20g FW tank - Are these good choices?

[sistermoon]

Hi there,

I'm currently fishless cycling a 20g tank and have spend the last few weeks researching the heck out of what to put in there. I have a rescued emerald catfish that inspired me to build a "perfect" home for him (smooth rocks, sand substrate, leafy plants) and so I've been spending my time trying to find him some tank mates, preferably not livebearers.

Anyway, this is what I came up with. I've checked here for compatibility:
http://www.tropicalfishandaquariums.com/Compatibility/index.php
And here for stocking numbers:
http://aqadvisor.com/

4 emerald catfish
3 dwarf gourami (2 females, 1 male)
5 black skirt tetras

Seem ok?

Thanks,
Sistermoon

[skullduggery1]

Seems fine,just keep up on those water changes.Black skirts get pretty large.

[sistermoon]

ah, thanks for the tip on the black skirts. I plan to be diligent about water changes. :)

[Lady Hobbs]

I pass on the 3 gourami's myself. Not easy to find females but males get aggressive with one another in smaller areas. Have you thought of rasbora's perhaps or maybe another school of a different tetra, perhaps rummynose, cardinals, etc.

[Sandz]

I dont think this stock listing will work:

4 emerald catfish (get's quite large, you could go with a pygmy cory species and get a large school)
3 dwarf gourami (2 females, 1 male) (I would recommend 1 gourami)
5 black skirt tetras (already advised, get larger than a 50cent piece at adult)
---
I am not saying your stocking isnt DOABLE... its just ill advised when I think about it. Gourami normally get aggressive when in groups of their own. Some breeds are better than others but IME dwarfs are PITA's.

[Fisharefriends27]

I like this
6 Pygmy cories
1 dwarf gourami
Some other schooling fish besides black skirt tetras.
This way you have a nice school, a centerpiece fish, and some catfish.
This list goes along with what everybody else said and what I think.

[sistermoon]

Keep in mind I absolutely need to house one emerald cat, which is why I was adding more of his kind. Does anyone know (I've tried to find out, with no success) whether they would school with other cats?

[sistermoon]

I dont think this stock listing will work:

4 emerald catfish (get's quite large, you could go with a pygmy cory species and get a large school)
3 dwarf gourami (2 females, 1 male) (I would recommend 1 gourami)
5 black skirt tetras (already advised, get larger than a 50cent piece at adult)
---
I am not saying your stocking isnt DOABLE... its just ill advised when I think about it. Gourami normally get aggressive when in groups of their own. Some breeds are better than others but IME dwarfs are PITA's.

I'm starting to lean away from the gourami, but still looking for a centerpiece fish.

[KatzeSlaugen]

corys will only school with corys of the same species, they may hang out with others of different species sometimes though.

i agree with 1 DG at most, not too sure about a good centerpiece fish for a 20gal, at least none off the top of my head

[Fisharefriends27]

You can just give away the cory you have now.

[Sandz]

When you go to purchase the pygmys why not ask if you can sub the emerald for trade?

[sistermoon]

No, sorry, not an option. I love that cat and he deserves a good home...even if I only have emeralds in the tank.

Thanks for the suggestions though.