Stocking Suggestions

[n3ont3tra]

Hi guys.

Current stock:
2 Marbled Hatchetfish
1 Panda Cory
3 "white" neons
2 Neons
6 Kuhlie loaches
7 Black Phantom Tetras
4 Platies
3 shrimp

heavily planted, stats are fine, if you're wondering, nitrates stay below 20, 25% water change weekly, overfiltered

Okay, most of you probably see that and are like "ZOMG 28 FISH IN A 29GALLON TANK!!!1!!!111". Well, there's no problems with it, other than the platies keep reproducing and I'm afraid the kuhlies might, too.

I had 5 panda cories, but a few months ago my heater messed up and all but one died.
Been trying to get more, but my LFS doesn't stock them regularly.
I started with 6 hatchets in a 10g, all but two died, so I got 6 more, and the same two were the only ones that lived. I moved them into this tank, no aggression problems at all.


So... if the platies keep reproducing at this rate, I'll bring them all back to the store.
Also, the normal neons keep getting mouth rot, I've been treating with maracyn but it's not helping.

To be honest, I don't really like the neons, they just drift and don't really swim too much... I want more activity.

I need suggestions for active fish, that I won't have aggression problems with. I wanted Dwarf loaches but the price is just . I had a dwarf gourami, but it was skittish and not very active. Any suggestions? Questions, just ask.

 

[JDonner]

Okay, most of you probably see that and are like "ZOMG 28 FISH IN A 29GALLON TANK!!!1!!!111". Well, there's no problems with it, other than the platies keep reproducing and I'm afraid the kuhlies might, too.

Well I gues then most people have no clue what they're talking about. There is nothing wrong with keeping 28 fish in a tank that size, as long as you know what you're doing.

 

[Biulu]

What about adding a female betta? Mine are very active.

 

[n3ont3tra]

What about adding a female betta? Mine are very active.

I considered a male, but I don't think it would work, because of the tetras.

 

[Biulu]

I don't think it will be a problem as the females (maybe with the exception of a VT) don't have long flowing fins which seem to be irresistable for some fish. Plus tetras are not too bad: I am keeping a shoal of serpaes, and they do not nip my gouramis, and only occassionally my goldfish!

 

[n3ont3tra]

I dunno. Any other suggestions?

 

[Biulu]

Maybe replace your neons (also the white ones) with a shoal of tight shoaling tetras or otherwise rasboras. I don't experience with them myself, but several people have said here that glowlights are tight shoalers. Rasboras are also active.

 

[n3ont3tra]

I really want to keep the white neons because I've never seen anything like them, and I've tried IDing them here with no luck. So they have to stay. I don't like glowlights. And I'm thinking about Rasboras, but if I get rid of the normal neons and platies to get some rasboras, there won't be much color.

 

[orange shark]

Their not very colourful but blind cave tetras are very active!

 

[n3ont3tra]

Their not very colourful but blind cave tetras are very active!

oh my god. I can't stand them... I hate things with weird eyes... i don't know why... but I can't get them...
Also, I've heard they are aggressive.

I have a question now. I was looking at rainbowfish, and I see a few people have them in trios, but I thought they were schooling fish... so could I have a trio of praecox rainbows as a centerpiece? Or should I get a larger group?

 

[Biulu]

Yes, they are shoalers, you should get at least 5-6.

 

[nurglespuss]

how about something useful like ottos?

Or, if you want activity try danios?

If the tank is very heavily planted you could have a bristlenose....

 

[n3ont3tra]

I was thinking about otos but I've had bad experiences with them... I do like them though...
Was also thinking about Danios, but I'm afraid they'll be a little too active for my hatchets because they are both top swimming fish.
Bristlenose... I'm not the biggest fan of plecs... unless they're zebras. But I don't know... maybe.

 

[n3ont3tra]

Okay I moved the kuhli loaches into another tank and I was thinking of getting a Redtail shark. They're one of my favorite fish, and I've wanted one for a while. I know they get a little bit aggressive towards other bottom feeders, and I can easily move the cory out, too, if it's a problem. I'm a little worried about the Phantoms because they have the same coloration but they usually stay near the top. Opinions?

 

[Biulu]

Your tank is too small for a redtail shark, and they do not only get agressive towards bottomfeeders, but basically everything else in the tank. You can't keep them with small fish either, even if you had the space for it.