Suggestions

[Klane]

I have a 20 gal long with 6 Zebra Danio's and 7 Neon Tetras. I'm
looking for another fish, something colorful or at least interesting,
to put in with them. I have tried Dwarf Gouramis but have had very
little luck. Both have died, and I noticed that they did have nipped
fins, so something the other fish might nip at might not be a very good
idea.

Thanks in advance,
Klane

[Steve]

Klane wrote:
> I have a 20 gal long with 6 Zebra Danio's and 7 Neon Tetras. I'm
> looking for another fish, something colorful or at least interesting,
> to put in with them. I have tried Dwarf Gouramis but have had very
> little luck. Both have died, and I noticed that they did have nipped
> fins, so something the other fish might nip at might not be a very good
> idea.
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Klane
>
How about bottom dweller(s)?

A school of small cory cats, or a single "small" pl*co such as bristle
nose or clown pl*c?

With 13 fish in 20 gallons you may already be near the practical limit
for your aquarium, though.

Steve

[Koi-lo]

"Klane" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>I have a 20 gal long with 6 Zebra Danio's and 7 Neon Tetras. I'm
> looking for another fish, something colorful or at least interesting,
> to put in with them. I have tried Dwarf Gouramis but have had very
> little luck. Both have died, and I noticed that they did have nipped
> fins, so something the other fish might nip at might not be a very good
> idea.
=========================
Three clown loaches would go nice as would a pair of pearl or blue gouramis.
Watch those zebra danios. I've seen them nip long fins on male guppies,
angel fish and gouramies.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy/Aquarium-Page4.html
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~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Steve]

Koi-lo wrote:
>
> "Klane" > wrote in message
> ups.com...
>
>> I have a 20 gal long with 6 Zebra Danio's and 7 Neon Tetras. I'm
>> looking for another fish, something colorful or at least interesting,
>> to put in with them. I have tried Dwarf Gouramis but have had very
>> little luck. Both have died, and I noticed that they did have nipped
>> fins, so something the other fish might nip at might not be a very good
>> idea.
>
> =========================
> Three clown loaches would go nice as would a pair of pearl or blue
> gouramis. Watch those zebra danios. I've seen them nip long fins on
> male guppies, angel fish and gouramies.

Clown loaches are great but the aquarium's much too small. These fish
easily reach 6 fat inches, and in nature they reach 12 inches.

I like the blue gourami idea, but the OP should only get one, because
they're fairly territorial.

The OP should probably stick to "easy" and peaceful fish for the time
being. Platies or swordtails if the water is at least moderately hard,
perhaps a group of cherry barbs, a school of harlequins, other tetras
besides the neons, or cory cats/ 1 small pl*co as suggested earlier.
Another very interesting fish that I once had long ago, is the kuhlii
loach. I think web posts say they should be in a group, but mine was
alone and disappeared for weeks (buried in sand substrate).

Good luck to the OP, but the aquariums is pretty full already.

Hello Klane (OP), did you not start with a tiny Sponge Bob tank within
the last year and post here about it? If so, the 20 gal is a great step
forward - way to go :) !
Steve

[Koi-lo]

"Steve" > wrote in message
.. .
> Koi-lo wrote:
>>
>> "Klane" > wrote in message
>> ups.com...
>>
>>> I have a 20 gal long with 6 Zebra Danio's and 7 Neon Tetras. I'm
>>> looking for another fish, something colorful or at least interesting,
>>> to put in with them. I have tried Dwarf Gouramis but have had very
>>> little luck. Both have died, and I noticed that they did have nipped
>>> fins, so something the other fish might nip at might not be a very good
>>> idea.
>>
>> =========================
>> Three clown loaches would go nice as would a pair of pearl or blue
>> gouramis. Watch those zebra danios. I've seen them nip long fins on male
>> guppies, angel fish and gouramies.
>
> Clown loaches are great but the aquarium's much too small. These fish
> easily reach 6 fat inches, and in nature they reach 12 inches.

Whoops, I was thinking *30L*... not a 20L. :(

> I like the blue gourami idea, but the OP should only get one, because
> they're fairly territorial.

I'm thinking of a pair.

> The OP should probably stick to "easy" and peaceful fish for the time
> being. Platies or swordtails if the water is at least moderately hard,
> perhaps a group of cherry barbs, a school of harlequins, other tetras
> besides the neons, or cory cats/

I agree. The platies and swords would be most colorful, but male swords are
worse than male gouramis in my experience - they also jump. The tank needs
to be well covered to keep them from committing suicide. A trio of swords
or a trio of platies would do it. I personally grew bored with cory cats.
They're not colorful and they stay on the bottom and don't do anything
interesting. I sort of saw them as the "trash men" of the tank.

