Community Fish Advice

[VsKitchen]

I am upgrading to a 20 gal (from a 10 gal) planted tank as a project with my 5 year old son. I am hoping to, in part, use the fish tank to reinforce good group behaviour lessons with my son. Practical applications of rules, etc.

Currently we have 2 otos - so nice and mellow, 3 bloodfin tetras - playful active little fish, 2 amano shrimp - do their own thing, and 1 lyre tail molly - a big greedy bully. As the tank size will be doubling, we want to add a few more fish into the community. So my question is this: What community fish have you found get along best with each other while not pulling my plants out of the substrate?

[fishloverRon]

I have 2 55g tanks with various tetras...neons, serpaes, silver tips, glowlights and some i don't know. Added to them are Albino Plecos, several varieties of cory cats and some dwarf pencil fish. i have 3 Columbian tetras in one tank. I like them, but they can get a little domineering over the others. Guppies could do okay, but the faster tetras may nip their fins. If you wanted to add some cichlids you might try some Apistogramma cacacoides - 1 male and1 female. They do their thing and leave the rest alone most of the time.
That's my $.02 worth. They're working fine for me!
Ron

[VsKitchen]

Thanks for the input! I was reading earlier tonight that mollies should not be kept in anything less than 30 gal & will likely become aggressive if they are. So, now I'm thinking that maybe the Molly will have to find a new, larger home...

[DMD123]

A gourami would work - a dwarf type, like the neon blue would look good.

Ive also always had a soft spot for the dwarf clawed frogs, they are so comical.

[Ratlova30]

Mollies don't get that big to warrant a minimum of 30gals. The 20gal would be just fine. He may just be a bully fish, all fish have different personalities and he just may have a grumpy one. He could also be stressed from not having any other mollies as company. Mollies need to be in a group of at least three to feel more comfortable and secure. Same goes with the otos, might wanna add another one or two.

If I was adding fish to the tank I'd add a couple more molies, another oto and either 3 or 4 cories or a betta.

[VsKitchen]

I'm not getting any more fish that he can breed with. Thanks for the information on the tank size.

[Ratlova30]

You could always get a couple more males, they're easy enough to sex. Or it might be a good idea to find him a home with other mollies. Good luck with your fish selection.

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