suggestions for a schooling type fish

Emg

Emg

AC Members
Jan 16, 2005
2,931
0
36
63
Northeast Connecticut
emgstanks.blogspot.com
I have a 29 planted tank that needs some type of schooling fish. I'm thinking it will have to be something of the smaller variety because I would like to have enough of them for a decent size school.

Right now, I have 2 dwarf neon gouramis, one pair of blue rams and 3 otocinclus in this tank and it has a penguin 170 bio-wheel for filtration. I'm not really sure how many more fish I could put in here without overloading it. I really don't want to do that and have to put up with all the concequences that go along with overstocking....

I know I need to add more plants for one thing, which will help with any stocking issues....waiting for some bulbs to come in.....I'm going to put a bunch more aponogetons in that back left corner...and some lilies in that empty space on the right side..and another in the middle maybe..(hopefully they'll be the red leafed variety)

My first thought was neon tetras, I believe they stay fairly small, but not sure. I think I would actually like some black neons, but I'm not sure I could put a decent amount of those in there..as they get a bit larger... :huh:

I have seen references to dwarf cories, but I have yet to see any in the lfses in this area....I think I would have a hard time finding any of those..

Any other ideas ? I'm not really going by inch per gallon rule, as that doesn't really work out.....I just don't want to overstock !

Here's a pic of the tank....
withoutthefrybox.jpg


Thanks for any suggestions ! :D
 
Last edited:
Well I just got a few Harlequin Rasboras for my 10 gallon and I love them. Very small, very cool schooling fish that stays quite small...I Highly reccomend them as a small schooler......vary hardy as well.
 
I'll check them out Knash..thanks ! :)

You know...I just read at "Live Aquaria" that the black neons only get about 1 1/2 inches....is that true ??? If they do then that's the fish I want...lol...I thought they got larger than that .....

Though I looked at those rasboras and they're pretty nice too...! Hmm....decisions decisions.... :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
My school of cardinal tetras looks very cool - there are 30 of them in my 100g but they looked cool with 6, 12, 24 then 30!
 
I haven't found that tetras "school" all that well in small/medium sized tanks. If they do, it means something is freaking them out. Hatchet fish work great in my 29g. They appear to school tighter than most tetras because they never go more than a few inches from the surface. They're awesome for that hard to fill top portion of 29g tanks. I believe the marbled hatchets stay a bit smaller than the silver ones. They would look great in your tank emg
 
Yikes..this is my first post ever...but I just had to say what a beautiful set up. I love your plants and driftwood.
I have 6 neons in my 39g tall tank and they really aren't that great at schooling together. I really wanted them to so I'm following this thread to get some ideas.
 
I would be Iffy about adding anything more to the tank EMG, you are pretty much at the max level in my opinion, especially with the dwarf gourami.

Just a few suggestions, though I would ditch the gourami if you were to add shoalers, that way you could add a few more and wouldn't be overstocked. I would reccomend 8ish without the dwarves.

Glowlights
Rummynose
Harlequin Rasboras
Cardinals
Pencil Fish

I wouldn't do the hatchets, I feel they are a bit too large and would distract from the overall setting of the tank. Thats me, personally I wouldn't touch it, looks more natural without being able to constantly see a fish.
 
Yeah, I'm definitely concerned about overstocking.....I don't want "issues"...lol....but I thought if I could find a tiny schooling fish something about an inch to and inch and a half size....I could get away with it.

I'll keep the gouramis till they pack it in...I think. Not that I'm attached or anything..I'm just "comfortable" with them...lol...

Maybe if I pack in a load of more plants I can swing something...hhmm..I'm going to put more in anyway soon as those bulbs come in.....eh..eh...what to do...what to do.... :duh:
 
tank

as far as cleaners go dojos would be a nice addition. If you don't know dwarf plecos then a farowella (twig) catfish will do the job without growing out of hand. Both are cleaner schoolers. black skirt tetras and danios are great scholers to. also for more dwarf cichlids thast would work, kribensis can work.
 
hey mykids i guess u have never seen ANY of emgs tanks have u??? they're all so beutiful!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom