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I'm wondering if these can be used to cycle a tank, about schooling sizes and what can be kept with them. I have a 20 long.

I'm wondering if these can be used to cycle a tank

Heck no! They are one of the most fragile fish out there!
Schooling size should be about 6 individuals. That's the mninimum for most schooling fish. As for what can be kept with them, it's difficult. Only very tiny fish like neons would work. Since they are from vietnam and that area, though I would want to find other fish from that biotope. I'm thinking possibly cherry barbs and some kind of loaches. These are all tiny and you can have quite a number in a 20 long.

I wouldn't use them to cycle the tank, but I wouldn't call them fragile either.

They aren't really schooling fish. I have my 20 long set up as an Asian biotope which in addition to the sparkling gouramis includes: cherry barbs, harlequins, belted barbs, kuhli loaches, a honey gourami, and a Betta coccina.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

They aren't all that fragile but definitely not good tank cycling candidates. They do prefer company but aren't schooling. I'd add at least 3 and have 8 in my 20g long. Currently the only other inhabitants are 2 otos and a male and female guppy. So far I haven't seen any guppy fry because the gouramis spend all their time hunting them down. I did have them in a 55g with congo tetras, blue gourami, threadfin rainbows, plecos, cories, farlowella, and otos. They aren't too picky about tankmates just make sure nothing can eat them and they won't feel too threatened. When they think something is a threat they can turn agressive but given space or with no threats around they are mostly peaceful.