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The Daily Insight

What are the best fish for a 20 gallon aquarium

Author

Emma Valentine

Published Apr 15, 2026

Platy.Swordtail.Molly Fish.Cory Catfish.Dwarf Gourami.Neon Tetra.Zebra Danio.Fancy Guppy.

How many fish can you put in a 20 gallon aquarium?

You can, theoretically, keep twenty 1-inch fish, or ten 2-inch fish, in a 20-gallon tank. This stocking strategy follows the 1 inch of fish per gallon of water rule.

How many GloFish can you have in a 20 gallon tank?

You can keep them in groups of 5-6 in a 20-gallon tank. They are schooling fish and need at least a 20-gallon tank to thrive. We will elaborate on this in subsequent sections. Glofish are schooling fish, so need to be kept in groups in order to thrive.

What big fish can live in 20 gallon tank?

Big Fish for Your 20-Gallon Tank Angelfish: I’d really rather see angels in a 55 or bigger, but you could keep a pair in a standard 20-gallon aquarium, as long as you don’t add many more fish. Angelfish get a lot bigger than many people realize, and as adults, they’ll eat small fish like tetras and guppies.

How many guppies and neon tetras can you have in a 20 gallon tank?

Even though you probably expect one specific answer to the “how many guppies in a 20-gallon tank” question, it’s not that easy. You see, the number of guppies in an aquarium depends on various factors. Generally speaking, you can keep 10 to 12 guppies in a 20-gallon fish tank.

Are GloFish tetras?

Overview. GloFish are brilliantly colored, beautiful fish. … All GloFish are bred in captivity, and their fluorescent color comes with natural breeding. GloFish are a species of danio, barb, tetra, shark or betta, and besides the betta, their care requirements are similar.

What fish can live with Bettas?

  • Cory catfish.
  • Neon and ember tetras.
  • Ghost shrimp.
  • African dwarf frogs.
  • Guppies.
  • Kuhli loaches.

Can I keep angelfish in a 20 gallon tank?

Keeping four Angelfish in a 20 gallon tank will not work long-term. It’s too small for angels period. They get pretty big and territorial.

Is a 20 gallon fish tank big enough?

The good news is a 20-gallon tank isn’t such a monstrosity that it’s going to chew up a lot of counter space or real estate in your home. It’s big enough to be a real focal point of any space but still small enough to manage pretty comfortably without a lot of day-to-day upkeep, too.

Is a 20 gallon tank good for a betta fish?

If you’re interested in getting some tank mates for your betta then a 20 gallon fish tank is a great size. At this size, you’ll be able to house fish such as tetras that need extra room to swim, as well as fish that can grow a little bit bigger than bettas, such as mollies.

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How many catfish can I put in a 20 gallon tank?

Up to 4 cory catfish (1 in every gallon of water ) can go in a 20-gallon fish tank, but note there are several species of the same family, some of which may grow bigger and some fragile than others.

Can GloFish live with bettas?

GloFish Tetras (Buy Online) can be kept in the same tank with a Betta. They are generally peaceful fish, and they are not very fast swimmers, and it is very unlikely that they will harass or nip at a Betta. … GloFish Tetras are a schooling fish and they need to be kept in groups of five fish or more.

Are GloFish hard to keep alive?

They are a peaceful fish that’s great in a community tank, but they might nip the fins of slow-moving tank mates like Bettas. You should keep them in a school of at least five, but larger numbers are always better. They’re very easy to care for and will readily accept flake, pelleted or frozen foods.

What fish goes well with GloFish?

  • Neon Tetras.
  • Cardinal Tetras.
  • Black Neon Tetras.
  • Tiger Barbs.
  • Plecos.
  • Danios.
  • Dwarf cichlids.
  • Rasboras.

Do tetras eat guppies?

Will Tetras Eat Guppy Fry? If you want to breed small guppies, then fry consumption can become a problem. Of course, it can occur even with their species, as adult guppies often consume their fry. Tetras can also pose that problem, but it can, luckily, be resolved in many different ways.

Will tetras school with guppies?

Neon tetras should be kept in a school of 6 and guppies should be kept in a shoal of 3. They both have the same diet just make sure you’re keeping it varied and you’re using high-quality food.

