bad idea?

[graceluvsplatys]

I have a 20g, with 5 platys in it. I am also planning to add a rubberlip pleco and dwarf frogs.

I also have a betta, who i was planning to move, but I may not... I may just buy her a bigger tank (5 g) with a filter and heater.

however, I REALLY like dwarf gouramis. I was hoping to get one, but i dont know how it will work. I dont want to endanger any other fish.

am i already overstocked?
will it work?
help!!

[DragonGoby]

I don't know about rubberlip pleco nor dwarf frogs...
But in a 20gal, 5 platys and a dwarf gourami should be ok...
If you add lots of hidding place, for the gourami to claim his territory.

As adding a betta in there, it'll depend... If you want, you can try first you female betta... If she's doing well with your 5 platies, then try the dwarf gourami... But only if you have a tank of spare... Because if the dwarf gourmi and the betta can't get along, you'll need to take the betta out asap...

But before adding any new fish, even the betta, wait until your cycle has been establish...

For your pleco : is it a Chaetostoma species? They get around 5-6"... But like I said, I don't know much about those fishes and their needs... So i don't know if they can go in a 20 gal with platies and co...

The best i can say is : search for all the informations you can on those fish and frogs : internet, specialise website, books, etc.... That's the best way to know what you're dealing with.

[graceluvsplatys]

thanks... I was thinking that I would do the gourami, then try the betta. If it didnt work, I would move her back to solitary confinement lol
I have heard rubberlips can be 4 or 5 inches

[DragonGoby]

You mean her own castle!! With a 5 gal, she's going to be the queen of the place!:wink2:

[graceluvsplatys]

yeah, I was thinking of getting her a 5 gal bowl.... I saw one.
I would get a filter and heater of course.....
hey, are tanks better than bowls? just wondering...
also, do bettas jump?

[MandyL]

Yes, bettas will sometimes jump. Depends on the betta, but it's best to give them a lid.

So I would say the only benefits of a tank vs. a bowl of the same size is for a tank, it's easier to fit a heater and filter on, and easier to have a lid.

[graceluvsplatys]

oh yeah... Id have to get a submersibleheater and filter, wouldnt I!
oh, btw, i found this really cool cylinder shaped vase, it looks about 4g but it is tall and thin (diameter about6 inch) and about 20 inched tall
I know that bettas need to breathe air.. would it be too tall

[MandyL]

I wouldn't do that vase... Your betta wants to swim back and forth, not up and down.

[graceluvsplatys]

yeah.... I got a little tank!
ill check the meauseurements one sec

[graceluvsplatys]

the new little tank is a 2.5 gal.
she looks happier alredy!

[MandyL]

That's good! Got a filter and heater for that one, or still need to get them?

[graceluvsplatys]

i dont know lol.. its an aquatic gardens. I got it secondhand, it came with and airstone but right now im using it to save my platys.
I dont think so tho.. im gonna get it as soon as I get a ride to petco

[Wild Turkey]

Rubberlips grow to be about 6 inches max.

[graceluvsplatys]

oh, well thats not suited for a 20g! dumb lfs guy! well, then my best bet would be to find a small bn or an albino bn

[DragonGoby]

I think ancistrus species are smaller than most pleco... But I'm not sure... Once again it's not my speciality!:c2:

[Wild Turkey]

oh, well thats not suited for a 20g! dumb lfs guy! well, then my best bet would be to find a small bn or an albino bn

You could pull it off in a 20L i think. But yea a reg. 20 is a little small.

[graceluvsplatys]

and, i believe it is a 20 tall. so, I went with cories