29 Gallon Stocking Suggestions? - Community

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Blaizze

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Edited thread instead of creating a new one....

My cycle finished on the 12th... I added 5 small neon tetras, not full grown.

Well, it was a fish cycle, but I didn't have many casualties. I currently have 4 Guppys, 1 Guppy Fry and 1 Gold Gourami... Also, my newest addition are 5 Neon Tetras.

The Tetras are small, I was actually wondering if they would be better off with another 3-5 partners.

Tank is a 29 Gallon.

I also still want to add a few more fish aside from what I currently have. Definately an algae eater, and some shrimp also.

What are good to keep the algae off the glass, and also off the plants / rocks...

Since the Tetras are small and don't produce much waste I'm assuming it would be safe to add something to take care of the algae problems on the rocks / aqua fern plants before it gets out of control. And then add more fish in the coming weeks.

Suggestions?
 
Tetras are school forming fish so the more you have the better. You can keep your 5 or you can get a couple more. Chinese algae eaters are good algae eaters but they grow pretty big. About 6 inches. Otos are another good algae eater. You can find some small otos. A dwarf only grows 1.5 inches.
Hope that helps.
 
Otos are great fish, and will help alot with controlling algae. 2-3 would be fine, and should be enough to keep your tank nice and clean.. if not you can always add another :)

Ancistrus sp. would be another option to consider, but you wouldn't want to get more than one in that case.
 
Just know that oto's are quite sensitive and require an absolutely mature, established tank. I wouldn't recommend one for a tank that's just completed cycling. Also, they are very difficult to get to eat prepared foods. I've heard a lot of folks say that even though they provide algae wafers for them, they won't touch them.

I have 4 otos' myself, and am having to make special provisions to feed them. Only 1 of them will touch wafers. I have set up a system of "algae farming" in a separate container. Many folks also recommend giving them veggies such as lettuce, spinach, cucumber, zucchini. I think algae is a more natural food source for them, but that's just me. I probably will supplement with some veggies, too.

The point is, don't just add algae eating fish if you aren't prepared to care for their special needs in the long-run.

Besides, many algae eaters produce more waste than the average fish. Huge, long poops due to lots of fiber, I guess. In my opinion, you're better off just cleaning the algae off yourself.

Check out this current thread on this very topic:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78845

Hopefully it will change your mind. You will notice that that topic has drawn a lot of heated emotions. It's a touchy one, and if you're new, I suggest keeping yourself out of the drama :)
 
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Gouramis like to have company (either a group or at least a pair). You've got the room, so why not get another (or a few) of those too?
 
I actually have been able to keep otos in tanks that weren't established for what it is worth. My first survived a fishless cycle and much tank shuffling. He was going a little nutty towards the end because my tank didn't have enough algae for him (actually started chasing my male guppy at one point). I experimented with wafers and other foods for him and he settled down. I put him in with a betta (the tank had more algae), and he got along fine until I added an old ornament that released something toxic into the water and killed both the betta and the oto. Definitely watch the food and be prepared to deal with a finicky eater, but I don't think they are any more delicate than any other small tropical fish out there.
 
nerdyguy83 said:
Gouramis like to have company (either a group or at least a pair). You've got the room, so why not get another (or a few) of those too?
Click to expand...

Well I had another male but he was bullying this one, so I returned him to the pet store.... Also they grow to be 5-6 inches so in the future, it's going to take up a lot of tank room... thats why :/
 
if you go gourami stay away from the golds...mines an absolute terror..It keeps killing the other golds I have so I've given up on them untill this monster passes on
 
NorthStar said:
if you go gourami stay away from the golds...mines an absolute terror..It keeps killing the other golds I have so I've given up on them untill this monster passes on
Click to expand...

Now why should he just completely stay away from a species just becuase you had a bad expierience with one fish? That isn't always the case with this species.
 
I was remembering another post where someone had a single dwarf gourami in their tank. I agree that you don't have the room for a pair or group of the full sized varieties.
 
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