What to do with a 60gal and a 20gal? - California Fishing

DementedFish · 02-19-2008, 08:20 PM

Part 1: 20 gallon

So my friend Matt just gave me a 20 gallon the other day but I'm not exactly sure what to do with it. Currently its on my desk chilling with the filter and heater running (although I can't figure out what temperature it's at). Its a freshwater tank, and I want to keep it as a tropical setup, just not sure what kind of fish to put in it. I want some cool looking tropicals, something that will keep good color year round, pretty much some basic community fish, but not the typical ones you can get at Petco or Petsmart, the ones you have to get from a specialty fish store. I don't want to have to feed them live fish, preferably pellets, flake, or frozen. Anyway, so pretty much I'm just looking for suggestions. I'm not looking to spend very much money, only about $15 max per fish, any suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance. Here's a pic of the aquarium I just setup today to give you an idea what I'm working with:

Part 2: 60 gallon

I also have a 60 gallon tank that I have that I want to keep as a native tank. Currently I have two male (I think) bluegill in there, about 6" long. Currently I'm feeding them frozen brine shrimp cubes, and they seem to be content eating those. Ideally what I would like to do is get two small largemouths to mix in with them and some sort of small catfish, only problem is from what I understand both species eat non-stop and you have to feed them live, which I really don't want to do unless I really have to. From what I've heard, its almost impossible to get largemouth to eat anything other than live feeders. So my question is what other alternatives do I have if I can't mix the largemouths in with the bluegill? And if I can, is it possible to feed them frozen food? Here's a pic (sorry for the bad quality)

MOBassman · 02-19-2008, 08:25 PM

Put one big largemouth in the 60 and use the 20 for keeping feeder stock in and grow yourself a new WR bass!

DementedFish · 02-19-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOBassman

Put one big largemouth in the 60 and use the 20 for keeping feeder stock in and grow yourself a new WR bass!

I did actually think about that, but decided to go with the plan I'm doing right now. (Minus the WR part)

dodoman · 02-19-2008, 08:28 PM

FOR THE 20GALLON.
GET THE FIGURE 8 PUFFERS.
THEY CAN HABITATE IN FRESH OR SALT.
THEY LIKE IT A BIT WARM , SAY 84 TO 86 DEGREES.
they are so cool to have, they close there eyes and sleep, they roll over...........i kid you not, they love shrimp.....
get about 6 or 8 of them, they love to hang together and swim like bees.

the 60gallon, THROW IN A STRIPER............. he,ll set the rules quick.lol

MOBassman · 02-19-2008, 08:32 PM

Corydoras do really well in a 20 gal. tank. They are really cool fish, too. Just don't put an Oscar in there, corys are their native forage! There are at least 10 different species of corys that can be bought for home aquariums. They mix well with most other tropical fish, as well.

DementedFish · 02-19-2008, 08:32 PM

Looks cool heres a link: Figure Eight Puffer (Tetraodon biocellatus)

HOWEVER, it does say: Best Kept alone

dodoman · 02-19-2008, 08:36 PM

HHHHHHHHMMM, NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY SCHOOLIES.

THERE IS ANOTHER TYPE OF FIGURE 8,S.
THEY ONES I HAD WERE MORE YELLOWS TO BODY THAN THE PICTURE SHOWN.

I,LL DO SOME SEARCH ON IT AND GET YOU THE RIGHT NAME ....

DO YOU WANT ME TO GET YOU THE STRIPER FOR THE 60GALLON.LOL

DementedFish · 02-19-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dodoman

HHHHHHHHMMM, NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY SCHOOLIES.

THERE IS ANOTHER TYPE OF FIGURE 8,S.
THEY ONES I HAD WERE MORE YELLOWS TO BODY THAN THE PICTURE SHOWN.

I,LL DO SOME SEARCH ON IT AND GET YOU THE RIGHT NAME ....

DO YOU WANT ME TO GET YOU THE STRIPER FOR THE 60GALLON.LOL

If they're like 5inches long then yes lol.

MOBassman · 02-19-2008, 08:39 PM

Taco would be better at getting an aquarium size striper! lol

DementedFish · 02-19-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOBassman

Corydoras do really well in a 20 gal. tank. They are really cool fish, too. Just don't put an Oscar in there, corys are their native forage! There are at least 10 different species of corys that can be bought for home aquariums. They mix well with most other tropical fish, as well.

Yea those are cool fish, If I find some I'd buy one to have as my bottom feeder (every tank has to have one of those imo). They are bottom dwellers right?

MOBassman · 02-19-2008, 08:42 PM

They are primarily bottom fish. Out of all the ones I've had over the last 20 years, only 2 or 3 stayed at the bottom though. Most swam all over the tank, playing and eating. They do better in small groups, as opposed to flying solo.

dodoman · 02-19-2008, 08:51 PM

LOL, YOU KILLED ME MoBASS.

I,LL CALL TACO RIGHT NOW AND MAKE AN ORDER FOR 1 -4IN STRIPER. LMFAO

dodoman · 02-19-2008, 08:52 PM

OH, WENT TO THE LINK, and could not find the one,s i had.

i got them from WALMART for about 3.00 bucks a piece.

MOBassman · 02-19-2008, 08:55 PM

Louie are you talking about what are sometimes called "bumblebee puffers"? Get about 3 inches long and are greenish-yellowish?

dodoman · 02-19-2008, 08:57 PM

yyahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, thats the name i was looking for.

THANKS.

I GOT IT ALL MIXED UP WITH FIGURE 8,S.LOL