How many neon tetras in 29gal?

[marsh]

I have a male betta in a cycled planted 29-gallon, no other fish. The only fish I want to add are neon tetras, and possibly ghost shrimp.

What would be a healthy maximum for a school?

And are ghost shrimp going to add significantly to the bioload? Any other recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[Shane87]

What is the tank like? Is it long/rectangle? Or more tall/square?

Long would be a lot better for the neons but you could still have enough for a small shoal. IME

And shrimp have a very small bio load compared to fish

 

[marsh]

What is the tank like? Is it long/rectangle? Or more tall/square?

Long would be a lot better for the neons but you could still have enough for a small shoal. IME

And shrimp have a very small bio load compared to fish

good point, the tank is 30L x 12W x 18H.

I like the idea of have lots of shrimp too, are there any other types besides ghost shrimp that could coexist with a betta?

 

[Shane87]

I would say you could have 10-15 neons if you have a good filter.

Shrimps are a bit hit n miss with a Betta, depends a lot on the fish's personality. I had amano shrimp with mine and never had any problems, but I tried tiger shrimp and they was gone in a couple of days so I would stick with the larger shrimp.

Good luck.

 

[marsh]

Thanks, that seems like a pretty nice size school! I used to love neons when I was little.

They don't reproduce on their own like guppies do, right? (those are called live-bearers I believe, still learning)

I am ordering a tetra whisper40i, because I like the simplicity of the 10i I have now. I bought a Tom Rapids mini canister filter first off based on a recommendation, but it leaked right off the bat so I returned it.

My betta dislikes strong current and gets stripes with even the 10i, so I wrapped a piece of cotton around the intake and little hole in the back, which slowed it down.

I wonder if the 40i would produce a really strong current that, if baffled, would be insufficient to filter the bio-load of 10 neon tetras and my betta? I also plan to have many low light plants on a fluorescent timer, and to do a fishles cycle with ammonia beforehand.

 

[jetajockey]

In a standard 29 as a species tank I'd put around 20, maybe 25 in there personally.

 

[Shane87]

Thanks, that seems like a pretty nice size school! I used to love neons when I was little.

They don't reproduce on their own like guppies do, right? (those are called live-bearers I believe, still learning)

I am ordering a tetra whisper40i, because I like the simplicity of the 10i I have now. I bought a Tom Rapids mini canister filter first off based on a recommendation, but it leaked right off the bat so I returned it.

My betta dislikes strong current and gets stripes with even the 10i, so I wrapped a piece of cotton around the intake and little hole in the back, which slowed it down.

I wonder if the 40i would produce a really strong current that, if baffled, would be insufficient to filter the bio-load of 10 neon tetras and my betta? I also plan to have many low light plants on a fluorescent timer, and to do a fishles cycle with ammonia beforehand.

I have never had them reproduce and they wouldn't survive long if they did so that wouldn't be a problem.

I have never used that filter but bettas and neons don't produce a huge amount of poop so the filter doesn't need to deal with much solid wast, as long as it still turns over the volume of the tank a couple of times an hour it will be fine and plants help too.

As for the fish less cycle, I don't have any advice for that because I have never done it, I am getting a new tank around Christmas and I will be doing my 1st fish less cycle on that

Good luck with you tank

 

[julielover]

My Neons school by each of them swimming in a circular pattern in my 55G. I have several Cherry Shrimp with Neons and they ignore each other. Both Shrimp and Neons need lots of plants to feel safe. Remember that a large Shrimp could easily feed on a small Tetra.

 

[cmybliss]

I'm new to the aquarium game, but I do have a suggestion for the filter. My betta was terribly unhappy with the current in my 15 gallon, so I got a pre-filter sponge thing to put on the intake and used a solo cup slit down the middle with the bottom cut off to slow the flow from the outlet.

 

[marsh]

Nice, I will probably order a couple cherry and/or Amano shrimp plus 15-25 neons. Should I let my Betta in the tank first or the new fish in terms of territory/aggression?

I can quarantine them too, I will do a search about it when I finalize my order.

Looking at the whisper40i I think the SOLO cup idea will be perfect.