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I'm going to help my aunt set up what we believe is a 20usg long, its either 36x12x12 or 30x12x12, she couldnt find her measuring tape ] it is installed in the wall of her new house.

We're up for basically anything thats relatively undemanding. I plan on helping her put in a couple plants, too.

The catch is, it must include a betta. I spent some time at a college this summer and i missed my fish back home so much that i went out and bought a betta. his name is zack and he now belongs to my aunt since i couldnt take him home on the airplane.

so what would be good tankmates for zack? I was thinking maybe some cardinal tetras, i dont know what else. could some yo-yo loaches fit in there or is it too small?

oh btw zack is blue, this color so some fish suggestions that would compliment him nicely would be great

I'm not much for matching colors, but I can suggest some peaceful, hardy tankmates.

Cories would be great, since they're small, tough, and entertaining. Keep in mind that they should be kept in groups of at least six.
A small, peaceful tetra would be a good option. Colorwise, I like rummynose tetras, but they can be delicate at times. Cardinals wouldn't be a bad choice.
Sometimes, dwarf gouramis can be kept with bettas. I think that a single dwarf gourami should be fine, as long as its personality doesn't clash with the betta's. (Aka, the two fight)

So, here's my proposed stocking list:
1 male betta
1 dwarf gourami
7 cardinal tetras
6 cories (preferably a smaller variety)

I hope I've helped you some.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I don't think I'd put yoyos in a 20g. They grow to ~4" and need to be in groups of at least three or four. Cories might be a better choice for bottom feeders.

Cardinal tetras would be nice or harlequin rasboras...maybe wander the lfs in your area, see what's available and what interests you.

One good-sized school, the betta, and some cories is what I'd recommend

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

ok yeah i kinda figured yoyo's were too big. so how about like zack, 6 smallish corys, and like 8 cards? is that full up or could we put in like a pair of some other smallish colorful fish like cherry barbs?

Hmmmm...those fish would probably work together, it might be pushing it for stock. What kind of filter are you running? I really do like cherries, a pair would give some nice red color to the tank. If you want them maybe cut back on the cards to six? It also depends on what size cories you get. I've found pygmy cories available locally, very cute and active, and they only grow to 1".


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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

how about
8 cards
6 albino cories
1 male betta
1 honey gourmis

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''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

Your ideas seem fine.
You just need to remember that there shouldn't be any fin nippers (as some tetras are) or anyone with flowy fins.

Have you had this betta with other fish before? If you haven't, you should probably avoid fishes that will occupy the same tank level to be safe.

this fish has never been with other fish to my knowledge, thats why im kinda hesitant to add a gourami.... especially since gouramis are hit or miss, you can buy and return 10 of them before you get one whose not a jerk haha

I'd be wary about putting any type of gourami with a betta...they will most likely go after each other, and you could wind up with one dead fish (or two). Of course, there are always exceptions because of personality, etc, but it would be best to avoid tankmates that are so similar. I know my two honey gouramis would go after my betta if they had a chance--they like to swim around the whole tank--sometimes bickering at each other.

Since the betta will take up the top part of the tank, I like the idea of cardinals and cories. They take up the middle and bottom parts. I would actually lean towards something like a bolivam ram, that spends most of its time on the bottom. Mine minds his own buisness...doesn't squabble with the gouramis. Of course, in fishkeeping, nothing is set in stone...

EDIT: I realized that this is a 20 gallon... the cards, betta and cories would just about max out the bio-load...forget about the idea of a ram

Last edited by solublefish at 08-Nov-2004 20:24

I think am going to try and talk her into getting a good filter, and go for zack + 8 cards, 6 corys (pygmy if i can find them!), and 2 cherry barbs. i dont think that will be too bad overstocking wise. this stocking also depends on what the LFS near her has. she lives in cape canaveral FL, and i live in MA, so i havent even been to any LFS's around there.