Stocking?

**Carapar56** · 02-11-2013, 01:06 AM

So after I can get together around $90 to get the stand, lighting, and substrate for my 20 gallon. I'll be ready to stock it.. Originally I wanted to add my Polly and my Molly from my 10 gallon, then get some dwarf pygmy cories and a group of schooling fish such as dwarf pencilfish or harlequin rasboras. However being as my Blue Gourami is nearing 7 years of age I really would like to get her into something bigger as she approaches the last few months of her life. She's still active and healthy and eats readily but she's losing color and you can just tell she's an old fish. What I'm asking is does anyone know if there is any other fish I could add to the 20, along with my Gourami, Black Molly and my Polly. The tank will have my eheim 2013 canister filter on it so it'll have roughly 3 times the amount of filtration needed as my filter is rated for 65 gallons. I was thinking about adding pygmy cories but I'm almost positive I'd never see them due to the size of my Gourami... Do you guys think it'd just be best to keep my Gourami with the Molly and Polly for the rest of her life?

**Carapar56** · 02-12-2013, 10:19 AM

Bumping because no one replied :I

**Cermet** · 02-12-2013, 11:10 AM

I like traditional fish both because they are easy to keep and very beautiful. A school of cardinals (say 10 –14) add color like few others can and are active; they are also so much fun to watch. A school of Corries (6-8) is very much fun and functional. That would fill the tank nicely! The Gourami would go nicely as would the Molly. No idea what a polly is or how big so that could impact the school size ... .

**talldutchie** · 02-12-2013, 12:34 PM

yeah... it depends on what polly is. Cardinals would work with a blue gourami. Pygmy cories are lovel fish but they need sand and plant cover for hiding. The bare setups I've seen done by some people on this forum wouldn't do those fish any justice.

**KevinVA** · 02-12-2013, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by Cermet

No idea what a polly is or how big so that could impact the school size ... .

According to his profile, it's a Molly/Platy hybrid.

**talldutchie** · 02-12-2013, 02:29 PM

Seems tight then. I understand you guys have a 20 long and a 20 high. I suspect a long would be the best choice.

IMO I'd start with the 3 existing fish and add 6-7 cardinals. When the gourami goes to the big aquarium in the sky additions can be considered.

**Carapar56** · 02-13-2013, 12:18 AM

Thank you for the suggestions. And yes a Polly is a platy/molly, he's currently about 3/4 an inch long and being he is almost a year old I suspect he won't be growing much bigger. He was a rare little hybrid I managed to produce when I had a 10 gallon stocked with a male molly and 3 female platies. All 4 fish were together for over a year when my little Polly was born. So theres no possible way he is a platy born from a female storing sperm. He's infertile and cannot reproduce with Mollies or Platies, trust me I've tried. But other then that he's one of the healthiest, most gorgeous fish I've ever owned. His main body color is a solid reddish brown with small black speckles around his back and head, his stomach has larger scales like a Variatus, and also he has a red mickey mouse tail and bluish tinge on his belly. He's very short, with an almost balloon Molly like belly, he has a very thick tail and an enormous caudal fin.

I don't really find cardinals the most attractive fish and to be honest I've never seen them in any stores near me, they only sell neons, which I also have a strong dislike for. I think I may pick head and tail light tetras or emperor tetras.. I have to see.. I would love to get some Threadfin Rainbows but from what I see they're really dull fish only displaying greens and blues.

OHHH and the 20 gallon in question is a 20 gallon high. Does anyone have any recommendations on what species of cory would be good??

**talldutchie** · 02-13-2013, 04:22 AM

That's only 60cm long. Doesn't leave you much options in stocking. If you must then get a smaller cory, habrosus maybe.

**Carapar56** · 02-13-2013, 09:52 AM

That's what I was thinking myself. I really do like the dwarf cory species. Hmm I think I may just have my Gourami, my Molly and my Polly in the 20 for now, then after my Gourami passes I'll get some dwarf cories and maybe a small school of tetra or rasbora.