My two goldfish died a bit over a month ago. They did not last long unfortunately but from help I've been given on here I think they died of either internal bacteria or internal parasites or a combination of both.

I have nearly finished disinfecting my tank (I left it for a month because I couldn't face it). And I am going to start cycling this week so hopefully I will be ready to get some fish in January sometime.

The thing is, I still have no idea of what I want, and when I say that I mean I don't even know if I want goldfish or tropicals.
I had a really bad experience with my last two goldfish and I really can't face a repeat of that because it stressed me so much. Also with tropicals I could have a higher number of fish.
But then what tropicals? I like tiger barbs and one option is to have a tiger barb-only tank. My understanding is that I could have a decent little school of tiger barbs in a 20 gallon. They are fun to watch but they aren't quite as personable as goldfish. I'm not sure if I would get attached to them individually as I would with goldfish.

A store I went to a while back did have the cutest rancus I ever did see so I am drawn to that. The question about that is do I get one and give it all 20 gallons for it to flourish but risk it getting lonely. Or do I get two. If I get two I have no QT so would it be better to get them both at the same time from the same tank or will the bioload make my cycle struggle?

ah questions, questions, so can't decide. Also debating a tropical community tank.
I love goldies, but I am scared of having problems like last time. Tiger barbs are also cool to watch them zip around. I just don't want to make the wrong decision and then two months down the line regret which fish I picked.

To quote one of my all time favorite cheesy 80's movies, "Decisions are the worst!" (Girl's Just Want to Have Fun). Anyway... I feel your pain! I'm getting an apartment in January before classes start again so I'll be moving my three goldies into a properly sized tank... I'm already thinking about ways to fill the 12g that will open up!

As for your tank... you could do more goldies, but you sound a little gunshy about it, so if your not sure a tropical tank might be a good option. Platies seem like really cool fish too me. Apparently they're pretty hardy because they're considered good beginner fish, fun too! If you get male and female, and stock appropriately (sparingly in anticipation), you're sure to end up with some babies! Also you'd have LOTS of colors to choose from.... your tank would never be boring. If your looking for somthing a little more personable... how bout a couple dojo loaches? I'm not completely sure about the gallonage requirements but I've heard they're lots of fun!

In regard to getting just one goldie for the 20g... If you really do have your heart set on GF (and lets face it, it's hard not to) and really want to give just one room to thrive in the extra space, dont worry about him/her getting lonely... I have just one alone and she is perfectly pleased to be the one and only! In fact, periodically, I try to integrate her with the other two and she HATES it! As long as you start out with the new fish alone to begin with I think you should be fine!
Lots of luck stocking the new tank!

If it is a 20 long I would highly recommend a school of tiger barbs, but if it's a 20 high they might not have enough swimming space because the length is shorter. These are very active fish. As for attachment, you're right that it's harder to get attached to individual fish in most schooling fish. If you can, try to get fish that don't look identical. I used to have one with a black spot on it's face.


I really wouldn't put any goldfish in a 20g long term. They just get too big for it eventually.

If you go the community route try not to put anything with the tiger barbs that has long fins or you might run into some nipping issues.

Do u considering Neon Tetra? They r very beautiful with planted aquarium~ ^-^

What is long-term? I don't have the space to upgrade where I currently live but will do in a year or two.

If I went down the community route I wouldn't have tiger barbs. I don't think I have enough room to make it work.

BadBoyzon9- thanks for the suggestion. I agree that planted neon tetra tanks look beautiful but I have had zero success with plants and the choice round here is pathetic. Also, I think I would find it even harder to get attached to neone. They are so small and look so much alike.

What I would do with a 20 gallon tank is select ONE representative of the smaller, Fancy Goldfish varieties and buy a small one. Cycling is going to be much more easy for a single, small fish and the beneficial bacteria levels will adjust accordingly as your fish grows and produces more waste. The Fancies are not pond fish due to severe modifications made to their systems. They are aquarium fish. One representative of the smaller varieties should do well in a 20 gallon tank with lots of TLC. What do you think of Bubble Eyes? Bubble Eyes in fact are more SAFE, kept alone. Companionship is good for Goldies, but some of them are also loners by choice and with lots of attention you can fill the companionship void a lot more easily than you can care for an overstocked tank.

I'm a bit funny about bubble-eyes to be honest. I feel sorry for them.

I went to the pet stire today to buy some more media and spent quite a long time looking at the fish, and lo and behold, I want them all

It's not a store I would actually buy fish from because they have too many unhealthy/dead fish too often, but ###### there was the cutest oranda I ever did see.
At the moment I am looking into the tropical community route, trying to find out what I can have together and how many. I am thinking of dwarf or honey gouramis with either pygmy corys OR khuli loaches and then some schooling fish for the middle. Maybe male endlers, black skirted tetras or (and I'm not sure if these will go OK with the others) platys.
I've got quite a while to research and figure it all out though as I am only just starting cycling.

Go for the Ranchus!
Get two nice calicos (edonoshiki in Japanese), a bristlenose or Boreo loach to keep things clean couple water onions to absorb nutrients and you're on your way. You said it yourself, you're more knowledgeable about goldies now, you'll know even more tomorrow! Just get commited to biological filtering and water changes! Make the water changes your "quiet time", you know, your "happy place". Shoot, 5 gallons of relaxation after a tough Monday, another 5 on Thursday night as a warm up to the weekend and before you know it, your a 50% a week changeaholic!

Whatever you decide, best of luck!

You know, the anabantoids would do well in your 20 g tank.... And Gouramis rock. Some of them are stunning. But I'm like Dr. T... if I have fish space, Goldies are there.

subliminally: {{{Goldfish. Goldfish. Goldfish}}}. Just kidding. I'll ditto the "good luck", also. And I can't keep Bubbleyes, either. My Wakin look like carp, as do most of the fish I am really into.