question about mixing fish...

[borzoimom]

Mollies and angelfish get too big for a 20 gallon tank

Angel fish are like gold fish as far as growth- the larger the tank, the bigger they get. IN a 20 ga tank I have never had a angel bigger than 3 inches.
The rule of thumb in fish is one inch per gallon of water. If you want many fish- get small types or schoolers.

[IRescue452]

Nobody uses 1 inch per gallon anymore, we calculate bioload per square inch of tank space along with individual species space needs. I'm surprised you find a 3" angelfish to be acceptable. How about a stunted borzoi who has suffered malnutrition and poor living conditions. Stunted fish rarely live as long as they should because their internal organs suffer in the process. Ideally, an angelfish will live past 15 years if properly kept. A goldfish certainly won't live long stunted, and they don't grow to the size of their container, that's a myth.
Mollies get up to and exceed 6 inches when they are raised properly. They grow slow though and usually die long before their potential lifespan.

[SunsetRose]

Mollies get up to and exceed 6 inches when they are raised properly. They grow slow though and usually die long before their potential lifespan.

Do you have any sources?

I just got through searching and everything I looked at said 2 to 4 depending on species.

[Genny]

Hey, congratulations on your tank! I've had tetras before, but all of them seem aggressive with my other fish, so I don't have any anymore. I use to have one of the 'dyed' fish ( I didn't know it was painful for them!) she was purple and I named her Violet. She was really mean to my little guppy named' Skipper' so I had to separate them. I thought alomost all tetras were aggressive, cause I've had lots of kinds and they weren't ever too good with my other fish!

[IRescue452]

My sources are seeing adult mollies, in homes, in stores, at aquarium society meetings. Swordtails are the livebearers who get 2-4 inches.

[IRescue452]

My sources are seeing adult mollies, in homes, in stores, at aquarium society meetings. Swordtails are the livebearers who get 2-4 inches. Most websites don't have accurate information, especially if they are selling fish. There's more profit in giving low size estimates.

[SunsetRose]

Well my mother has kept mollies and had the fish for over 10 years (the same fish) in a 50 gallon community tank. They never got over 4 inches so as far as I'm concerned, you can keep a few in a 20 gallon without an issue.

[tikeyas_mom]

I am too affraid to add any livebearers (considering they breed to know end lol).. and i would hate for my babies to get stuck up in the filter like nemo ... I went to the store yesterday and bought four neons, they seem to be holding their own so far... the one white skirt tetra that i have seems to chase them once in a while, but they are good escapers... I think they just need to figure out their own territory, I also picked up a really neat colored pleco.... Today I wanted to buy a few more fish to add, so i picked up three white clouds (they are pink and red)... and two head tail light tetra i believe... they have not been added to the tank yet (they are sitting in the bag getting used to the water), I'll post pics later