to consideration of what people have said what about:..
3 Black mollies (1M and 2F)
5 black corys
2 dwarf gouramis (1M and 1F)
1 bristlenose
6 tetras

So thats 17 fish, Thats not loads too many isit?
40% water change once or twice a week and good areation and filter!?

 

[DarkEntity]

Ditch the Mollys and replace them with something smaller and you are fine.

 

[mark.w.jones]

Still wouldn't risk the dwarf gouramis, too many failures. 3 sparkling gouramis is a much better option in my opinon. Obviously fish are individual and it depends on what you get. But my bristlenose hides on the back of his bogwood all day and I very rarely see him at all, he's just a hermit I reckon. Yours may well be different if you go for one. Mollies in the main also tend to do better in brackish conditions although again it depends on their upbringing. I would agree with what is above and say there are more colourful, interesting and easier fish to keep out there than mollies. Maybe reconsider.