Fish to breed in 20 gallon long

[Luca]

I have breed shrimp guppies pleco ram Krib angels and multis. I want something that is oddball but easy to intermediate to breed. *does not have to be oddball just something not listed* I want something that can be community bred if possible. My ph is high but I bred rams in the 7.8-8.2 range. So to sum up a fish to breed that is just not eggs scatterer in 20 gallons. Also I’ll do reaserch so u don’t need to say how to unless u have a tip. Ty 

[Fish Folk]

I love this question! Here are several fish that I've bred in a 20 gal. long...

(1) Fundulopanchax scheeli (Emerald Killifish). Very easy Killi to keep. These little non-annual west African gemstones are very hardy, and will live for a few years if properly cared for. Adults are no longer than an adult human pinky finger. They will use a submerged spawning mop. Here is my first male brooder...

Here is a journal I've kept on breeding them. Lots of information to digest.

(2) Notropis chrosomus (Rainbow Shiners). These are North American natives, and are also egg-scatterers -- but they are easy to manage. No heater. Keep tank temperature at 70 F (21-22 C) and add some extra aeration for good water movement.

I am breeding hundreds of these right now. Here is a journal I've rep for a few years. 

(3) Laetacara araguaiae (Purple Smilers) For me, these were "the dwarf cichlid that got away" when we were breeding a lot more. We had a batch hatch, but lost them due to some suboptimal practices at the time. Here is an Amazonas article about them. Here's a photo (not mine) that displays how beautiful the males become at spawning time...

You'll probably need collect rainwater to trigger them to spawn. They'll come to spawning readiness with appropriate live foods.

[AdamS]

I’d love to hear any other suggestions on this topic. 

[AdamS]

Anyone?

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

 @AdamS just saw this.

@Luca the community spawning could be done with the right method to harvest eggs for many fish but my 20 long past/current projects:

"Pea puffer" (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) egg scatterer /depositor anecdotally males may guard eggs in some situstions.I havent seen that directly yey. 

Im running a group of 11 pea puffers in a 20 high with dwarf pipefish. They spawn in ther subwassertang regularly and havent bothered the pipefish yet. Here they are eating on blackworms cultured on scrubber pads for easy feeding. 

 

"Florida flagfish" (Jordanella floridae)

For me the male would dig a pit and guard it. They were not big fry eaters here. I grew them in a colony spawning setting 20hallon 55gallon outdoor pond they always made more. 

 

"African Butterfly Cichlid" (Anomalochromis thomasi)

Egg depositor guarder

they are pretty stout very small dwarf cichlids here. 3" total length with fins. The will spawn in pits, on wood, on caves and color up nice. There is some discussion on if they are timid fry eaters or punch way above their weight class to defend fry....mine think they are 4 feet long and bullet proof. They get a cool blue and red edging on their fins when in spawning mode 

White seam betta (Betta albimarginata)

From the way back machine fishroom.

I did live plants lots of cover and my water here on the mountsin is 371 tds or so all the time with a ph around 7 from the pipes.  

 

Male holding eggs - paternal mouthbrooder

Rainbow goodied (Characodon lateralis)

Not the easiest to breed but done in a 20 long and with enough cover even the characodon have a hard time not eating their own fry.

And Black prince goodied (Characodon audax) 

Sterbai corys 

My wife's favororite 

non standard kribs P.moanda

[Fish Folk]

@mountaintoppufferkeeper these are all incredible projects! Well done 👍 

[mountaintoppufferkeeper]

@Fish Folk I had to get one puffer in there of course 😁

[Mark S]

Oh, there are so many options!  I'll just mention a few I've had success with in that tank size or smaller.  Most Corydoras will breed happily in a tank that size.  Same for probably just about any Pseudomugil species.  I've bred P. furcatus, P. gertrudae,  and P. luminatus.  I've also bred the dwarf neon rainbow (Melanotaenia praecox) in that tank size.  Ricefish haven't been mentioned yet.  Just got a beautiful group of platinum Miyuki that are breeding in a 15 gallon.  Of course, most "standard" livebearers (guppies, Endlers, platys, mollies).  

A 20 long has such a great footprint, being long enough for fish to spread out and get away from each other when needed.