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	Need Help with 20 Gallon H stockin
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	Ok, my 20 gallon high recently finished cycling. It currently has 4 platties in it. My main concern now is a centerpiece fish. I had originally wanted to get a pair of Bolivian rams but I can't seem to find any around here. I want to get a cichlid of some sort, but my only option to get fish really are Petsmart and Petco, but I prefer petsmart caz the fish I better. So I then considered a Dwarf Gourami or 2, but I heard that 2 can be a bad idea. So I need some ideas about a centerpiece type fish that can be found at petsmart.
Posted 03-Feb-2006 05:31
jasonpisani Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 5553 Kudos: 7215 Votes: 1024 Registered: 24-Feb-2003	You can add a Pearl Gourami without any problems, as they're colourful & peaceful. 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
Posted 03-Feb-2006 09:14
djtj Fish Master Posts: 1764 Kudos: 885 Votes: 49 Registered: 20-Feb-2003	If you don't want 2 dwarf gouramis, just get 1. It'll be fine.
Posted 03-Feb-2006 18:54
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	Well I would want 2, but I don't know if I can have them. But I also want to know what some other options I could have for a centerpiece fish besides a gourami or another bigger fish that I could have with a gourami.
Posted 03-Feb-2006 19:12
GirlieGirl8519 Fish Master Malawi Planter Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005	If you only have 4 platies in there now, you could have a centerpiece school...like some kind of tetras or harliquin rasporas. Just a thought. *Kristin*
Posted 03-Feb-2006 19:22
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	Do you mean a centerpiece school along with a bigger centerpiece fish? Because I would like to have at least one if not more bigger fish, because I don't want to have a tank that's just full of alot of small fish.
Posted 03-Feb-2006 19:32
GirlieGirl8519 Fish Master Malawi Planter Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005	There are not many "large" fish that can be put in pairs in a 20g tank. One dwarf gourami, one male betta, a pearl gourami, or a bolivian ram are pretty much the only suggestions and all are not readily available. A 20g will not house the larger gourami types or an angel. *Kristin*
Posted 03-Feb-2006 20:53
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	Ok how bout this 1 Gourami (Either Dwarf, Blue or Opaline) the 4 platties that are already in there 6 harliquin rasporas or Bloodfin Tetra's If I do that would I still be able to add some cory's for the bottom?
Posted 04-Feb-2006 02:31
GirlieGirl8519 Fish Master Malawi Planter Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005	Sounds great. And yes you would still have room for cories. I love Harlies and may get some myself for a 38g I will be setting up soon. I hear that Opaline gouramis are a good choice. I think one would make a nice centerpiece fish. *Kristin*
Posted 04-Feb-2006 07:26
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	So I wouldn't be overstocked with all those fish? Someone told me I would be.
Posted 04-Feb-2006 20:30
djtj Fish Master Posts: 1764 Kudos: 885 Votes: 49 Registered: 20-Feb-2003	Actually a coral blue dwarf gourami would be a better choice than an opaline as they are 1/3 of the size and look identical.
Posted 04-Feb-2006 20:55
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	Well I decided I'm gonna get a dwarf gourami.
Posted 04-Feb-2006 21:14
GirlieGirl8519 Fish Master Malawi Planter Posts: 1468 Kudos: 1029 Votes: 35 Registered: 25-Mar-2005	Great. No, I don't think you would be overstocked. Just keep up with weekly water changes and watch the water parameters. *Kristin*
Posted 04-Feb-2006 22:47
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	Hmm, I'm not trying to make it sound like I don't beleive in you're advice GirlieGirl8519, but a couple of people on a different forum have told me that my tank would be overstocked with that list. So if you could go into some detail about how it wouldn't be overstocked that woul dbe great If anyone else has an opinion that would be great too. Again i value the help you have given me so far GirlieGirl8519 I just don't want to buy too many fish.
Posted 05-Feb-2006 02:57
weird22person Enthusiast Posts: 163 Kudos: 106 Votes: 11 Registered: 21-Feb-2005	With dwarf gouramis it is a good idea to aviod the powder blue variation. They are noticably more delicate. 20 Gallon Long: Aquaclear 300 2 Bolivian Rams, Mikrogeophagus altispinosus: Gumby and Pokey
Posted 05-Feb-2006 03:16
Fallout Moderator Communications Specialist Posts: 6416 Kudos: 4053 Votes: 742 Registered: 29-Jul-2000	With that stocking you are suggesting, you'll be at capacity, and with regular maintenance will not have a problem. The problem with 20H tanks is that while the volume is 20 gallons, the lower surface area provides less real estate for surface agitation and therefore gas exchange, resulting in a diminished capacity for fish. But, like i said before, you will be fine.
Posted 05-Feb-2006 10:06
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	Alright that makes me happy . But will I have to get a smaller variety of cory's? I know they like to school, but I won't be able to get 6 like they suggest. I would be able to get bout 4 tops right?
Posted 05-Feb-2006 10:41
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	Bump for my last question
Posted 07-Feb-2006 01:59
dvmchrissy Big Fish Posts: 477 Kudos: 301 Votes: 38 Registered: 09-Oct-2005	What about Keyhole Cichlids? They are very cute. I am going to get a pair for my 55 when I get it set up. They are very peaceful fish. Even a little timid at times. Here is a link about them http://fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/181.htm
Posted 07-Feb-2006 03:06
AxlRose Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 3 Votes: 0 Registered: 02-Feb-2006	I don;t think I can find any keyhold cichlids around here, but I already got the gourami anyways. Thanks for the suggestion though. And my question about the cory's still stands.
Posted 08-Feb-2006 00:15
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