What fish can live with guppies in a 20 gallon tank?

  • Platies.
  • Mollies.
  • Honey Gouramis.
  • Cory catfish.
  • Harlequin Rasboras.
  • Bristlenose Pleco.
  • Cardinal Tetra.
  • Otocinlus Catfish.

Can you put ghost shrimp with betta fish?

Ghost shrimps and bettas can live together, however, there is a risk of your ghost shrimp being eaten. … However, due to the fact they’re so cheap, they’re some of the best tank mates to start off with to see how aggressive your betta is. If he doesn’t kill them, then it’s a lot more likely he won’t kill other fish.

Can 2 female betta fish live together?

Unlike male betta fish, female betta fish can live together comfortably in the same tank. When they live together, the cohort is called a ‘sorority’. Generally, a good number to keep together is 4-6 female betta fish. … Often, plants or aquarium decorations can serve as good hiding places for betta fish.

What is the best tank mate for a betta?

  1. Kuhli Loaches. These eel-like oddball fish grow to about 3.5 inches long and are great scavengers for picking up any excess food your betta drops. …
  2. Ember Tetras. …
  3. Malaysian Trumpet Snails. …
  4. Harlequin Rasboras. …
  5. Cory Catfish.

Are GloFish good for beginners?

GloFish (and zebra danios) really are a hard fish to kill. They make an excellent choice for a beginner fish.

Why are Tetras called tetras?

It is short for Tetragonopterus, a genus name formerly applied to many of these fish, which is Greek for “square-finned” (literally, four-sided-wing). Because of the popularity of tetras in the fishkeeping hobby, many unrelated fish are commonly known as tetras, including species from different families.

What is the easiest fish to take care of?

  1. GOLDFISH. Yes, the goldfish is top on the list. …
  2. GUPPIES. Small and brightly colored, guppies are another favorite for beginner aquariums. …
  3. ZEBRA DANIOS. …
  4. BUSHYNOSE PLECOS. …
  5. NEON TETRAS. …
  6. MOLLIES.

What is a good size fish tank for a beginner?

For a beginner, 5 gallons is the minimum recommended tank size, though a 20-gallon tank or larger is even better.

Is a bigger fish tank better?

You should always make sure to get an aquarium larger than needed so your fish flourish. If you can’t provide a suitably sized aquarium, you should choose a different species of fish to keep. The larger the tank, the happier your fish will be.

How big does a fish tank need to be for 2 goldfish?

Based on the rules above, the goldfish tank size we recommend for two goldfish is: 42 gallons for two Common goldfish. That’s 30 gallons for the first fish and 12 additional gallons for the second fish. 30 gallons for two fancy goldfish.

How much does a angelfish cost?

How much does an angelfish usually cost? – Quora. If you’re looking for a breeding pair of something rarer, say a show-grade breeding pair of pinoy pariba, somewhere to the tune of $200 – $400 is pretty standard. If we’re talking about a rarer freshwater wild-type angelfish species such as P. altum, P.

Which fish can live with angelfish?

  1. Boesemani Rainbow Fish (Melanotaenia boesemani) …
  2. Corydoras Catfish (Corydoras sp.) …
  3. Dwarf Gourami (Trichogaster lalius) …
  4. Praecox Rainbow Fish (Melanotaenia praecox) …
  5. Zebra Loaches (Botia striata) …
  6. Platies (Xiphophorus maculatus) …
  7. Mollies (Poecilia sp.) …
  8. Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher)

What size tank do I need for 2 angelfish?

You will need a minimum of 20 gallons to keep a pair of Freshwater Angelfish. You will need at least 80 gallons to keep a small school. You will need at least 10 gallons for every Freshwater Angelfish in the tank.

Do betta fish get lonely?

Do They Get Lonely? Betta fish are naturally territorial and should not be housed with any other betta fish because they will fight and injure each other, often resulting in death. They are unlikely to get lonely in their tank; however, if they are in a small tank, they may get bored.

What tank size is too big for a betta?

If you put your betta in a tank that’s too small then he won’t grow to his full size. However, even in the biggest tank, they will not grow more than 3 inches in size. A tank can never be too big for your betta. Just make sure that a large tank is planted and it’s not too deep.