View Full Version : Need advice for 29g
Anaxus
05-26-2003, 2:36 PM
I have a 29 gallon which I want to put a CA in.
I was originally going to put a pair of convicts, but the more I think about it I wouldn't know what to do with the fry.
So the list of chiclids I have seen in stores so far that would fit are:
Convicts
Firemouth
Jewel
Kenyi (note sure if this is a CA)
Electric Yellow hap (also not sure if its CA)
I have 4 different fish stores where I live and haven't looked at all of them. Besides the ones I have listed what others would you advise?
Africans would be ok, but I always wanted a jaguar since I saw him but since I only have room for a 29 gallon I wanted to get the biggest that would fit.
If I would decide to go with africans which would you recommend? Most africans I see are just in the assorted chiclid tanks. So it would probalby be just a grab bag.
Any advice would be helpful.
Electric yellow is african from malawi. I'd say go with the jewels con's or firemouths out of that list. With african's I'd do (of course) neolamprologus brichardi. Maybe a couple julidochromis regani's instead.
ChilDawg
05-26-2003, 2:42 PM
The last three are all African. If you went African, I'd suggest Kribs or Jewels for non-Rift Lake ones. For Rift Lake ones, few of the ones in the assorted Cichlid tanks would be appropriate, as most Malawis are better for larger setups. I'd recommend a community of Neolamprologus and small Julidochromis if you wanted to go Rift Lake.
Also, have you seen any good links on shellies (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11184) lately?
For CAs, I'd recommend ones that you have mentioned above, or similar species from the same genera. I could also recommend Rainbow Cichlids or Neets.
Anaxus
05-26-2003, 3:00 PM
Also wanted to say that my tap water is about 8.2 ph and KH about 9 dKH, GH about 7 dGH.
This fish will be in my computer/study so I wanted somehting with personality. So out of jewels con's or firemouths which has a better personality? Iam leaning slightly towards a firemouth.
Also would a pleco be ok, and what about dither fish would I need some?
ChilDawg
05-26-2003, 3:27 PM
You probably would not need dithers if you had Cons. Those are what people led me to get when I was asking for a companion-type fish for next year. They can withstand that pH (not sure if Jewels could). A rubber-lipped plec works with Rift Lake-high pH, but I don't know if they get too big for a 29.
Anaxus
05-26-2003, 3:50 PM
Childawg, did you get a pair of cons or a single male? I was reading that thread and it is what made me look at cons.
I think I have it narrowed down to a firemouth or a convict.
In my community tank my ph is about 8.0 (I have a piece of driftwood which might lower it some) and have a bristlenose pleco. I was going to get another but they cost $15 here and that would be alot of money if the chilid decided he doesn't like him. So I was thinking of going with a common pleco and just trading him in when he gets large for another small one.
What other type of bottom feeder would be ok for this tank set up if I decide to not get a pleco.
ChilDawg
05-26-2003, 4:22 PM
I haven't got one yet, but it will be a single one. I'm putting him in a 20 high, and that might be a little tight as he grows. Since a 29 is a little higher than a 20 long, I wouldn't go with more than one in that either...with maybe a cat that would stay out of its way. A Pleco sounds like a good idea, as long as you can trade the sucker in.
The only other bottom-feeder that I can think of for that tank would be a Synodontis spp. catfish...Petricola would be best for your tank as they are the smallest, but UDCs are probably the cheapest.
HTH,
Matthew
Anaxus
05-26-2003, 4:33 PM
Sorry, UDCs?
ChilDawg
05-26-2003, 4:35 PM
Sorry about that: UDC = Upside-Down Catfish (Synodontis nigriventis).
Anaxus
05-26-2003, 4:41 PM
Ah ok, I see those all the time. Interesting looking cat. I will have to read up on both of the ones you listed.
ChilDawg
05-26-2003, 4:51 PM
I'm going to scratch the UDC...you can see why in this article: http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0121&view_records=1
No time spent on the bottom.
Cuckoo Synos (S. multipunctatus) hold their own well and are small: 4.5", and relatively common. Here's a link. (http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0120&view_records=1)
The others may not be cheap enough if the price of a Chaetostoma spp. sucker cat turned you off. Just the facts, and no slight intended.
Anaxus
05-26-2003, 5:04 PM
I haven't seen any rubber-lipped plecos(this is a Chaetostoma sp correct?), so not sure on there price. Anything under 10$ or so would be fine.
I know what you mean about the UDC, when I see them they are always hanging out at the top of the tank.
Next time I goto a store I will look for a rubber-lipped pleco and see what kinds of synodontis they have.
What type of cat is normally in the same lakes as Firemouths and Convicts?
ChilDawg
05-26-2003, 5:21 PM
I'm having trouble finding any besides the rare Pim Rhamdia guatemalensis.
pictus cats have worked for me in the past
ChilDawg
05-26-2003, 9:39 PM
Originally posted by optix
pictus cats have worked for me in the past
A couple of probs...
1.) Pimpictus get too large for a 29.
2.) Pimpictus get large enough to eat Cons, and maybe FMs as well.
ChilDawg
05-26-2003, 9:43 PM
They, will, however work well for a short time, but it's hard to tell when a Pimpictus is big enough to eat something until it does...those wide mouths take in more than they should!!!
(Sorry 'bout that, Optix, but I wanted to make sure that we didn't give Anaxus the idea to put a 10" fish in a 29.)
no no childawg thank you for correcting me because actually I never did keep them long enough to find that out!! I was always told they could only reach about 7 inchs but I do remember them at 3 inchs having rather larger mouths. So maybe they are a bad idea. Sorry bout that
Anaxus
05-26-2003, 10:29 PM
I will probalby go with a Cuckoo Synos for a tank mate.
