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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
