29 gallon Tanganyikan Community help, please?

A

Alex300

AC Members
Jun 18, 2010
14
0
0
Hi!

I'm in the planning stages of setting up a 29 gallon community Tang tank, and I'm running into a little difficulty planning when it comes to inhabitants. I'm hoping you guys can help me out with specific stocking suggestions. My LFS is willing to do orders, and I don't have problems ordering online (although I've never done it, so pointers to reputable sites would also be welcome). I don't want to breed the fish, so unless the fish needs it, I don't need to do pairs.

So here's what I'd like:

I'd like a small community of L. multifasciatus OR L. similus (2-3? or 5-6?) -- and, okay, I know I just said no breeding, but from what I understand, they're a lot more fun in groups (and, above all, I'm looking for personality and interest, which is why I'm doing cichlids).

For that reason, I'd like to get 1 Neolamprologus leleupi (I guess they're notorious fry-eaters?). Would just one of these guys be okay on his own?

So that covers a rock-dweller and a shell-dweller, but do you have any suggestions for an open-water dweller? I don't want to get julies (rock-dwellers anyhow?). Or I could aquascape two distinct rock areas... I just don't know!

If you could, please, give me suggestions, pointers, help in the stocking of this, I would appreciate it very much!

Thank you! :)
[FONT=&quot][/FONT]
 
Just so you know the leleupi can also pull shell dwellers out of their shells. I wouldn't recommend them with shell dwellers. They can have a nasty attitude.
Instead a clavus might be a good pick. I have 3 white calvus and I love them.
For a 29 gallon I don't think you are going to find a Tang open water fish. most require a much larger tank. If you don't mind a none cichlid, something like danios would be a good option. I have found Tangs to be VERY skittish unless dither fish are added. I have a couple dwarf platies in my Tang tanks without problems.
 
I'll admit that danios hold a special place in my heart, but... I did sort of want to do African fish... But that's an excellent suggestion, and one I will keep in mind. If I'm going outside the biotrope, what about praecox rainbows?

The calvus are positively endearing; but I've read that they're a bad mix with shell-dwellers for some reason (haven't figured out why yet...). Without sounding too shallow, are there any other suggestions for a more colorful "centerpiece" fish? What about goby cichlids or paracyps? (Too small for a paracyp? Like a Blue Neon?)

**Edit: What about the Neolamprologus caudopunctatus?
 
I think the rainbows would be fine.

Calvus aren't as aggressive as leleupi. So while they can eat fry they won't harm the adult shell dwellers. There are yellow calvus. Sadly not many Tangs are really colorful. Blue neons need more swimming space than a 29 gallon can provide.

I don't know much about gobies, I don't think they are open water swimmers though.
 
Adding to my infinite questions...

Would the calvus need to be in a pair or would one be fine?

Could I do ocellatus instead of multies, or would they be horrible with a calvus? I'm thinking that their conspecific aggression would be too much in a 29, but just wanted to check...

What about N. caudopunctatus? Or are they too close in habitat to the multies?
 
A 29 is too small for praecox rainbows. They need at least a 4' tank, and even then you may have aggression issues among them IME.
The only species suitable for a 29 are shellies, J. transcriptus, and calvus or comp's. Juat about any other fish will need a larger territory and/or be too aggressive for mixing.
 
Good to know. If I need dither fish, I'll stick with the smaller danios. So... if you had a 29 gallon tank, and wanted an interesting mix (I understand "mix" here is pretty limited) of tangs, how would you stock it?
 
In my 29 gallon I have white clavus and Chalinochromis brichardi. I use to have multis as well but it was too much and the multis were vicious. The mix is interesting enough. I love my Calvus, but most smaller Tangs just don't interest me so I guess I can't help much.
 
I'd do a calvus or comp along with a group of multi's or Julies. They will breed and need to expand their territory as the colony grows.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom