If you could only have a 20 long?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Rivers2k

Piranha
MFK Member
Dec 27, 2011
1,531
46
81
NY
I know we all dream of bigger tanks and bigger or more fish but as I was doing tank maintenance last night and it was taking longer than normal, I was think what if I got rid of everything except my 20 long. This is purely hypothetical I am not getting rid of anything but it was interesting to think about. I chose 20L because I feel its the bare minimum that could still house a cichlid.

So if you could only have a 20 long and could only have 1 or 2 fish what would it or they be?

My choice would be my L200 and one of my male platinum Honduran Red Points.
 
  • Like
Reactions: convict360
Convict cichlid all the way, still end up with a stocky little cichlid full of character and colour.

If not a convict...then a small school of either tiger barbs or danios; with some corydoras on the bottom for sure
 
Id stick with the really small guys like Rams or something like them.
A 20 long isn't that big. I kept my ruby barbs in there for a while and once I moved them to the 4' tank I permanently retired the 20 long.
 
Hypothetically, I'd kill myself.
Then when I reached the pearly gates I'd ask God for a monster tank.

hahaha best answer yet.

IDK I think they are some fantastic little fish. with personality that would fit in a 20 long. Convicts, Rams, firemouths, Honduran Red Points. I hear apistos are cool never owned any.
 
Hello; For a few years a 20 long was the only tank I had setup, with some others stored. The photo in my avatar is from that setup. I kept the smaller species of fish. I could live fine with only such a tank again. Over a few decades there has been an ebb and flow to the size and number of tanks kept. I enjoy the hobby and hope to keep tanks as long as I am able and have a place. I now own my own house and do have several tanks running. I have plans to set up some that are sitting empty including that 20 long.
 
Hello; For a few years a 20 long was the only tank I had setup, with some others stored. The photo in my avatar is from that setup. I kept the smaller species of fish. I could live fine with only such a tank again. Over a few decades there has been an ebb and flow to the size and number of tanks kept. I enjoy the hobby and hope to keep tanks as long as I am able and have a place. I now own my own house and do have several tanks running. I have plans to set up some that are sitting empty including that 20 long.

If you had to pic 1 or max 2 fish for a 20 long what would it be. While was renting a 20 long was all I had for many years as well. I did all sorts of things with it.
 
If you had to pic 1 or max 2 fish for a 20 long what would it be. While was renting a 20 long was all I had for many years as well. I did all sorts of things with it.

Hello; I guess in the last few years I have made a choice toward keeping the smaller species in small tanks.

I have kept the small ciclid, kirbensis, and they would do ok in a 20 long. The problem is that a pair would mate and then the isssue of what to do with the offspring. The males are much like bettas in that they will be aggressive in setting up territories and cannot be kept together.

Among the small fish I have considered but as yet have not kept are the rams, the apistos and the killifish. Now that you have asked, this is on my mind. Not sure if my tapwater is suitable for any of these. I live in a karst limestone area.

I have re-done the floor of my "fishroom" and haveroom to set up the 20 long. I had considered a group of the white cloud mountain minnows for it, but perhaps it is time to try a ram.
 
  • Like
Reactions: convict360
MonsterFishKeepers.com