Predaorial tank

[Ryanlives]

Hey I have a plan that i need some help with.
I would like to turn my 16 gal into a nice, peaceful community tank, with tetras, dwarf gouramis, corys and whatnot.
But i would like to turn my 20 gal into a more aggressive, predatorial tank, like with barbs or sharks....need help with this one, any suggestions?

[DrNic]

It sounds like you have a good plan. What do you need help with?

[Northernguy]

If you want aggressive fish than consider getting a 75!
A 20 is too small for most any aggressive fish!
Did you have anything in mind?

[sailor]

Like previously stated in the above post a 20 gal is too small for a pred tank. But it would be good for for a dwarf puffer set up

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[jaysee]

Like previously stated in the above post a 20 gal is too small for a pred tank. But it would be good for for a dwarf puffer set up

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I agree, a puffer is about the only predator I can think of for a 20 gallon. You could do a crayfish in a 20 as another option.

The 16 sounds good with tetras, corys and A dwarf gourami. More than one in such a small space will be a disaster and anything but peaceful.

If I were you I'd make the 20 a community and the 16 your predator, with either a crayfish and some cheap fish that you don't mind replacing, or a couple of dwarf puffers with lots of plants and caves and stuff.

[Treerat]

Agreed. A 75g is ideal for a predator tank but which type of monster and how many you are looking at will be a issue.
I have recently converted my 75g monster tank to a 75g community tank with neons and tiger barbs and albino tetras and 6 different types of plecos... and the mother-of-all-banjo catfish. I am scheming for 125g or if I'm really good, maybe a 300g!! :) ... to make a monster tank out of.

[Jacko]

I'll say there are a few predetors you could put in a 20 gallon, problem is they aren't the active fish hunters you might be wanting, they're more of a stalking species...

I'm talking about South American Leaf Fish, Monocirrhus polyacanthus... You could fit 3 or 4 in a 20 gallon species only tank, they look pretty cool too, especially in a darkwater setup. Problem is that for the most part, they are specifically live food feeders so you'd need to be prepared to set up another 10 gallon sized tank to breed and raise feeder guppies or the like since they'll go through feeders fast.

You might also think of pike livebearers, a male/female pair would work out but they might be a touch too large for a 20 gallon. Convicts or HRP would do well too, they're not overly predetorial though, mainly just aggressive.

HTH!