1 small pl*co as suggested earlier.
> Another very interesting fish that I once had long ago, is the kuhlii
> loach. I think web posts say they should be in a group, but mine was alone
> and disappeared for weeks (buried in sand substrate).

A buried fish doesn't sound like it would be too colorful or interesting.
Just my opinion here...... but who's to account for taste? :-)

> Good luck to the OP, but the aquariums is pretty full already.

But what he has are "small" fish. He has room for a few more with good
filtration and water changes.

--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy/Aquarium-Page4.html
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Klane]

Guilty as charged when it comes to starting out with the SpongeBob
tank. We've got the 20 gallon now and a 5 gallon with a Betta. Who
needs crack when you have fish?

I did try a Betta in the large tank, after the Blue Dwarf Gourami died.
After keeping a close eye on it, we moved it back to the 5 gallon
within a week because of fin nipping. He is much happier now.

Klane

[Steve]

Koi-lo wrote:
>
> Steve wrote:
>> I like the blue gourami idea, but the OP should only get one, because
>> they're fairly territorial.
>
>
> I'm thinking of a pair.
>

I bought 2 blue gourami in the spring thinking they were a pair -
impulse purchase. However, they clearly are male. There is obvious
tension between them, but I think it'll be ok because they're in a
planted 90 gal aquarium.

>> The OP should probably stick to "easy" and peaceful fish for the time
>> being. Platies or swordtails if the water is at least moderately hard,
>> perhaps a group of cherry barbs, a school of harlequins, other tetras
>> besides the neons, or cory cats/
>
>
> I agree. The platies and swords would be most colorful, but male swords
> are worse than male gouramis in my experience - they also jump. The
> tank needs to be well covered to keep them from committing suicide. A
> trio of swords or a trio of platies would do it. I personally grew
> bored with cory cats. They're not colorful and they stay on the bottom
> and don't do anything interesting. I sort of saw them as the "trash
> men" of the tank.
>

Male swordtails certainly are active, and that's one of their attractive
features. I agree on the aquarium lid - keeps the cat out, too :) .

Cories are soooo cute when they pose on the bottom or a plant leaf. Some
have attractive patterns, and it's interesting when they occasionally
dash up for a bubble of air.

>
>> Another very interesting fish that I once had long ago, is the kuhlii
>> loach. I think web posts say they should be in a group, but mine was
>> alone and disappeared for weeks (buried in sand substrate).
>
>
> A buried fish doesn't sound like it would be too colorful or
> interesting. Just my opinion here...... but who's to account for taste?
> :-)
>

It was interesting that the fish could be gone for weeks, then
re-appear. The little face sticking out of the mud occasionally was
interesting too. Kuhlii loaches have a nice colour and pattern, and with
a gravel substrate they might not dig in(?). They'd no doubt like bits
of abs pipe to hide in, though.

>> Good luck to the OP, but the aquariums is pretty full already.
>
>
> But what he has are "small" fish. He has room for a few more with good
> filtration and water changes.
>

I agree that in a filtered, established long 20 gallon aquarium there
may be room for a few more fish.
Steve

[Steve]

Klane wrote:
> Guilty as charged when it comes to starting out with the SpongeBob
> tank. We've got the 20 gallon now and a 5 gallon with a Betta. Who
> needs crack when you have fish?
>
> I did try a Betta in the large tank, after the Blue Dwarf Gourami died.
> After keeping a close eye on it, we moved it back to the 5 gallon
> within a week because of fin nipping. He is much happier now.
>
> Klane
>

Thanks for sharing the information about your aquariums.

Although I've kept aquariums for most of 40 years, my teen-aged daughter
brought home a tiny "aqua-buddies" plastic bowl with a dwarf african
frog a few years ago. We soon upgraded her to a 2-gallon plastic
aquarium much like your Sponge-Bob tank, but unfiltered. That's all she
could fit into her bookshelf where she wanted it.

The frog survived 8 months to a year with regular water changes, and
then she got a betta and heater. After having the betta a year my
daughter went away to university, and I looked after the betta another 6
months until it died. Now I raise snails in the 2 gallon plastic
aquarium. Guess I remembered your small aquarium because of my daughter's.

Steve

[Koi-lo]

"Steve" > wrote in message
.. .
> Koi-lo wrote:
>> Steve wrote:
>>> I like the blue gourami idea, but the OP should only get one, because
>>> they're fairly territorial.
>>
>>
>> I'm thinking of a pair.
>>
>
> I bought 2 blue gourami in the spring thinking they were a pair - impulse
> purchase. However, they clearly are male. There is obvious tension between
> them, but I think it'll be ok because they're in a planted 90 gal
> aquarium.

Then it should work out.

