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right then...

kissing gouramis get too big for a 20g tank/ they reach 12" if I'm not mistaken. How about pearl gouramis or honey gouramis instead? although im not sure about mixing different gouramis, someone else will have to offer an opinion on that.

Also - what kind of algae eater? what kind of glass fish? if you mean regular glassfish as opposed to glass catfish, are you aware that they're almost always dyed?

Here's what I'd do:

3 dwarf gouramis - 1 male and two females, to spread the male's agreesion out
3 otocinclus (a small algae eater)
8 neon tetra


I think you could also have something else, depending on surface area and filtration. have you considered corydoras catfish? i imagine they'd be very popular with a five year old. another nice tetra is the black phantom tetra - they dont feature the bright colours of the neons but they are very striking and always chasing each otehr round the tank, so tehy add a bit of movement.

Froo is right about the gouramis. Kissing do get 12", and you shouldn't mix any but dwarfs (because they are the same, just color variations). So from these I'd choose any mix from flame, dwarf neon, powder blue, etc. It is easy to tell which gouramis are dwarfs]http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/fw/profile.asp?id=Colisa+lalia[/link] by their shape. Their dorsal fin, tail and anal fin almost seem to come together to be one large fin from their back to their belly. Gouramis such as a [link=three spot and kissing are bigger and have a much smaller dorsal fin.

As for the neons, I would recommend instead cardinal tetras. They look exactly like neons, but their red stripe continues all the way through their tail and they have a much higher survival rate. However, they are sometimes hard to find in stores. As with all tetras, they need to be kept in a group of at least 6, as they are schooling fish.

Otos are HIGHLY effective algae eaters, and they're cute.

Froo is also right about the glassfish. Did you mean glass catfish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/fw/profile.asp?id=Kryptopterus+bicirrhis[/link] or [link=glassfish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/fw/profile.asp?id=Parambassis+ranga[/link] ? Glass cats would be ok, but glassfish are VERY hard to find non [link=dyed

Have you considered swordtails]http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/fw/profile.asp?id=Xiphophorus+hellerii[/link] and [link=cories ? However, the cories are schoolers as well so if you go with them you need at least 6. You'll just have to watch for overstocking if you do.


edit: I'd say a good stock list for you to choose from is (there I go with the overstocking again 'tis a nasty habit):
2 dwarf gouramis
the existing platties
6-8 cardinal tetras
2 glass catfish (if thats what you want)
3 or 4 otos
6 cories
1 male 2 female swords


Let us know what you think

[span class="edited"][Edited by gartenzwerfe 2004-08-12 11:20][/span]

I'd go with:

the platies you have
a dwarf gourami
school of tetras (6)
school of cories

Cories help keep the bottom clean and are quite entertaining, my kids all like them

If you did mean glassfish, one problem you might have is they need to have some salt in their water.

Hopefully your 2 platies are 1M/2F...if not you might want to increase your number of platies so females outnumber males.

[span class="edited"][Edited by Theresa_M 2004-08-12 11:16][/span]

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

i think the best fish for kids are the schooling fish. they're are interesting to watch, and are great educational tool, IMO.
so a school of tetras, cardinals, danios, or any other fish (stick to the hardy ones, to evade the inevitable "why is this fish floating?"

gouramis are very nice and graceful, but they are very timid. give them good places to hide under (leaves are optimal). i think you can also have 2 male dwarf gouramis in a 20g tank. at first they'll stick together, frightened of the acid-taking danio's running around. later, as they accomodate, they'll split the tank between them, and won't bother each other too much.

ottos are very cute and wonderful algea eaters. they can also hide in plain sight.

whatever you do, do it slowly, not to strain the mini-ecosystem of the tank.

Wow, great ideas. But are you guys overstocking me? Going with the 1 inch of fish per gallon of tank? .. Don't tempt me, or I am sure I will go right out and SLOWLY buy all the fish you guys say. hehee

From your suggestions, this is what I think I should go with. (of course I have time to decide, haven't finished cycling)

3 platies - 2.5 inch each (7.5 in total)
3 dwarf gouramis (1m/2f)- 3.5 inch each (10.5 in total)
8 Neon or Cardinal tetras - 1.2 inch each (9.6 in total)
6 corys (some kind) - varies depending on kind - 2 inch each - 12 in total)
Trumpet Snails

Okay, that gives me almost 40 inches of fish. Hmmm...and no plans for another aquarium. So, is this too much? I will be good with my water changes (weekly) and will test all needed things, and maybe upgrade my filter for a larger size tank. I have artifical plants but there is lots of hiding spots and dark corners. SO what is everyone's opinion?

Oh and one other thing, tetras are supposed to like lower pH, mine is 7.6, will they adapt?

Thanks once again!

I would only get 1 gourami. Stores very rarely stock female dwarf gouramis, since they aren't as pretty. You really seem to care about your fish.

