stocking 29 gallon tank...

[christie71]

Hello- Would like to get some opinions on stocking a 29 gallon tank. It is fully cycled and has tropicals in it now( they will be moved once I am ready to put in the cichlids) Any sugg.
i like mbuna but here conflicting advice on them( anyone here done it well?)
I have also read Lake tang. (lamprologus species mainly) would be OK as well as dwarfs and some S. and Central American.
i would love stocking and tank stocking ideas as well as what to stay away from(other than the obvious:) I appreciate your help!!

[liv2padl]

your tank is too small for Mbuna and the majority of Central and South American cichlid. Tanganyikan cichlids - Lamprologus and Julidochromis would work - OR - Microgeophagus ramirezi or Kribensis.

[christie71]

How many of those could I do? #'s for each mix/group if you don't mind so I don't over do. Thanks for the quick response! Also can I or should I do an dithers or upper swimming fish with any of these? Again thanks!

[Jayhawk]

There are quite a few options. As already stated the Lamprologus/Neolamprologus (whichever is the current name of the day) shell dwellers (N. brevis, N. similis, N. caudopunctatus, N. multifasciatus) would work in there. You could have 2 brevis pairs in there or a group of similis or multifasciatus (start with 6 and end up with a colony). N. brichardi would work, too, as would the dwarf Julidochromis (dickfeldi, transcriptus, ornatus). The brichardi and julies need about 4-6 unless you can find a pair...brichardi will form a colony and julies just about do to.

From South America, you have a lot of choices. Rams - both blue and Bolivian - any apistogramma (most are harem breeders and 2 females one male will work...they are also sexually dimophic so you can usually sex them easily), any Laetacara (curviceps and dorsigers are the two most common). Keyhole cichlids would work, too. Keyholes and the Laetacaras are pair breeders.

From Africa kribensis as already mentioned but also A. thomasi (African butterfly cichlid to some LFSs). Both are pair breeders.

With the SA and African fish you can have tetras or other small schooling fish to add activity to the middle/upper part of the tank, and many will do fine with some cories or small plecos (rubberlip, otos, or clowns...just not small regular plecos which grow huge).

Many folks keep the larger cichlids, but there are so many small cichlids that will work in your tank!

Hope that helps.

Eric

[christie71]

Thank you so much!! Huge help! now I jsut have to choose!

[Kyohti]

Personally, I'd say a trio of Electric yellow LABs would be lovely. Depending on the natural colors in your tank, you could go with the vibrant yellow natural coloration, or the new color... that lavender-white and black color that's recently come out.

LABs are fairly peaceful for cichlids and have loads of personality and my 'Lem' has been nothing but hardy and vibrant ever since I brought him home. He picked on my Cory when she was in the tank with him, but now that he's in the 36-g, he's quite content to explore all his new caves.

They are so lovely... I'd definitely recommend them. And if there's any concern about overstocking, Cichlids in their own natural environment tend to live with up to 20 fish inhabiting a single square metre of space in some areas. As long as the bio-load isn't stressed and the fish aren't being too aggressive with one another, keeping a trio or even a quartet of LABs in a 29 gallon (as long as it has a good amount of foot space. is it tall or long?) should be more than feasible.

[Kyohti]

This is idochromis Caeruleus, the electric Yellow LAB, in it's natural coloring...
http://www.aquariumlife.net/images/electric-yellow-labs.jpg
http://hem.bredband.net/stemik/l_caeruleus/golden.jpg
http://www.malawi.pl/tap/labidochromis_caeruleus_147_1152x864.jpg

These are the LAB in it's newer color variety, which is that starling, shimmery blue/violet white color...
http://www.cichlidlovers.com/l-car-white.JPG
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid145/p51c83dfbd0a3cafb5913209faae656f1/f67055c6.jpg
http://www.mbuna.dk/1033.jpg