Need Ideas for NEW 20 Gallon Aquarium...

[28EM10]

I just bought a 20 gallon aquarium, (Its going to be non-planted ...for now). Its still going thru the nitrogen cycle...I was wondering if anyone could give me some ideas for it. I was thinking some Dp's but I want something a little bit bigger, can anyone shed some light on freshwater puffers that could be accommodated in a 20 gall.? TIA

[lilacamy931]

Best bet is to look under the Puffpedia library tag, all the info is on the individual puffs.

I absolutely love DPs, the general rule with them is 5g for the first one and 3g for any extras each. Also to have 2-3 females per male.

You could have a bronze puffer, golden puffer, striped red-eye puffer just a few that the library states 20 US gallons. There are also SAPs but they are extremely energetic from what I have heard and need a long foot print.

[coldmachineUK]

Yes, a 20G is too small for SAPs. You'd need a group of 3 minimum since they're a social fish, and they're extremely active. I ended up moving my single surviving SAP, from the group of three which I had for a good while (see my topics on long-term clove oil issues), into my FW community tank - believe it or not - since he got visibly depressed being alone in the SAP tank I had running. He is now the proud leader of the trio of BBGs which I have, and there's a lot of space and a lot going on for him to enjoy.

You could go brackish with a 20G and keep a figure eight puffer. Wonderful fish, very entertaining, not too difficult to keep (relatively speaking). Or, you could keep FW and go with an Irrubesco.

Check out the Puffer Pedia (see the links at the top); you'll find a lot of very useful info in there about each species and tank requirements.

[LilGreenPuffer]

Irrubescos are really popular lately. If I had the choice, I'd probably go with the F8, since people say they're so entertaining.

[Lil' Swimz$]

A single irrubesco would be great! I'm looking into a pair of them for my 30 gallon, but a 20 gallon is a little small for a pair. I personally like the females better, they have much more of a dappled look to them while the males are more solid. Irrubesco are also known as red tail redeyed puffers.

[Pufferpunk]

I'd start haunting your LFS to see what you can get locally.

[groovitudedude]

ug.php/v/PufferPedia/Freshwater/A_silus/

One of the most personable fish I've ever kept. Up there with my fahaka and fire eel.