It happened so fast... I'm changing to cichlids!

[Coler]

Her: Don't know. Got them as "assorted".
Me: I see. How big do these get?

Her: My biggest are six or seven inches, my smaller ones four or five.

I thought they were 4 or 5 inches...but maybe you are getting them as fry ? Your initial question was how many 4 or 5 inch africans can I get in my 29.

I also note that she said she doesn't know what they are but she got them as 'assorted'...maybe its different in the States but frankly you just do not see tanganyikans sold in 'assorted african' tanks...I am interested to know what has bred

 

[Coler]

to answer your other main question about which of your other fish can live with the africans...the answer is absolutely none, they will sooner or later be shredded.

 

[ILOVEBETTAS]

Umm... once again I'll try it for a week and see how it goes... that's the only way to do it it looks.

I have a chance. There are two sides to the chance. Either the fish will fight or they won't. I'm a stubborn person, and I feel like I should try this. i'm sorry if it won't work, if it doesn't you have permission to tell me all day long that I'm an idiot, but I'm just trying this for now. That's just me. I'll tell you if it works or not. If it works, fine. If not, fine too. I'm not going to cry if they fight. You've warned me. I've seen your advice, and I've thought about it too. It doesn't hurt if I just try. I'll keep a very close eye on them and if they fight I'll take them back to her right away. No harm in that at all (unless the fish fight, but I'll watch them closely). Once again, consider me warned. I'm just trying to see if it'll work.

 

[ILOVEBETTAS]

I thought they were 4 or 5 inches...but maybe you are getting them as fry ? Your initial question was how many 4 or 5 inch africans can I get in my 29.

I also note that she said she doesn't know what they are but she got them as 'assorted'...maybe its different in the States but frankly you just do not see tanganyikans sold in 'assorted african' tanks...I am interested to know what has bred

Yup, they'll be fry, and grow 4-5''...

 

[ILOVEBETTAS]

I could also always tell her I only want one.

 

[kay-bee]

Umm... once again I'll try it for a week and see how it goes... that's the only way to do it it looks...I have a chance. There are two sides to the chance. Either the fish will fight or they won't...

There's actually a 'third side' which is "they may fight much later" (as in when they commence or complete sexual maturity). A person could peacefully keep small juvenile african cichlids together just fine...until they begin to mature and decide to unleash some serious aggression (which can occur months or even more than a year from now). Juvenile african cichlid behavior is not a precursor of how the fish are destined to behave as adults.

When you acquire the fish try and post some pics, as advice will be more accurate once the actual species is known.

 

[GirlieGirl8521]

Kristin said Tanganyikans would be better... augh I'm so confused I'm e-mailing the person right now, asking what they look like, more about their aggression, etc.

I suggested Shellies and a pair of Julidochromis......there are tons more Tanganyikans that that. And most of the others will not work in a 29g.

Its still best to find out exactly what fish these are before you decide to keep them......maybe get a picture of them when you see them. Or if you have to take them, tell the lady that you are going to try to ID them and may need to return them.

I thought they were 4 or 5 inches...but maybe you are getting them as fry ? Your initial question was how many 4 or 5 inch africans can I get in my 29.

I also note that she said she doesn't know what they are but she got them as 'assorted'...maybe its different in the States but frankly you just do not see tanganyikans sold in 'assorted african' tanks...I am interested to know what has bred

I agree....I personally have not seen Tangs in an assorted african tank, but its not impossible. I just don't think that they are very common, especially in assorted tanks.

 

[-Nemo-]

sorry...bring what back now ? love what now ?

we have no idea what these fish are. you can not say that 'you can do it' in the absence of that...this is a 29 gallon tank and we could, for all we know, be talking about a group of juvenile frontosa.

Bettas...no one is trying to be a killjoy but you have to recognise that general encouragement, which is what the site is all about, is not responsible where we don't and you don't know what the fish are.

You would never put an Oscar in there...because you know what size they hit. You would never put 6 male bettas in there, because you are highly knowledgeable about their needs. If I came on and said 'can I have 6 male bettas in a 29 a guy I know is getting rid of them' you would tell me exactly what to do and what not to do and if someone else said yes you can you would correctly point out that that is nonsense.

You say above 'this is so contradictory'. It isn't; everyone with any common sense is saying find out what the fish are first. And then pointing out that it looks problematic based on what limited information is available.

i'm just trying to be friendly, and i am not, nor am i expected to be an expert. it's not like it's rocket science to keep these fish. take a diarrhea dump down my throat already. also try to find the multi-quote button.

You say above 'this is so contradictory'

ummm, no i DID NOT. :duh:

 

[elementkid65]

yea if theyre tangs i doubt a clueless person could breed them unless she has really good enough equipment and accidentally got all water chemistry right and yer...
if they breed like crazy i wouldn't say theyre tangs unless personalty...
i reckon theyre hybrids but without much info i wouldn't know.
29 gallon is two small anyway unless ... theyre not africans .. now im going crazy of lack of everything.

 

[jtburf]

They sound possibly like convicts?
personaly I would just let this person go, they need to lean and having a bunch of tanks does not make you an expert.