29 Gallon Setup: Stocking Inquiry

[ajbry]

I'm thinking of purchasing a 29 gallon for a relatively modest cichlid community. I'm a student on a tight budget so a decent 29G setup will be all I can handle, most likely.

Now, I was thinking of stocking it with:

6 of L. Ocellatus Gold
Trio of Copadichromis azureus
4 Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish


Would this work? All input would be greatly appreciated.

[severum mama]

I'm not much of an authority of African cichlids, but that seems like too many fish to me.

[TheXman]

How big and aggressive will the cichlids get? Rainbows can coexist with some cichlids, but that usually works best for the larger species, neons will probably get picked on if the cichlids get bigger than 5 inches, or if they aren't a pretty mellow cichlid species, but I wouldn't put any fish that gets bigger than 5 inches into a 29 gallon tank anyway (rainbows or cichlids). Maybe dwarf cichlids would work better in that tank. There are lots of different and interesting dwarf cichlids to choose from, I personally think that blue rams and A. cacatuoides are some very cool, interesting fish. There is a picture of each in this month's photo contest, the blue ram is #2 and the cockatoo cichlid is #19. There are rarer dwarf cichlids in all different colors and patterns, go to Apistogramma.com if you are interested.

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Good article on L. Ocellatus: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/l_ocellatus.php

Going to edit my advice...6 L. Ocellatus might be a bit much unless you are going with a lot of females. You can still try naturally dividing the tank up a bit by using rock work, but I'd start with a pair or trio and see how that goes first.


Copadichromis azureus on the other hand might get a bit too large for a 29 Gallon. I think they require something like 5 feet of swimming space.

[ajbry]

Thanks for the help so far. I got the initial idea from The Cichlid Recipe (http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/crp22.htm) and modified it a bit.

I only have experience with the Rams, so otherwise I'm still relatively new to cichlids. From what I've read, the Cops seem like they could be docile and avoid much trouble with the others, so if anyone has any particular experience with them in a 29, that would be great.

[Xavi]

Try one of these cookie cutters:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_20g.php
or
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_29g.php

The cookie cutter setups here work much better than the one on the cichlid recipe.

[Lupin]

Rainbows are not recommended with that kind of mix.

[Rbishop]

Ocellatus....get a 55 or a 75, 1 male and 4 females, they need their own territory and plenty of extra shells. You do have a sand substrate...?

[ajbry]

Thanks for all the help guys.

If I acquired a 30-gallon instead of a 29, would that change the situation a bit? Considering the footprint would be 6 inches longer and everything.

Essentially, I just want a good little group of shellies, a trio of relatively unaggressive, yet larger cichlids to inhabit the middle areas, and a few interesting dither fish.

[DeRo316]

The Azureus will get to big for a 29 or 30. I have one in my mixed african all male tank and he runs the tank. He's the largest of my africans.

I would stay stick with a cool shelldweller colony, dont try and do too much. Even with the larger footprint of a 30 it still wouldnt give the different groups their own space.

[Ruben Tolon]

you can probably keep a group of Lamp. multifasciatus, since they are smaller and more docile IME than the ocellatus. Then just add the dithers of your choice. I'm not sure if there's enough space for a trio of larger cichlids to go along with them.

[ajbry]

I ain't a fan of Multies. I've narrowed done my choices to Ocellatus and Stappersi, in terms of the shell-dwellers I'll put in there.

[Ruben Tolon]

What are you going to add instead of the Copadichromis? Some Paracyprichromis perhaps instead?

[jm1212]

aspitos would be a better choice for a 30 gallong than african cichlids.

[Xavi]

aspitos would be a better choice for a 30 gallong than african cichlids.

Why?

[ajbry]

Alright, so here's my somewhat reconfigured plan, for a 30 gallon I'll be purchasing.

Trio of Aulonocara stuartgranti
??? Lamprologus occelatus
6 Neon Tetras

Now I just need to figure out how many Occies I can put in there comfortably. If a trio seems to be the most suitable size, I'd like to throw in a pair of another species as well.

[Xavi]

Don't mix a shelldweller with a Malawi cichlid.

BTW, almost all Malawi cichlids are too big for a 30g tank. I would look inot one of the smaller julies.

[ajbry]

I have absolutely zero interest in julies, unfortunately. I want a nice trio of medium-sized, colorful, and interesting cichlids that will be able to get along with the shellies and from what I've read, the Aulonocara fit the bill.

[Xavi]

My gut tells me that occies would be intolerent of peacocks sifting around in the sand near their shells.

29g is a small tank for peacocks. Why don't you just try 3 of them (1m,2f.)

Get a bn pleco to eat algae that will grow in the tank.

[ajbry]

So you're saying I could get a trio of peacocks to get along with some shellies, neon tetras, and a dwarf pleco?

Would it alleviate the possible stress if I decided to go with stappersi instead of occies?

[jpappy789]

I think that Xavi means taht only 3 peacocks would be in the tank, nothing else. Correct me if I'm wrong...

[Xavi]

I don't think that you should put shellies in with Malawi cichlids. I also feel that a 29g is too small for peacocks.

You should make a choice of which you like better, the shellies or the peacocks.

If you want the peacocks more, put in 3 with a pleco nothing else.

If you want the shellies, get a species of shellie and you can also add one the the smaller Tanganyikan rock dwellers.

[ajbry]

I'm going to go with the peacocks now, I'm going to put a couple shellies in a smaller tank.

Thanks for all your help Xavi, I appreciate it a lot.

[Xavi]

Not a problem. Let's see some pics when everything is up and running.

[jpappy789]

Good choice