More stocking?

[PheonixKingZ]

Hello TFF.

I am going to my LFS today and I was wondering: What kind of cool, unique species of fish could I keep in a 29g?

It’s cool and all seeing 8 neon tetras (which is what I have) school together in a tank. But I wanted to get something unique. Something hat stands out. I would not like to get anything that needs 5 other friends.

A black ghost knife fish is out, because of how big it gets. (It is my dream fish though..)

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

(Note: my tank is fully cycled, densely planted and filtered/heated)

 

[PheonixKingZ]

@Colin_T @Byron @Deanasue @Back in the fold @essjay

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Maybe some sort of dwarf Cichlid? Or maybe a ram?

 

[Byron]

We need the GH and pH which I think may have been mentioned in another thread, but it is helpful to always post this data when asking about suggestions for fish. Along with the tank size and present fish, which is given here.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

PH is 7.4-7.6.

GH.....no one seems to know. My water service sheet doesn’t say it, and I couldn’t find it online.

Tank size is 29 gallons.

Current fish in tank: 8 neon tetras, 1 zebra Nerite snail, MTS and BRH snails, cherry shrimp and 1 albino bristle nose pleco.

I was thinking a dwarf Cichlid of some sort? Maybe a ram?

 

[Byron]

PH is 7.4-7.6.

GH.....no one seems to know. My water service sheet doesn’t say it, and I couldn’t find it online.

Tank size is 29 gallons.

Current fish in tank: 8 neon tetras, 1 zebra Nerite snail, MTS and BRH snails, cherry shrimp and 1 albino bristle nose pleco.

I was thinking a dwarf Cichlid of some sort? Maybe a ram?

You need to somehow determine the GH. Take a water sample to the fish store, but make sure they tell you the number and their unit of measurement (which will likely be either ppm or dGH, but these are vastly different).

Dwarf cichlid of some species might work, but without knowing the GH... You do mention rams, the common or blue ram in any of its varieties (all are the same species, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) must have warm water, 80F is absolute minimum. Your neons will not last long that warm, they need it around 75-77F. The Bolivian Ram can manage at this "normal" range as far as temperature is concerned. Remember also that dwarf cichlids including rams are lower water fish, as are the neons. A better option with neons would be upper level fish, and perhaps some substrate fish like a group of cories.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

You need to somehow determine the GH. Take a water sample to the fish store, but make sure they tell you the number and their unit of measurement (which will likely be either ppm or dGH, but these are vastly different).

Dwarf cichlid of some species might work, but without knowing the GH... You do mention rams, the common or blue ram in any of its varieties (all are the same species, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi) must have warm water, 80F is absolute minimum. Your neons will not last long that warm, they need it around 75-77F. The Bolivian Ram can manage at this "normal" range as far as temperature is concerned. Remember also that dwarf cichlids including rams are lower water fish, as are the neons. A better option with neons would be upper level fish, and perhaps some substrate fish like a group of cories.

I would love to get Cory’s......but they cost $5, at a start. (That’s $30 just for 6)

I will take a water sample to LFS today when I go. Will you please include a list of what’s possible depending on my water quality?

 

[Colin_T]

killifish

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Killifish? Would those work with my water? What do they eat?

 

[Byron]

I would love to get Cory’s......but they cost $5, at a start. (That’s $30 just for 6)

I will take a water sample to LFS today when I go. Will you please include a list of what’s possible depending on my water quality?

No, I do not have time to list half the species available in the hobby, lol. I can give some general suggestions when I know more about the water.

Cories at $5 is dirt cheap. The last ones I saw in one local store were $12 each, and when you consider you need at least five or six, and if these are the only cory in the tank you need 8-9 minimum...it gets expensive. Some stores will discount for a group. I remember several years ago seeing a tank of C. concolor in a store, and there were six of them priced at $15 each. I asked the owner what he would take if I bought all five, and he said $50 so I bought them. As fate would have it, they had some issue internally, and while in QT four died within three weeks. There was no point in going back to the store as I had bought all of them, and being wild caught... but luckily the two survivors were a male and female and have spawned a few times, and two fry have survived so I now have four.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

How about a Blue lyretail?

 

[Back in the fold]

You know what @PheonixKingZ ? I know you are all jacked up to fill that 29 and have fish you've been salivating over but if I was you I would wait a month and let those Neon Tetras settle down and get some size and even see if they will work for you. Sometimes Neons are a little touchy. A couple might die and you'll either replace them or give up on them and go to something else. Give it some time. The time won't be wasted as the tank will mature more also. Think about it.

 

[Colin_T]

take some water to a pet shop and find out what the GH is. then ask about different species.

 

[seangee]

Why not sit down and think about what you are trying to achieve together with your water parameters and then do some research and come up with a plan to make this happen. ATM you seem to rush off to the LFS every so often to get something on the spur of the moment. That way you could have a themed tank with fish that are compatable rather than just a hodge podge of things that took your fancy at the time

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Guys....

It’s not like I’m impulse buying or anything. I have been doing my research....just no one here knows what my stupid water GH is.

You can see my reasoning? I get only a little bit of money that goes to my fish hobby. The rest is used on other things. I only get to my LFS once a month, or once every month. You can see my reasoning!