Big fish for 20g long.

IonBaller07

Uhh, I was told common plecos need at least 55g's.

Fusion MK

They get up to 12-18 inches (there are reported 24 inches... dismiss that). You have a 20g LONG, so he should be fine. They don't usually move (that much at least), and if you have enough turbulence, he should be happy just being able to stick on the glass... or gravel... or plants...

Byron

If the pleco species is one that gets more than 3-4 inches full grown, it will not be suitable for a 20g long. An earlier post mentioned plecos at 12-18 inches--that's half the length of your 20g long (which I assume is 30 inches). Such a large fish in a comparatively small tank is not good. It is not a question of a large fish swimming around in sufficient space, it has to do with the health of the fish in too small a water volume. A fish that can attain a size of 12 inches needs a lot of water volume in order to develop healthy internal organs and a good immune system. In another thread I've posted info on what can happen.

A 30 inch 20g tank is not a large tank and no fish that attain more than 5-6 inches (at that is certainly pushing it very far) should even be considered for this tank.

Bottomfeeder

Common Pleco is a wide 18" fish...waaaay too big...75g minimum for a Common or Sailfin Pleco...
id say get a Platinum Two-Spot Blue Gourami

Arkamaic

I say check for some bolivian rams. Thats my future plan at some point.

Maybe Try a pair of


Apistogramma agassizii

Not sure of the common name however

Fusion MK

Really? I know a guy with two plecos in a 20 gallon tall... he has had them for 8 years now, and they look fine.

1077

A twenty gal long tank in my view, would not be suitable for a pair of convicts UNLESS you have plans for the many babies they are capable of producing. The tank would soon be overstocked and no doubt underfiltered.
There are many pleco species. Some grow no longer than five or six inches while others can and DO reach eighteen inches or larger.
"I know a guy,, blahh,blahh, blahh. Most responsible fish keepers have only the best interest of their fish in mind when selecting which fish they will place in their community or species only tank And would not be interested in those whose irresponsibility and usually ignorance, posesses them to keep fish in unsuitable enviornments.
A twenty gal long would be suitable for german rams assuming the water conditions are in their favor. they are not the easiest fish to care for in my opinion.
The Bolivian Ram is a bit hardier and would be suitable for twenty gal long.I just gave a twenty gal long to neighbor and never liked the lack of depth of that particular tank. I kept Kuhlii loaches in it ,and when I moved the kuhlii's to larger quarters ,I placed corys in the tank along with some fancy guppies.
Larger fish will ALWAYS do better in larger tanks.That's my story and I'm stickin to it.

Fishin Pole

Common Plecos wont work long term in a 20 gal long.....They just get too large and their bio-load will really hamper anything else you decide to put in the tank..............You might want to consider a pair of some type of Apisto....They generally stay under 4 inches and a pair in a 20 long would work nicely and more than likely breed for you if you give them the correct parameters...........The Jewel Cichlid you mentioned is a very aggressive fish for its size, i dont recommend a pair of those, just because of their disposition towards each other...........Convicts could work out in a 20 gall long, but as stated before, you will need another tank to raise the fry in, and getting rid of convict fry isnt easy....No pet store usually wants them.........Unless you have a big predator fish to feed them to, i wouldnt go the convict route either.........Wanting big fish for a 20 long is a dilemma, your choices are rather very limited........Either go to a bigger tank, or smaller fish........

Bottomfeeder

probably a smaller species...

IonBaller07

Yah I was thinking about the babies, instead of a pair does two males or two females work. If I did have babies I could probably take them to the same store and give it to them, for free of course. Or theres another local store here that takes great care of their fish but have no cichlids, Im sure they would enjoy them but Im sure you know.

Iwould love a pair of blue rams (german rams) but they dont have any around here and I dont know if I can keep the perfect conditions for them. Im kinda new to fish keeping and Im more than willing to put in the effort but there is still a chance I could mess it up.