Freshwaters for a 20 gallon long?

[stay slam]

I have an extra 20 gallon long and I really want to get into aquariums. I have little experience in fish keeping but I have been keeping reptiles for years (though that doesn't help me much here). I want to put some really cool fish in my extra 20 long. I want to get fish that are really creative and different (nothing boring!) but also nothing too advanced. I really like big fish so they can be included, I've got plenty of room to upgrade my tank when fish begin to outgrow the 20 gallon. I have had people suggest axolotls and african clawed frogs. I may get some further down the line but I am really looking for fish right now. I would really love a red tailed catfish but they get BIG haha and I'm not sure if I am ready for that just yet. So mainly I want fish that get somewhat big and are really different. Any and all suggestions welcome!

[schrammalot]

Was the tank sold as an aquarium or a reptile tank?

[stay slam]

I bought it as an aquarium. It is only a few months old and I am 99% sure it holds water, it is still in great condition.

[schrammalot]

Okay, lol. I just know some people who got a terrarium and had a baaaad time when they left their house...

You can't really get anything big in a 20 gal. A school of tetras would look awesome though. You can mix the different species of them and they'll all mix.

[Pyrate81]

Was the tank sold as an aquarium or a reptile tank?

Step 1^^^^

The rest are not in any particular order.
2. For reading I recommend aquariums for dummies or other dummies books pertaining to fish if you are down for reading.
3. Look for a reputable fish store near you. They are typically cheaper than petsmart/petco and have people who are actually knowledgeable. Unless the fish people they hire at your local chain store are knowledgeable.
4. Research the type of fish you want to have. Brackish water, saltwater, cichlids(african/south american), community fish. Temperatures needed, chemical balances necessary to keep them alive, lighting, etc. How many fish you should/can fit in a tank that size for the type of fish you want. I have a friend who jumped right into fish keeping and killed 2 tanks worth of fish cause she didn't pay attention to what could live together, overcrowding, wrong temps for half the fish, and overfeeding. But I have another friend who had a 55gal for 3 months then jumped up to 180gal with piranha(he did his research and was able to sell them off) He did his research.



Recommendations:

I always tell beginners to try out a community tank of tetras/tropical fish to start. It'll get them a feel for fish keeping and if they wind up "wiping out" the tank, it's not that hard on the wallet like most other fish.

Obviously you're looking for more so I'd go african or south american cichlids/fish. Some can get big(I guess like a small bass), others can be community, or territorial. Arowanna can get long but you'd probably want a much bigger tank eventually.


Love talking about fish tanks. ty.

*this post was put together quick and off the top of my head while in class. More depth can/will be added.

[Raven01]

Okay, lol. I just know some people who got a terrarium and had a baaaad time when they left their house...

You can't really get anything big in a 20 gal. A school of tetras would look awesome though. You can mix the different species of them and they'll all mix.

20 Gallon is way to small for any larger fish.
A school of tetra's is a good suggestion(Congo or Emperors look very nice), they can be nippy though.
Rainbow fish or small to medium gourami pairs is another possibility.
A redtail shark is an unbelievably hardy minnow but, territorial so would be rough on tankmates in a 20 Gal tank.
Butterfly/Ram cichlids or Kribensis work in a 20 Gal as well.

Edit: brackish tanks allow things like Archerfish and they are just cool to watch. Messy but, cool.

[elbee]

If you plan on upgrading you could go with some African cichlids or some of the more rare south Americans. It all depends on what you like .

[elbee]

Ooh how about brevis cichlids or some of the other shell dwellers. They stay small, have really neat behavior, and are easy to keep. They would pretty much need a species tank, but I think they're a neat fish. They breed like rabbits though.

[stay slam]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. My local shop has some really cool fish I've been looking at. I want to get an arowana and upgrade later but I was thinking to maybe start smaller. I'll look into some of the fish you guys posted, some are some really neat ideas. Thanks again.

[scale_fever]

Arowanas are neat,but require along tank with a very secure lids they are jumpers.some animals that have ben requested are a good choice for that size tank.but if you are upgrading the aquarium and like large cichlids...I myself love most central & south american cichlids! I have kept and breed two species. Besides that any better to me would be freshwater stingrays they are epic! if you do choose larger cichlids try an electric blue jack dempsey or a red terror fastae there colors are amazing for a fresh water fish.I'll post some pictures on my photobucket and share them soon.