Fish Experts Wanted?

Question

Can someone tell me what fish go well together in 20 gallon tank. I would prefer them to have the prefences in water temp. and hardness; have the same diet and things like that. Thanks for all people who help me :)

Please include the water hardness I need, the temp, their diet, what kind of enviroment they should live in,ect... Need all the help I can get!

I would like freshwater fish and love loaches(any kind would do).Please include the water hardness I need, the temp, their diet, what kind of enviroment they should live in,ect... Need all the help I can get!

K, so I've done my research on some loaches and now I think I want yoyo loaches so can someone give me a background check on'em (also who they are compatabile with)

Answer 1

EDIT 4:Yo-yos get 5 inches each, and their need for a shoal makes them less than ideal for a 20 gallon tank... Dwarf Chain Loaches are very similar, but only reach about 2-3 inches... Please do NOT get Yo-yos...

There are infinite combinations of fish you could keep in there. I assume you want freshwater? It would really help to know what you like in your fish, what colors, activity, any fish you are interested in? You could do a school of Danios or Dwarf Rainbows in the top, one or two schools of Tetras for the middle, and 3-4 Cories or Kuhlis for the bottom, with a Dwarf Gourami as a "centerpiece"... Just one of the many options... Contact me if you have any questions.

Soop Nazi

EDIT: Firemouths could be kept in a 20 gallon, but if they spawn, they will get quite aggressive, and might go after the Pleco, so, they should be provided with a larger tank... If you're interested in Cichlids, consider a pair of Rams, Kribs, or Apistos along with one or two schools of Tetras, Rasboras, Danios, or Rainbows... You should also look into Shell Dwelling Cichlids like Caudopunctatus, Multies, Brevis, or Ocellotus (species tanks are best for Shell Dwellers)...

EDIT 2: The fish I listed in the first part will eat anything from flakes, to pellets, to live foods, and slightly soft, acidic water is nice, but by no means necessary. Rams, Kribs, and Apistos will appreciate soft, acidic water with pellets, frozen, or live foods. All the fish mentioned in this edit are fine at 77-80 degrees.

Shell Dwellers are found in hard, alkaline waters that are constantly at 79-81 degrees. A pH of 7.5-8.5 is best for these fish, as well as a sand bottom with wide-mouthed shells for hiding. Shell Dwellers will eat pellets, frozen, or live food...

Feel free to contact me.

EDIT 3: I already suggested Kuhli Loaches, but you might be able to get away with a few Dwarf Chain Loaches in that tank... (I love Loaches too! Just ask my Yo-yos!)...

EDIT 4: Yo-yos get 5 inches each, and their need for a shoal makes them less than ideal for a 20 gallon tank... Dwarf Chain Loaches are very similar, but only reach about 2-3 inches... Please do NOT get Yo-yos...

Answer 2

Rather than us choosing the fish, you should try to get species that fit the water conditions you normally have, so less "adjusting" would be needed. The more you have to do to try and change the conditions to fit your fish, the more the conditions will fluctuate, and this adds unnecessary stress to the fish.

If your conditions are slightly acidic and soft, consider getting some tetras. These are schooling fish that should be kept in groups of 5 or more of the same type. Ram cichlids also like these conditions and are suited to a 20 gallon tank, but are a little more demanding of water quality.

If your conditions tend more to hard and alkaline (high pH), look to livebearers (guppies, platies, variatus, swordtails, mollies).

Since most of the commonly sold tropical fish are now spawned in captivity, they are much more adaptable than people believe, as long as their environment stays relatively stable. You may just need to spend a little more time acclimating them initially ( see methods: http://www.fishlore.com/acclimating-tropicalfish.htm ). Very few species need that highly specific of water conditions, unless they're wild-caught, or come from a very limitied habitat (such as the African rift lake cichlids). What you should concentrate on more is the personalities of the different fish (territorial, aggressive, schooling) to be sure all you choose are compatible and the size of your tank. Since most tropical fish are omnivores (eat both animal and plant matter) they would most likely eat much of the same foods, although there may be preferences for floating or sinking, or time of day when they are fed.

Some of the species I would suggest are any of the livebearers. Any of these can be kept singly, and guppies, variatus, and platies can be kept in male-only groups. If you have females in the tank, they WILL reproduce - and reproduce, and reproduce, and reproduce... - you get the idea. To keep females from being harassed too much, get 2-3 for each male in the tank. Some other possibilities for "single" fish (or those that aren't truely schooling) a single male betta, one or 3+ female bettas (but not two, and don't mix females with a male), or a dwarf gourami (also best not mixed with a male betta).

Schooling fish would include tetras, barbs (other than tiger barbs which are semi-aggressive), rasboras, and hatchetfish (all of which should be in a group of 5+ of the same species), corydoras catfish, smaller loaches, otocinclus catfish, and smaller rainbowfish (which should be in groups of 3+ - for the rainbows, it would be better to get 2 males and one female).

In a 20 gallon, you should be able to keep 1-2 species of schooling fish (at 5-6 fish each), and a few of the non-schooling fish or those that only need a group of 3 for variety.

Why not look through information and photos in the links I'll put at the end, then use this website:
http://www.timstropicals.com/Compatibility/NameResults.asp to be sure those you select are compatible.

Answer 3

Try a bristlenose pleco (ancistrus) and a pair of small cichlids - firemouths are nice. Get male and female firemouths, or two females - not two males.
PH - 6.5 to 8.
Hardness - not *too* hard. These species are quite tolerant, as long as changes are made gradually.
temp: Ideally 23-24degC
Food. Flake staple. Bloodworms as a "treat" food. Spirulina tablets.