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