If you had a 20G Long...(Freshwater only, please)

[freshwatergal]

IMO, if you want to go with the little tator tots, I would keep it a species specific tank. I have a 20 gal hi with 6 dwarfs in it. You could possibly do 6-10 dwarfs in a 20 L. 3-4 otto's, and 3-4 buble bee gobies. I would stay away from community fish in with puffs because of the aggression that will certainly come out. Make sure you have loads of hidey holes, and plenty of plants to break up lines of sight and you should have a nice looking tank. Maybe go with a darker substrate so the lil guys show up. I have a natural substrate and can hardly see my guys most of the time. Am thinking about changing that.

HTH & Good Luck,
Tiff

ps, I would stay away from bala sharks as well.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Hello Itty,

I agree with wuv about the bala shark situation. IMO they aren't really suitable for the home aquarium as they get m-a-s-s-i-v-e and need to be in groups of 3. There's a couple of people on here who have shelled out a lot of money upgrading their anks several times to keep these guys.

Also, with aggressive sharks...they often don't like other sharks around. This is the case with the red tailed black shark. I have seen my rainbow shark chase a SFF every now and again.

I like the idea of the dwarf tank but I think you'd need more otos. There are only little fish and they like to have their own kind around. Maybe 4 would be good. Also, it's very important for otos to have plants and Planet Catfish says 'plants seem essential to the long term survival' of them.

I think when deciding tank mates it's important to think about where the fish will live and to have a good mixture of top/middle/bottom as well as nocturnal and day fish to maximise what you can do with your space.

With regard to cichlids, I don't kow much about them but they interest me and so I find myself lurking around their sites. I think that many cichlids are freshwater. I have 2 kribensis in my community tank.

I think the dwarf tank sounds cool but I ticked "you're such a newbie...". I didn't do it to be nasty, I hope I have helped.

Good luck and remember to put photos up. We luuuuurrrrrvvvveee photos!!

 

[White Whale]

You've got bala sharks on the list several times up there, I hate to rain on your parade but a 20 is in no way,large enough for a bala, they get huuuge! Just mark those out and stick with small fish, a 20 is a tiny tank and you're very restricted as far as what you can do with it. I keep an empty 20 handy for fry, and fry only because there's not much else to do with it unless you keep tiny fish.

It's a 20 long.

How long? I've just had to buy a five foot tank to keep mine in growing and swimming space.

Thats 60 inches. And that will need upgrading in 18 months or so as well!!

It's 30" x 12" x 12"

 

[White Whale]

Cheese Specialist - I put that 'newbie' option up there because it actually will be my very first tank. I'm trying to provoke as many responses I can get so I can use them to help me decide on how to set it up. Some posts may have an angry tone , but it's not the inflection I am looking for, just the content of what they have to say.

Too bad dwarf puffers don't go well with community tanks. Maybe I'll get one tater tot when my 20 is set up and my 2.5g is free.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Cheese Specialist - I put that 'newbie' option up there because it actually will be my very first tank. I'm trying to provoke as many responses I can get so I can use them to help me decide on how to set it up. Some posts may have an angry tone , but it's not the inflection I am looking for, just the content of what they have to say.

Too bad dwarf puffers don't go well with community tanks. Maybe I'll get one tater tot when my 20 is set up and my 2.5g is free.

I hope you were not meaning me when you said angry tone? I was only trying to help as I am sure other people are. It's just that you have some unwise choises up there and people want to make sure that you know not to go with them.

Also, you mentioned stunting fish which could be a reason for you to feel people are angry with you. I do not as it's a very prolific myth that this is ok, I am just mentioning it. Stunting is a horrible thing where the outside body of the fish dtops growing because of the size of the environment but the insides keep growing and the fish will end up with organs to large for it's outer body and will die very slowly and painfully.

I am glad tat you are looking at content over tone. We should all maybe do that more often as it's hard to accuratley judge tone ion writing IMO as it's very difficult to put tone into words for the writer.

 

[White Whale]

I hope you were not meaning me when you said angry tone? I was only trying to help as I am sure other people are. It's just that you have some unwise choises up there and people want to make sure that you know not to go with them.

Also, you mentioned stunting fish which could be a reason for you to feel people are angry with you. I do not as it's a very prolific myth that this is ok, I am just mentioning it. Stunting is a horrible thing where the outside body of the fish dtops growing because of the size of the environment but the insides keep growing and the fish will end up with organs to large for it's outer body and will die very slowly and painfully.

I am glad tat you are looking at content over tone. We should all maybe do that more often as it's hard to accuratley judge tone ion writing IMO as it's very difficult to put tone into words for the writer.

No, not you. But I may expect one or some to have a 'forceful' opinion on the subject and, to me, it's the norm for any forum or chatline.I'm just trying to push the envelope with the options I've made seeing which ones were passable.

 

[chemflex]

I said species tank, I would like a tank with discus.

 

[Bol]

Me, I'd probably go with a species tank.

A few small cichlids, or dwarf puffers.

But, I've already got a large communitiy tank.

 

[aberdeen aquarist]

i said species tank too, personally i'd have shell dwellers from lake tanganyika.........BUT as it's your first tank i'd lean towards a small fish community.
Some tetras, 5 or 6 otos, and loads of live plants!!!


OH and chemflex, you can't keep discus in a tank that small, remember they get to be 6-7" long and deep!!!

 

[wuvmybetta]

HEY!

How about some dwarf neon rainbows! I love those and if I had a tank they could go in, I'd keep some in a heartbeat! Unfortunately they would be eaten within seconds in most of my tanks

They max out at 2.5 inches and are said to be avid spawners,here's a link with some info. If you search around you may find better pics.

http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...ainbowfish.html

 

[White Whale]

HEY!

How about some dwarf neon rainbows! I love those and if I had a tank they could go in, I'd keep some in a heartbeat! Unfortunately they would be eaten within seconds in most of my tanks

They max out at 2.5 inches and are said to be avid spawners,here's a link with some info. If you search around you may find better pics.

http/www.aquarticles.com/articles/breedi...ainbowfish.html

You mean this guy? Only 2.5 inches?

Picture by Darryl Robert (Aquarium Society of Winnipeg)

 

[wuvmybetta]

Yup!

My lfs got some in and I fell in love, they're so cute

 

[smileandnod]

Itty Bitty Betta. Without wishing to come across as being patronising....

I wish everyone would put this much effort into finding out if they can keep the fish they want or not.

And you seem to be listening as well, and taking on board peoples comments.

Nicely done.



Ian.

 

[PereguineFalcon]

Well, first off i wouldn't dive head first into trying to keep a planted tank. Start off with a FEW very hardy plants like java fern or hygro. I think that you should stick with tetras, gouramis, and otos. until you have gotten a feeling for how things go with keeping them. It can be tricky and frustrating at times but you must remember we have ALL been through rough times! Good luck! And ixnay on the bala shark.

 

[White Whale]

Well, first off i wouldn't dive head first into trying to keep a planted tank. Start off with a FEW very hardy plants like java fern or hygro. I think that you should stick with tetras, gouramis, and otos. until you have gotten a feeling for how things go with keeping them. It can be tricky and frustrating at times but you must remember we have ALL been through rough times! Good luck! And ixnay on the bala shark.

I've had horrible luck with plants all my life. I intend a very realistic artificially planted aquarium.