29 gal community fish

[SpiritualSniper]

i've been mulling it over and over in my mind, and i am finally about to go to the LFS and still don't know for sure....
i plan on getting a fish or a pair for my 29 gal with AC300, plants, 2 black kuhlis (also contemplating getting a couple regular kuhlis....), 1 hillstream loach, and 3 false SAEs. 3 options i've been dwelling on are kribs, keyhole cichlids, or flag cichlds. don't know about the price of these (hoping for cheap), but i know rams are expensive here and that's why they aren't on the list. so which of these 3 would be best in you're opinions? any suggestions of a different fish? (i'm not restricted to just cichlids, those are just the ones i've picked out....)

sorry for such a long post.... but thanks for any help.

[Winnie]

I am endlessly entertained by my pair of kribensis. As long as they have their own cave, they are quite peaceful with my other fish, although when in a mating period, the male chases away others. Mine have never actually produced fry yet, but they keep trying!
Kribs are also very hardy and inexpensive because they are so successfully bred.
With that mix of fish, you need something to live in the upper regions of the tank, like a big angel fish.

[Rometiklan]

I would be remiss if I didn't ask if you are going to fishless cycle? Before you do anything, cycle that tank and then you can give some thought as to what fishes you can get.

But to answer your question, I really like the Keyhole Cichlid. This fish is fairly small as far as cichlids go (4-5 inches long), but it is a pretty underrated fish, and can be somewhat difficult to find. Keyholes are kind of timid, and go well in a peaceful community tank.

[SpiritualSniper]

Originally posted by Rometiklan
I would be remiss if I didn't ask if you are going to fishless cycle? Before you do anything, cycle that tank and then you can give some thought as to what fishes you can get.

this tank has been set up for a while, it is definetly cycled. i've been in the hobby for a couple years, so i know about all that stuff. just the hardest part has always been picking fish.


Originally posted by Winnie
With that mix of fish, you need something to live in the upper regions of the tank, like a big angel fish.

i was under the impressed those 3 cichlids would dwell in the upper-mid regions of the tank? do all 3 stay on the bottom? also, i've always thought angels should be in at least a 55 gal, especially since they do best in shoals....

[optix]

Originally posted by SpiritualSniper


this tank has been set up for a while, it is definetly cycled. i've been in the hobby for a couple years, so i know about all that stuff. just the hardest part has always been picking fish.



i was under the impressed those 3 cichlids would dwell in the upper-mid regions of the tank? do all 3 stay on the bottom? also, i've always thought angels should be in at least a 55 gal, especially since they do best in shoals....


Do you have nitrates or how do you know your tank is cycled?? Kribs and most other small cichlids find security from being close to the bottom as like with my con's they jet to the top for food and fly straight back to the bottom, All small cichlids tend to hover near the bottom even when swimming occasionally taking the trip to mid section but almost never at the top. Top swimmers are things like silver dollars angels etc.

[Molino]

Madagascar Rainbowfish have always appealed to me, if you're looking for something other than cichlids. They are attractive, active swimmers that would inhabit the middle/upper regions of the tank. They do reach about 5-6" though and prefer to be in groups (I think?) so I'm not sure if they would be too much for a 29 gallon.

[Rometiklan]

Your cichlids may do better if they had a few fast swimming fish of a good size like giant danios or rainbow fish to act as dither fish. As a result, they may not spend as much time on or near the bottom if they feel the security that a dither fish may provide.

[SpiritualSniper]

i had goldfish in this tank for about 1.5-2 years, and they are finally in a pond. the fish that are in there now have been for about 3 weeks. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites.

and yea, i'm not just looking for cichlids, any suggestions would be good, i just want top-mid dwellers, preferably something that doesn't shoal, since they are more expensive and singles/pairs seem more interesting to me.

[SpiritualSniper]

i'm going to my LFS tomorrow and i still don't know for sure what i am going to get. i suppose i could get some danios as dithers and a pair of kribs, but would that work for sure? if so, what would be the best danios to get? or what's another good top-mid dweller, cichlid or not?

[nolemite]

Originally posted by Rometiklan
Your cichlids may do better if they had a few fast swimming fish of a good size like giant danios or rainbow fish to act as dither fish. As a result, they may not spend as much time on or near the bottom if they feel the security that a dither fish may provide.

Giant Danios in a 29? Seems kinda small to me.

What about gold barbs, white clouds, or some of the smaller danios? I've used all of the above as dithers for kribs. Hell of a lot less expensive than rainbows too, although rainbows are nice. Check out the Praecox rainbows for 29Gs.

[SpiritualSniper]

i went to my LFS on sunday and decided to get kribs. only problem was they were out. so i got 6 zebra danios to act as dithers, and i'm going back tomorrow (wednesday) to get the kribs; since their shipments come in on wednesdays.

[lesley]

I was going to use danios as dithers at one point, but the LFS warned me that danios have a habit of launching out of the tank when they are chased. I think it would be okay as long as you have a good cover for the tank.

I think you'll be happy with the Kribs. They're colorful, have interesting behavior, and the babies are pretty darned cute too.

[SpiritualSniper]

i was wondering, when/if the kribs breed, will the fry likely survive? or would they get eaten by something? how big are they when the parents stop caring for them?