Need centerpiece fish advice, please

[hazyvonne]

I have a 2-year-old, well-planted 20g tank that currently houses 14 Neon Tetras and 3 Otos. I'd like to add about 10 cherry shrimp, but would also like to add a centerpiece fish to it. From a stocking perspective, I don't have room for a whole group of fish. So, I was hoping for a fish that can live peacefully in this community while being happy solo or maybe as a pair. If the shrimp are an issue, I could skip them. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Back in the fold]

You have an aquarium that’s been fine for two years ? I would leave it like it is. You have what everyone wants. An aquarium that works. I bet those 14 Neon Tetras look nice among your plants.

 

[Ellie Potts]

I agree that leaving it as it is could be a good idea. A problem-less tank is a blessing. But, if you're getting bored of the same old every day and aren't in the position for another tank, I'd maybe consider a honey gourami? Haven't kept them but have heard good things.

 

[Byron]

With a very few exceptions, what most people mean by "centerpiece fish" does not work in a tank less than 3 feet/90 cm in length.

I also agree with others above who suggest leaving well enough alone...though I would say that there certainly is room for another fish species provided it is the right match. Neons remain in the lower half. Otos you don't see if there are lots of plants, but they are all over the tank and don't really count when considering "space" in the tank. I would look for a small "nano" type fish that will most probably be a shoaling/schooling species, which means a group of 10-12. There are many possible, and these do tend to remain in the upper half. Ember Tetras, or one of the dwarf rasboras in Boraras. A group of Nannostomus eques, a pencilfish that is not bright in colour but its oblique swimming at the surface and extreme peacefulness make it a winner in any tank. Considering the bottom, a group of pygmy coriesis another possible, if you have sand.

This is only dealing with numbers and species. No mention has been made of the water parameters which might affect these species. And 20g is it a standard (24 inches/60 cm length) or a long (30 inches, 75 cm length)?

 

[hazyvonne]

You have an aquarium that’s been fine for two years ? I would leave it like it is. You have what everyone wants. An aquarium that works. I bet those 14 Neon Tetras look nice among your plants.

That sounds extremely reasonable - and yes the neons look very pretty against all that green. That was another option I considered, maybe just getting a few more neons and making a bigger school of them. I guess I'm just always itching to mess with my tanks

 

[hazyvonne]

With a very few exceptions, what most people mean by "centerpiece fish" does not work in a tank less than 3 feet/90 cm in length.

I also agree with others above who suggest leaving well enough alone...though I would say that there certainly is room for another fish species provided it is the right match. Neons remain in the lower half. Otos you don't see if there are lots of plants, but they are all over the tank and don't really count when considering "space" in the tank. I would look for a small "nano" type fish that will most probably be a shoaling/schooling species, which means a group of 10-12. There are many possible, and these do tend to remain in the upper half. Ember Tetras, or one of the dwarf rasboras in Boraras. A group of Nannostomus eques, a pencilfish that is not bright in colour but its oblique swimming at the surface and extreme peacefulness make it a winner in any tank. Considering the bottom, a group of pygmy coriesis another possible, if you have sand.

This is only dealing with numbers and species. No mention has been made of the water parameters which might affect these species. And 20g is it a standard (24 inches/60 cm length) or a long (30 inches, 75 cm length)?

I appreciate your advice. The tank is a standard 20g High. Temp is about 76F. I check parameters every week and do a 25-30% weekly water change. Another group of nano fish might be a good idea. I had actually considered adding maybe 6 pygmy corys. Because a) I adore corys and b) those neons are so darn tiny I have a tendency to overfeed them a little so a cleaning crew on the ground might be helpful.

 

[Byron]

I appreciate your advice. The tank is a standard 20g High. Temp is about 76F. I check parameters every week and do a 25-30% weekly water change. Another group of nano fish might be a good idea. I had actually considered adding maybe 6 pygmy corys. Because a) I adore corys and b) those neons are so darn tiny I have a tendency to overfeed them a little so a cleaning crew on the ground might be helpful.

You would need a group of 12-15 pygmy cories [this is not a problem from what you've detailed on this tank]. And, they do not clean up food, they must have specific food meant for cories to avoid health issues.

Never overfeed, this has several detriments. We tend to feed way too much; once a day, minimal, then fasting the fish one, two or even three days a week will do more good than harm. Fish do not need all that energy, and they should always appear hungry.

 

[hazyvonne]

You would need a group of 12-15 pygmy cories [this is not a problem from what you've detailed on this tank]. And, they do not clean up food, they must have specific food meant for cories to avoid health issues.

Never overfeed, this has several detriments. We tend to feed way too much; once a day, minimal, then fasting the fish one, two or even three days a week will do more good than harm. Fish do not need all that energy, and they should always appear hungry.

Thank you for that! I used to feed all my fish once a day but then somebody in my LFS told me that fish, especially nano fish, need to be fed twice a day. I'll go back to feeding once a day.
When you say special food for corys do you mean "bottom feeder" food? I usually feed the cories in my 55g BugBites Bottom Feeder formula (well, whatever the platys don't steal - they are real piggies )

 

[Byron]

Thank you for that! I used to feed all my fish once a day but then somebody in my LFS told me that fish, especially nano fish, need to be fed twice a day. I'll go back to feeding once a day.
When you say special food for corys do you mean "bottom feeder" food? I usually feed the cories in my 55g BugBites Bottom Feeder formula (well, whatever the platys don't steal - they are real piggies )

Bug Bites is ideal. Cories feed on insects, insect larvae and crustaceans in the habitats. Frozen daphnia is good, and frozen shrimp. mega One Shrimp Pellets are good quality food for cories too.

 

[sharkweek178]

Thank you for that! I used to feed all my fish once a day but then somebody in my LFS told me that fish, especially nano fish, need to be fed twice a day. I'll go back to feeding once a day.
When you say special food for corys do you mean "bottom feeder" food? I usually feed the cories in my 55g BugBites Bottom Feeder formula (well, whatever the platys don't steal - they are real piggies )

Keep on mind that the guy at the fish store and the people who make food are trying to sell that food. If you feed twice a day, you'll buy twice as much food. Which isn't better for the fish, but it is for their profits.

 

[Fray]

I've just added platinum ricefish to one of my tanks.
Really lovely little fish, and no problem to anyone. And really look good in a planted.
They use the whole tank and are quite the busy bodies. Very curious. Always trying to socialise with the panda cories, who mostly ignore them, but they keep trying.
Any tank maintenance I'm doing, they are right there, usually in the way, but no fear at all.
They have become one of my favorites...

 

[otterblue]

You may also want to get more otos since they like to be in a larger group.

 

[sharkweek178]

Thank you for that! I used to feed all my fish once a day but then somebody in my LFS told me that fish, especially nano fish, need to be fed twice a day. I'll go back to feeding once a day.
When you say special food for corys do you mean "bottom feeder" food? I usually feed the cories in my 55g BugBites Bottom Feeder formula (well, whatever the platys don't steal - they are real piggies )

If you get pygmy corys, keep in mind that they have very small mouths. So the food you give them has to be able to fit into their mouths. I grind up Bug Bites Bottom Feeder formula or Omega One Catfish pellets with a mortar and pestle to almost a powder. Frozen foods like daphnia or baby brine shrimp are already small enough for them to eat. But something like regular brine shrimp or bloodworms, I chop up so they can eat them. I just got a little food processor to run frozen bloodworms and brine shrimps in so that they'll be small enough for the pygmys to eat.