what you think

[FrAnK3333]

i think i might return my pitcus.. i like them but the acting weird and its jsut an idea but would this work
-5 neons
-5 zebras
-2 german blue rams
-1 clown loach (he is only an inch)
-2 ottos
maybe 2 gold rams, i really im liking rams, and maybe 2 bolvain rams but i cant find any
will this fit in a 20 long

 

[cluster]

sounds pretty good, have all of them together except the loach and danios

i have rams,corys,neons,ottos and broneo suckers in my 29G all get along real good, you never considered corys? i think they are great and fun to watch

 

[FrAnK3333]

my loach and danios do fine, i have considered coryies but would they fit with what i want?

 

[cluster]

im sure they will work with loaches, i know they will work with the rest

 

[FrAnK3333]

would what i have listed work in my 20L?

 

[enchanted]

FrAnK3333 - What you have listed may not be overstock at the moment but will become that, and sooner than you think. Unless you are planning to upgrade to a bigger tank I would recommend removing the Clown Loach.

With the rest you are right at stocking and I wouldn't add anymore fish.

 

[Morrgan]

-5 neons
-5 zebras
-2 german blue rams
-1 clown loach (he is only an inch)
-2 ottos
maybe 2 gold rams, i really im liking rams, and maybe 2 bolvain rams but i cant find any
will this fit in a 20 long

My thoughts:

First of all, clown loaches are social fish and should never be kept alone. Also, they grow VERY big. An at least 6-7 foot long tank is recommended for a group of clown loaches.

Ottos are schooling fish as well, so there should be more of them.

Instead of 5 neons and 5 zebra danios, consider getting 10 of either species. The fish will feel more secure in a big school.

One pair of rams is enough, there just isn't enough room for two or more territories in a 20 gal.

 

[enchanted]

Ottos are not a schooling fish, but are a shoaling fish. For shoaling fish it is usually recommended 3 or more, but 2 is fine.

As for the neons/danios. I think they would be fine in schools of 5.

 

[FrAnK3333]

err the clown is only an inch he stays until he can get bigger, which ive read they grow an inch a year, then he will be moved, i move him now he'll be fish food. so no on the rams i really love them i want more

 

[Morrgan]

Ottos are not a schooling fish, but are a shoaling fish. For shoaling fish it is usually recommended 3 or more, but 2 is fine.

As for the neons/danios. I think they would be fine in schools of 5.

Actually, I have been told ottos are schooling fish. The recommended school size is around 10 individuals.

As for the neons and danios, I said they would be happier in a larger group and this is true. I asked Frank to consider this option for the good of the fish, not that he couldn't choose both.

The funny thing about shoaling fish is that sometimes they ideally need an even bigger group than schooling ones. For example tiger barbs are shoaling fish. If they are kept in small groups, say 4, chances are they will bother other fish. If the group is 6-8, the weakest of the group can be harassed by the stronger barbs. In groups of 10 or more, the "aggressions" are spread out more and even the weak individuals can live in relative peace.

 

[FrAnK3333]

i consider all advice also in this book i have im reading it says that the more suface area the more fish u can which mine has the surface area of a 29 gallon though, and forget about the ottos consider everything else on list im not getting anymore catfish for a while

 

[sylvia]

If you get rid of the pictus cats AND the clown loach (you'd better do this very soon - they need to be in groups of at least 3) you can have 6 neons, 5 zebra danios, 4 german blue/gold rams altogether. Bolivian rams are more aggressive and the otos would be better in a group of 3 but you agreed not to get them or you'd be over-stocked anyway and the tetras in a group of 6 would be much happier. Idealy, you should stick to just 2 rams but 4 does work provided you provide them with hiding places (rockwork is best).

As for the shoaling/schooling dilemma Personaly I preffer not to generalise . In the wild any of these fish would be found in MUCH larger groups and it is the individual species and the available space that it comes down to when deciding how many of each to keep. We consider 4 to be the minnimum for cories yet in the wild they are found in groups of hundreds. The same can be said for space - fish like bettas have whole fields to themselves yet we keep them in little jars arguing that in the wild they live all their lives in puddles when even a rice paddy holds more water than a half-gallon jar (and yes I know this is necessary for breeders and stuff it just seems like a good example) and a white cloud mountain minnow has a whole river yet a 10 gallon is acceptable.

 

[FrAnK3333]

well i took the pitcus back, got $6 for both, thats what i paid for them, and i bought 3 .5 " zebras which and scoaling with my other zebras as we speak
this is what im thinking to add to my current fish
2 german blue rams
2 gold rams
some neons

 

[sylvia]

"... 3 .5 " zebras ..."

Umm shurely that's a typo? Zebra danios don't get much larger than 1.5 inches... If they are that large you can't afford to put all those fish in the tank... If it was a typo that would be fine but you still need to re-home the clown loach soon and add some more hiding places for the rams.

 

[Streetracer]

I think he meant a quantity of (3) Zebra Danios which are about .5" long. Hence the space between the "3" and the "." That's just my take on it though. As long as I learn I will make mistakes.