29 gallon additions

[creesschaef]

I'm looking for some advice on what to add to my 29 gallon tank.
It currently holds 3 Convicts (a pair and a loner)(the pair is roughly 2.5 inches and the loner is 1.5 inches), 3 Giant Danios (2.5 inches), and 1 smaller pleco (2 inches). Any suggestions?

 

[OrionGirl]

i would leave it alone, since the cons may grow another 2-4 inches, and anything that is added would have to be tough, because those guys will lay into it with a vengeance.

 

[pinballqueen]

I agree. Cons need about 10 gallons to themselves, or they will beat up whatever is in their way, especially when breeding time comes around (and it will, again and again...)

Also, be prepared for the pleco to get a little big. It depends a little on the breed, but many species can grown into the FEET in length.

Just a little preparation...

 

[creesschaef]

Alright, I'll listen to what you guys have to say. It isn't a big deal if the pleco does get large, he will be moving into a 55 when he reaches 8 inches or so.

 

[pinballqueen]

when I say large, I mean my lfs has one in his 300-gallon tank that weighs in around 25 lbs. He's a good 3 feet in length, not counting that gorgeous tail, and could swallow a softball. Granted, he is nearly 20 years old, but still!

Big plecos need hundreds of gallons of water. But then, they slow down in growth after about 10 years, from what I've seen. But, with a good diet, by that point they are already too massive to keep in a 55. There is one in a tank that I am caretaker of that is 3 years old and can barely turn around in a 55.

It's not just the size that is a concern. I'm sure you have noticed by now that plecos go to the bathroom a lot. This doesn't stop when they get large. Sucker catfish species are among the messiest creatures for their size in the aquarium, so it would be nearly impossible to keep a 55 gallon tank clean with a foot-long pleco in it. All this excess waste in the water will kill your fish if you aren't doing outrageous numbers and quantities of water changes on an extremely regular basis. (Case in point: I had a pleco in my 55 gallon that was right at a foot, and I was vacuuming the substrate daily, changing 25% of the water, and my tank still looked like a septic tank.... messy, messy critters, they are... but man are they beautiful )