>>> The OP should probably stick to "easy" and peaceful fish for the time
>>> being. Platies or swordtails if the water is at least moderately hard,
>>> perhaps a group of cherry barbs, a school of harlequins, other tetras
>>> besides the neons, or cory cats/
>>
>>
>> I agree. The platies and swords would be most colorful, but male swords
>> are worse than male gouramis in my experience - they also jump. The tank
>> needs to be well covered to keep them from committing suicide. A trio of
>> swords or a trio of platies would do it. I personally grew bored with
>> cory cats. They're not colorful and they stay on the bottom and don't do
>> anything interesting. I sort of saw them as the "trash men" of the tank.

> Male swordtails certainly are active, and that's one of their attractive
> features. I agree on the aquarium lid - keeps the cat out, too :) .

Outside the cichlids there aren't many colorful fish out there. Just stand
back at the fish store and look at all the tanks. Most seem to be silvery,
shiny... but not real colorful. Now look at the live-bearers and goldfish.
Lots of activity and color there.

> Cories are soooo cute when they pose on the bottom or a plant leaf. Some
> have attractive patterns, and it's interesting when they occasionally dash
> up for a bubble of air.
>
>>
>>> Another very interesting fish that I once had long ago, is the kuhlii
>>> loach. I think web posts say they should be in a group, but mine was
>>> alone and disappeared for weeks (buried in sand substrate).
>>
>>
>> A buried fish doesn't sound like it would be too colorful or interesting.
>> Just my opinion here...... but who's to account for taste? :-)
>>
>
> It was interesting that the fish could be gone for weeks, then re-appear.
> The little face sticking out of the mud occasionally was interesting too.
> Kuhlii loaches have a nice colour and pattern, and with a gravel substrate
> they might not dig in(?). They'd no doubt like bits of abs pipe to hide
> in, though.

Some fish are cute but not colorful - that's for sure. :-) I've had so
many fish over the years maybe I'm just a bit jaded. At this time I prefer
the active colorful livebearers and fancy goldfish. I also love the Malawi
cichilds but don't plan on setting up a tank for them again any time soon.
Nothing is more colorful and interesting than a tank of these cichlids.

>>> Good luck to the OP, but the aquariums is pretty full already.
>>
>>
>> But what he has are "small" fish. He has room for a few more with good
>> filtration and water changes.
>>
>
> I agree that in a filtered, established long 20 gallon aquarium there may
> be room for a few more fish.
> Steve
--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
NEW PAGE: Aquariums:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy/Aquarium-Page4.html
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Larry Blanchard]

Steve wrote:

> I agree that in a filtered, established long 20 gallon aquarium there
> may be room for a few more fish.

Especially if it's got lots of live plants.

--
It's turtles, all the way down

[teri]

>I have a 20 gal long with 6 Zebra Danio's and 7 Neon Tetras. I'm
>looking for another fish, something colorful or at least interesting,
>to put in with them. I have tried Dwarf Gouramis but have had very
>little luck. Both have died, and I noticed that they did have nipped
>fins, so something the other fish might nip at might not be a very good
>idea.
From one 20G keeper to another - my vote is for three platies, or neon
rosy barbs, I have seen them in a shiney pinkish color or more yellow.
The barbs are more active than the platies and get a little bigger.
Teri

[Jim Anderson]

In article >,
says...
>
> >I have a 20 gal long with 6 Zebra Danio's and 7 Neon Tetras. I'm
> >looking for another fish, something colorful or at least interesting,
> >to put in with them. I have tried Dwarf Gouramis but have had very
> >little luck. Both have died, and I noticed that they did have nipped
> >fins, so something the other fish might nip at might not be a very good
> >idea.
> From one 20G keeper to another - my vote is for three platies, or neon
> rosy barbs, I have seen them in a shiney pinkish color or more yellow.
> The barbs are more active than the platies and get a little bigger.
> Teri
>

I have seen reports of Neon Rosey Barbs getting to 6 inches[1], and they
are a heavy bodied fish, and need much more swimming room than a 20
gallon tank can provide.

[1]<http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/cyprinids2/p/rosybarb.htm>

--
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To eMail me, just pull "my_finger"

[teri]

>I have seen reports of Neon Rosey Barbs getting to 6 inches[1], and they
>are a heavy bodied fish, and need much more swimming room than a 20
>gallon tank can provide.
Obviously if a fish was 6 inches it would need more than a 20G tank.
Mine have topped out at 2 - 2 1/2"
YMMV.
Teri

[Jim Anderson]

In article >,
says...
>
> >I have seen reports of Neon Rosey Barbs getting to 6 inches[1], and they
> >are a heavy bodied fish, and need much more swimming room than a 20
> >gallon tank can provide.
> Obviously if a fish was 6 inches it would need more than a 20G tank.
> Mine have topped out at 2 - 2 1/2"
> YMMV.
> Teri
>

Obviously many ppl buy 2 inch plecos for their 20 gal tank too, and 2
inch snakeheads.

Just a friendly heads-up.
HAND
--
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To eMail me, just pull "my_finger"