Recommendations for larger community fish

[PotRoastMan]

I have a 29 gal that I want to get some new fish for. I have 1 molly, 2 corys, 3 serpae tetras, and 5 glowlight tetras.

I'm looking for suggestions for some larger fish (4-5" or more?) but it would be nice if they could all coexist. I really like cichlids but I'm told they would probably not live with my smaller fish. It would be nice if they were well under $20, too. What do you recommend?

 

[Hrafnkel]

Maybe a few upside-down catfish? I've heard of peacock eels being kept in a 29, too, but the glo-lights may become a snack.

 

[rubysoho]

a pair of german blue rams would be cool. They are smaller though and much more sensative... Would cost you about $16 for the pair.

Here is a great thread about breeding rams:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=53378&highlight=


*edit* for some reason I thought you wanted a breeding pair... my brain is malfunctioning again.

 

[Xzap]

I wouldn't put 2 angels in a 29 gal Ruby, too small don't you think?

Dave

 

[rubysoho]

yeh, that is why I edited it out... guess I didn't get it fast enough

 

[rubysoho]

In an effort to redeem myself, here are some suggestions:

a gourami
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=882

a really cool pleco (just make sure it is one of the smaller kinds)
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/scateg.cfm?pCatId=837

an african butterfly fish
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1593

that is all I can think of at the moment. HTH!

 

[Zezmo]

An Australian rainbow Fish of some kind is a peaceful fish that is larger and depending on species can offer some of the most colorful fish in the hobby.

Depending on your taste in fish, here are 3 nice choices:
Glossolepis incisus - Red Rainbowfish
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/incisus_NA.jpg

Melanotaenia splendida inornata - Chequered Rainbowfish
http://members.optushome.com.au/chelmon/Inornata_FlatRockCk_GS.jpg

Melanotaenia lacustris - Turquoise Rainbowfish
http://www.rainbowfishes.org/lacustris.JPEG

These guys should fall right into the size range you are talking about.

 

[rubysoho]

would the rainbow fish be okay in a 29 gallon? I would think they would prefer more swimming space, but I don't know for sure. I do know they need to be kept in small schools at a minium.

 

[Zezmo]

That is true, in a 29 you could probably do a pair. Not a small school. They may prefer schools, but I have kept just one in a tank and she seemed quite happy. For a while the Giant Danios thought she was one of them and kept trying to school around her.

 

[Guest]

2 angels would be fine in a 29 gallon tank... and they would be combatible with the fish you currently have. Angels are wonderful fish.

 

[severum mama]

:? IMO a 29 gallon would really be on the small side for angels. Ok, so you like cichlids, here are my suggestions. Blue rams would be a great choice as long as the tank is pretty established- as Rubysoho mentioned, they are sensitive fish and somewhat difficult to keep. Bolivian rams would work out great too, and are much easier to keep than GBRs. Mine are really happy in their 29 gallon. Or, if you can find them and don't mind paying a little more, how about a pair of apistogramma? I haven't been able to find them locally, but there are so many beautiful species that would be perfect for a 29 gallon. Like GBRs, they have a reputation for being very sensitive. A. cacatuoides or a. agassizi are probably the most common ones, and there are some really striking color variants available. Kribensis may work out also, although I don't really know much about them. Also, I would buy a couple more serpaes and bump that school up to 5 or 6- they will appreciate it. HTH