I still havent decided between a convict or a firemouth.
From what others have said the convict has more of a personality but I like the coloration on the firemouth.
optix
05-26-2003, 10:37 PM
The convict has by far a better personality and thats not me being biased I don't think. Thats from experience. The coloration on the firemouth is easily made up for by the male convicts aggression and nunchal hump. I love to see the little guy challenge me to protect his territory yet it almost seems as though he knows im the hand that feeds him so he doesn't get too cocky, if my girlfriend comes around he dances for her but if any of my guy's come around the tank he puffs up and starts showing his gills and displaying gorgeous coloring in his fins and he gets a dark greyish purple and his black stripes get BLACK. Definatly makes up for it over a firemouth. Firemouths bore me:o No offense to anyone who likes them.
ChilDawg
05-26-2003, 10:41 PM
None taken. After all you were one of those that talked me into a Con over an FM...Anaxus, believe this guy...he's got the pix to prove how awesome Cons are...
http://hometown.aol.com/mattgic/convict.html
Anaxus
05-26-2003, 11:18 PM
A convict would be fine with a Cuckoo Synos as a tank mate?
optix
05-26-2003, 11:22 PM
hmmm generally I would use that cuckoo in a lake tang set up. I don't know how well it would do with a con.
Anaxus
05-26-2003, 11:29 PM
Hmm ok, well back to finding a bottom feeder for the tank. I probalby will just go with a common pleco and just exchange him for a small one when he is to big.
Childawg when you mentioned the Chaetostoma sp. did you mean rubber nose pleco?
optix
05-26-2003, 11:48 PM
After re-reading this whole post I see that childawg advised towards a cuckoo which if thats the case I'd say you are safe to grab one of those, I am just one of these types that keep my new worlds together if you know what I mean. Not everyone is like that and if you don't mind mixing it up ( which is totally fine) go for it. I think the cuckoo will work out fine.
Jayhawk
05-27-2003, 6:33 AM
I'd be nervous adding anything to a 29 with a pair of convicts (it has the same footprint as my 20 long). I'd try it with a single con, but I'd watch the tank closely for a few days since cons can be nasty (that's part of their charm).
As for plecos, go with a rubberlip or a bristlenose/bushnose pleco. Both stay small enough, but the bristlenose is more common. Also, both are often used in rift lake set-ups because they do well in high pH. Just give them extra time in the bag before release into the tank, slowly adding small amounts of tank water to the bag (I do this over 2 hours) since I think pH shock can be a big deal for any fish.
Just my .02.
Eric
ChilDawg
05-27-2003, 7:46 AM
Yes, the Chaetostoma spp. would be the rubber-lipped pleco. I think that the Cuckoo Syno would be able to hold its own against a single Con, but a breeding pair might kill it. Stratton tells the story of a breeding pair of Cons that kicked a Red-bellied Piranha out of its own tank.
I like the idea of the Rubber-lip Pleco the best of all of those...I've seen that done on other forums sans problems.
Anaxus
05-31-2003, 7:54 PM
What about the south american bumblebee catfish (http://www.planetcatfish.com/ilibrary/pimelodi/microgla/303_f.htm) (Microglanis iheringi) as a tank mate? Besides the rubbernose its the closest I could find to a species in the same area. He gets to about 2.2".
Yes that catfish should hold its own rather well with a pair of con's (except during spawning). I'd go with it. ( I know we discussed this in pm already but I figured I'd bump your post so others could chip in if need be :) )
Anaxus
06-09-2003, 3:21 PM
Well I ended up getting a firemouth instead of a con. I only got a male because they didn't have a femal. I also picked up a spotted raphael for a scavenger. It seems well suited for my tank since its always hiding out and nocturnal.
But now the firemouth is just sticking to his cave and not coming out, I know this is typical of them. Wensday the LFS is getting a new shipment in and I am going to go and see if they got a female. If not I was going to pick up some dither fish to make the firemouth feel safer. I was thinking either zebra danios or Guppies. I was going to get probably 4. I am leaning towards getting guppies because if they live and breed its extra food for my firemouth.
For now though I tried to feed the firemouth today and he didn't come out even when the food floated by his cave(which was quickly devoured by the raphael the second it got close to him). Is there anything I can do till wensday to get him to eat?
Just wait it out. He can go over a week without food and will eat when he is hungry. The dithers should definately help. When I have had trouble getting fish to eat raw shrimp seems to work well though. Drop a small piece in right in front of his cave and then watch but don't move too much or it will spook him he should take it but like I said don't sweat it if he doesn't eat. He will soon.
Good luck with your new FM. what made you decide on the firemouth over the convict? Just like the coloration better? I agree that you just have to wait it out and he will pull it together and start eating.
Anaxus
06-09-2003, 5:56 PM
Not sure I went to the LFS and looked at them both and I just didn't "want" a convict as much as the firemouth. If the FM doesn't work out I can always exhange him for a con later.
Wensday I am going to the LFS and hoping they have a female. So maby the female will perk him up some. I will probably get guppies also since they are usualy at the top dwellers and will help him feel more secure. 4 guppies sound good? 2 male 2 female or 1 male 3 female? And there is always the plus of the guppies providing snacks for the FM if they have babies.
im kinda thinking that the guppies themselves will be snacks for the FM's themselves before they have a chance for babies.