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They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

I agree with one gourami. It could be your centerpiece fish

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

Could you give us the dimensions of the tank? Fish breather the oxygen that is dissolved in the water so a tank with large surface area can hold more fish than a same-volume tank with small surface area.

I think the infamous "1 inch per gallon" can be exceeded when stocking small fish, and with adequate filtration and maintenace. of course all tanks should have adequate filtration and maintenance so it's all good.

in addition, corydoras and tetras both produce very little waste, so they don't add much to the bioload. but you might want to consider that cardinal tetras are a bit bigger than neons.

do you have any preference as to cories? I would recommend panda, they are sweet and playful, also they attain an adult length of jsut under 2", unlike bronze and peppered which can reach 3".

Well, that sounds good, just one Gourami, makes more room. Will he get lonely? I heard they like to be in pairs? It's fine with me to only have one, just don't want it to be a stressed, or worse, dead one. hehe

Okay, without the 2 gouramis, I am still at about 32 inches of fish, (not counting the frys) Is that too overstocked? The corys sound like good bottom feeders so they should help keep the gravel clean, and the snails are good for algae, so even if it is overstocked, is it do-able?

I am not sure of the actual dims of my tank, but it is the standard aquarium size, probably 12x12x24 inches. And I plan on adding an airstone.

I have no preference for corys, just what they will have at my PetSmart...can't remember what I saw there. But, yeah, wanna go with the smaller the better. Panda's sound cool. Thanks for the suggestion.
This fish hobby thing is addicting!!! And my husband laughs at me enough for sitting and staring at the tank (okay, so I did it before there were fish in it too...)
But it is said to reduce stress and lower blood pressure, but does that work when you get so excited about new fish?? lol

Thanks Again for the advice!!


[span class="edited"][Edited by CyndieL73 2004-08-12 13:17][/span]

Hi again,

Okay, I got 3 mickey mouse platies in the tank now, while it is cycling. My pH is around 7.6, and temp has been around 76-78F. What would be some other good fish to stock this tank with, without overstocking, while still being fun to watch for my 5 yr old (And Me). Here are some fish that I like, but I know I will have to decide on only a few of them. Also, how many of each, and m/f, etc.

Dwarf Gouramis
Kissing Gouramis
Glass Fish
Algae Eater
Neon Tetra's

Oh, I also have 10 platy frys, but I am letting nature take its course with them, unless they do grow big, then I will keep them.

Thanks again

Thanks Vic, I'm tryin. Mostly cuz my hubby wants NOTHING to do with it, and he wants me to do everything. (Well, I don't like dealing with the nets, or fish who jump, or dead ones, he will deal with those).

I had fish when I was younger and loved sitting and watching them. My hubby was none too excited about getting a tank, but he knew I wasn't going to be talked out of it. He did mention that if this goes well, he wants to raise game fish in a big tank (not as fun if you ask me, but oh well). I love doing all the research, and since my tank is still cycling...what else can I do? hehe.

i agree that the stocking rule of thumb is too strict when considering such small fish. i experimented with overstocking, and got to 2inch/gallon without any side effects (as long as you pick fish that won't compete, it's ok).
as long as you add only 10% more fish every time... (minimum of 1, of course )

most of the tetras are quite though, and should be able to withstand such mild basic water.

the gourami will "feel lonely" at first. they tend to stick together at first, until they get comfortable and start fighting for territory. although he'll look somewhat miserable at first, after 2-3 weeks he should join the population and be happy with being alone just as much. just don't put him in a tank with fast-swimming fish. he might be startled from them.

sometimes the gouramis have interesting interspecies behaviors, though, and you will miss that.
i'd say keep one gourami unless you want to invest in more plants (live or plastic, broad-leaved are preferable), stick with one gourami. if you awnt to see two gouramis interact, get two, and give them enough places to keep appart from each other.

i can see in your signature that you have 10 fries?
although i'm not experienced with fries, i think the cycles of the tank might kill them, because they are still not as resilient as adults.

am i right?
if so, you might want to sell them to someone with a cycled tank.

Dwarf Gouramis are much more peaceful Fish as the Large Gouramis and do better with more than 1 in a tank...They are not as territorial as the bigger ones that sometimes dont do well with other males......these like being in groups and do well.....In this case, your bordering your limits and should only go with one, or lose another if you like these better.....

I see you want a cory, but remember they're best kept in a school of at least 6. Either pandas and albinos would be an excellent choice

I would also like to say that I'm very impressed as well that you're so careful about your selections It's a rare thing for a newbie (even though you aren't technically a newbie) to be so careful in making their selection and doing their homework. I'm impressed.

When I was about 8 I had a 2 gallon hex with 2 3-4" goldfish Glad I know better now!

If it's 24"x12"x12" it's 15 gallons - I have one like that with black phantom tetras, panda corydoras and cherry barbs.

5 tiger barbs.

Okay, thanks for the advise...again.

I measured my tank.. it is 12x14x24....and I can't wait to keep filling it.