FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I am pretty new to this hobby and was wondering if I could glean some of the collective wisdom here.

I have a 20G Tall Aquarium with an Eclipse Hood. There isn't currently much in it right now. I was thinking about putting the following in it:

8 Neon Tetras
4 Harelquin Rasboras

I would like some kind of centerpiece fish, but I don't want something that would over stock the tank.

Any thoughts? I like the way Rainbow Sharks or YoYo Loaches look, but I don't know if either of these are good for a beginner.


Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

Well, a tall tank really limits the length of the tank, and active fish (like red-tailed sharks) really need that length. Yoyo loaches might not be a bad choice, though. I don't think they are a bad beginner fish, and a group of about 4 of them should be fine. Provide them hiding places like small caves and driftwood for shelter. Cory cats would be another good choice.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

Thanks for the advice. I have a question on the YoYos though. You mention adding four, but that would be an additional 16 inches of fish (based on their profile).

With the schooling fish mentioned earlier would that overload the tank?
Does the fact that they inhabit the bottom make it OK or would it still be too much bioload for the tank?

One of the reasons I liked the shark is that it is a solitary fish. Let me know what you all think.




Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

I would go with :-

8 Neon Tetras, 6 Harelquin Rasboras, 6 Corydoras & a Pearl Gourami, as a centrepiece fish.



http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/s8xi5heh/my_photos
http://www.geocities.com/s8xi5heh/classic_blue.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buzaqq/
http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

You could get something like:
6 Neon Tetras
6 Harlequin Rasboras
5 Yoyos
1 dwarf gourami

That would just be ok, as the tetras have a very small bio-load and take up little space.

As well as your proposed Neons and Harlequin Rasboras, I'd make the following suggestions:

[1] Get 8 Corydoras habrosus. The Dainty Cory, Corydoras habrosus, is one of the smallest Corys, and a shoal of 8 will sit nicely in your aquarium. These are fishes that I'd categorise as 'peaceful but slightly loopy' once they're settled in conditions that they like, because they perform silly tricks such as surfing powerhead bubbles and playing tag with each other among the assorted aquarium furnishings - they're delightful to watch, have cute faces, and little personalities all of their own. Because they are such a small species, you could have 8 in there no trouble, and of course, because they are one of the small Corys (and thus more in need of companions), I'd get 8 as a minimum to keep them happy. Acclimatise with some care, feed them well in the first week after acclimatisation (and set out to feed them specially - don't just let them have the other fishes' left-overs!) and they'll reward you with the possible patter of tiny Cory fins in the future!

[2] Honey Gourami. Believe it or not, the Honey Gourami is actually slightly smaller than the Dwarf Gourami. Strange, I know, but such is life. It's also a better choice for a beginner for several reasons. Now I don't know what the situation outside of my area is, but my LFS never sells single Dwarf Gouramis - he always sells male/female pairs. Honey Gouramis, on the other hand, are sold singly. A little local anomaly that may be replicated elsewhere! Honey Gouramis are also somewhat more peaceful - Dwarf Gourami males can become a little touchy when the hormones start a-flowing, and they can be pretty rough with the females in the run up to breeding. Honey Gourami males are less likely to be fractious at breeding time, are les aggressive toward the females, and a really good male in tip top condition is a vastly underestimated spectacle - fine males are superb fishes, resplendent in red with a blue throat and a yellow dorsal fin. Get a male, because females are drab by comparison - unless of course you find a male/female pair, which you would have room for if you followed my suggestion above with the habrosus Corys.

Oh, and make sure you have some decent plants in there (even if they're fake ones). Give your fishes some hiding places and furnishings to play with! In the case of the Corys, a nice, hollow piece of bogwood with lots of holes in will make a very nice adventure playground for them that they'll thank you very much for, giving you the opportunity of seeing them popping in and out of holes here there and everywhere - non-stop entertainment! Pop in a couple of floating plants too, so that if you get a pair of Honey Gouramis, you might see them build a bubble nest and spawn!


Last edited by Calilasseia at 19-Jan-2006 15:58

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Thanks everyone for these great ideas. I'll have to see what my LFS carries. Once I know what they've got or can get, I'll post what I have settled on.

My wife liked the little Corys though so they are front runners!

Thanks again!





Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums

I would suggest cories over yoyo's. Only because they do get about 4" and are pretty big. Mine are very playful with each other in my 55g and would really enjoy more room. How long in your tank? I know it is tall but I don't know the length of a 20g Tall.

Cories are playful also, but are smaller.

My yoyos like to swim around from cave to cave and really love the swimming space. They stay on the bottom...so need a longer tank. (IMO)

*Kristin*

GirlieGirl,

My 20 Tall is about 2 feet across. So you are probably right that the YoYos would feel cramped. I just hope my LFS carries the little Habrosus corys.


Rick
See all my pictures at Google Web Albums