Nice fish for a 20 gallon tank?

Question

i don't want any schooling fish (i am getting a seperate tank for some neon tetras). I was some really pretty fish.

my fiance wants sharks and catfish and "manly" fish, but he doesn't like the really small ones, and the tank isn't big enough for larger ones. Any help on ideas of pretty fish i would like, but that are big enough or "manly" enough for him to like.

p.s. no worries, i am taking care of the fish, not him. He jsut agreed to buy me a new tank if i let him help decide on the fish for his... lol

Answer 1

Get these kind of fish in pairs, Ciclids, Gouramis, barbs, red tail sharks, add some bottom feeders, a good choice are corys in groups of 3-5 to clean up.

If your hubby wants "manly" fish get a big 75g tank and raise a Pair of Oscars in it, they are big predatory fish. Other big predators include Arowana and Pacu, again larger tanks than 75g will be needed.

Answer 2

Andii,
Oscars are pretty fish that are also manly. They are not 'schooling fish'. The only catch is that they will 'eat' anything smaller you put in the tank with them. So, one or two would be a tankful.
Angelfish are nice, lovely and sort of manly. They are a bit delicate, but a joy to own.
Some people keep Pirhanas. They are manly and yet pretty.
Catfish may be manly, but I've never seen a pretty one.
Clown Loaches are manly and pretty.
Discus are very pretty and have a manly appeal. They are a bit tempermental and are for experienced aquarists.
Some of the sharks are quite pretty and a few of them are small in size.
Do you have a favorite color?

Answer 3

Neon Tetras and Zebra Danios are each and each colourful and hardy tropical fish. additionally they college at the same time for some exceptionally reflects to boot. i might additionally recommend Cory catfish as a cleanup team. although they're additionally a education fish and that's recommended that think approximately a training length of atleast 5. they are going to prefer sinking food of their very very own additionally to cleansing up the tank. i do no longer recommend guppies. i began out with 4 in a 10 gallon tank that rapidly went to 30+ in an exceedingly speedy era. rapidly overwhelmed a bad beginner that did no longer evaluate they'd have THAT many fry. additionally Gourmai's would additionally be very aggressive so prefer carefully in case you prefer any. I had a pair of Blue's that killed their honest proportion of tankmates. besides the actuality that it incredibly is a chilly water fish, White Clouds Minnows are an extraordinarily hardy fish. reckoning on what you adjust into with they perchance geared up to tolerate a hotter tank.

Answer 4

So if we're deciding on fish for his 20 gallon... then I'd pick some cool fish. Sand Substrate with some Shwartzii Cory-cats and a Bala shark. Also, make sure you understand that you'll need a bigger tank within a few years. Balas get extra large.

Also get a small piece of driftwood that'll fit in the tank and some greens.

Answer 5

I'm guessing you have a freshwater tank. My husband likes rainbow fish, which can grow to be a pretty good size. So other cool fish are clown loaches, and any of the "barb family" fishes. They are pretty colorfull and will get to be a good decent sizes. My husband is pretty fussy with what we put in our tank he likes em' colorful. hope this helps.
Ps these are not schooling fish that I listed.
A good book to help you choose fish is "Tropical Freshwater Aquarium Fish from A-Z" You can get it for probally 10-12 bucks. It gives you colorfull pics and info on each fish, a good book to take with you when buying fish.

Answer 6

Many of the fish suggested (Silver dollars, clown loaches, large cichlids) are not appropriate for a 20 gallon tank. My suggestion would be to try livebearers (platies, guppies, swordtails...) They come in many colors and have lots of personality! If you buy all males, you don't even have to worry about the fry (babies) overpopulating your tank.

The most important thing to remember is to RESEARCH any fish before you buy it. That way you can make sure it will thrive in your tank.

Answer 7

I like school fish. I have 3 neon fish and many other diffrent kinds, but neons glow with right colors. You only have to take good care of them and they can live for up to 10 years! 3 as school fish is fine. Try it.

Answer 8

well th raimbow ones are nice and I was also gonna suggest neons but I guess not silver dollars are pretty manly (but I consider them creepy)

Answer 9

swordtails, a betta, they are "manly" pictus catfish are cool, also a type of dwarf pleco... there are so many out there, it'd easier to just go to the pet store and take a look. ;)

Answer 10

maybe he might like a dozen puff fishes,clownfish,and welll that all I can think of