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Hey All! 29 Gallon Remix

1K views 8 replies 4 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
Hey all-

I posted a similar thread in another forum, but, it seemed that the people there were more interested in condemning what I'd done wrong than providing any constructive help, so, I decided to branch out and try other places. Now, I have been keeping fish for about 9 months now, and have a well-established 29g tank. My friend more recently got into the hobby and made himself a 45g cichlid tank. While setting up the tank initially, he had a handful of non-cichlids that would have been doomed when he made the switch over, so, I rescued a few of them, which will be reflected below. Now, I plan on changing up a few things in my 29g, in light of the fish that will be leaving, so, I could use some advice.

In there now are:

2 Honey Gourami
3 Cory Cats (1 green, 2 rabouti)
1 Bolivian Ram
3 Bala Sharks (Rescued, will be going back to a LFS or another tank)
1 Albino Rainbow Shark (See Above)
1 Zebra Danio (also rescued, but, will likely be staying with me)

Now, I happened into 2 dwarf gourami that were also in need of a new home, which is part of why a change in my tank is needed. Personally, I love gourami, and that's more of where my tastes were when I started this tank, so, once the sharks are gone, I'll have:

2 Dwarf Gourami
2 Honey Gourami
3 Cory Cats
1 Zebra Danio
1 Bolivian Ram

That said, is there anything I can add to this other than increasing the danio or cory schools?

Thanks in advance.
 
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#2 ·
Definitely increase the corys, the more the better, and they are very peaceful and not a problem. A group of 5 of one species works well, or if you want to mix species then 3 minimum of any one species is best. You have space in a 29g (assuming 30-inch length) for 9-11 cory.

As for the zebra danio, some cautions. First, they are shoaling fish and need a group, most say six minimum but here again the more the better, so long as you don't overstock the tank. A sole danio will be stressed by that fact, and sometimes this causes aggression even in peaceful fish. Danio have been known to become fin nippers when stressed by too small a group or insufficient (to them, not the aquarist) space. [This actually applies to almost all shoaling fish--characins, danio, barbs, rasbora.] Nipping fish are not a good match for slow-moving, long-finned gourami.

Second is the activity level of all danio. They are active swimmers. This too can stress out gourami. Rasbora are better companions for gourami because they are less active. Something you might want to consider before increasing the danio group.

Byron.
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the input!

Actually, rasboras were in my original stocking plan from way back when, and the harlequins are pretty common around here. How many would be a good school? Also, regarding the zebra danio, should I just leave the single one in there to fend for itself as it has been, or should I really go out of my way to remove that as well?

Another thought... could I add ghost shrimp in addition to the cories on the bottom? If so, how many could my tank support? I know they may end up as snacks, but, I also know that they can be rather helpful.
 
#5 ·
Yes, check out our profiles, second tab from the left in the blue bar across the top. Rasbora are under Cyprinids, and many of the commonly-seen ones are included. I would always go with more than 6 when tank space is adequate.

The danio is a quandary. Sometimes a fish does not follow the norm, and if it is happy, leave it. Finding another home may end its life sooner. On the other hand, if trouble shows itself, removing it will be necessary to save the gourami. I sometimes have shoaling fish that come to the end of their lives, and finally I am left with one or two. I may not be able to find more. I have so far not had a problem with fish like this, maybe they know they are nearing the end and just want to be left in peace.;-) Ièm sure this is very different for the fish than acquiring one or two and adding them to a new tank, they can behave very differently in this situation.
 
#6 ·
Hey, I'm not trying to thread jack or anything, this question is related and so I thought I'd asked here. First, I will say I currently have 5 rasboras in my tank and I plan on getting more. Their color really blossoms when they get into your home tank and they're awesome fish. My question is, with rasboras or any shoaling/schooling fish - I was told it's best to get odd numbers of fish that will shoal/school together. Is there any validity to this? At my LFS he said having an odd amount is more likely to even out any aggression because one will always be left out of it to distract any bully fish. I keep hearing people saying that 6 is an ok amount of rasboras or possibly some sort of tetras, and I know that more is better, but is 5 or 7 better than 6?
 
#7 ·
This question comes up periodically. With some species of shoaling fish, the ratio of males to females is important, and this may be the basis for some thinking odd numbers or whatever. Species where males drive the females do better with more females than males. But odd or even numbers are completely irrelevant.

"Six" was probably settled on by most sources because it provides a reasonable group [there are some exceptions, like Brilliant Rummy nose Tetra, Tiger Barb and Serpae Tetra] and a 20g tank can usually accommodate a group of 6 with most species. But scientifically, the more the better is a better maxim--provided the tank space is adequate.

It is now scientifically proven, what many of us have been advocating for years, that shoaling fish that are in small groups (under 6 in the study) or in too small a space have a tendency to become aggressive, even in species otherwise considered "peaceful." The stress caused by the small group or small space is the reason; the fish is "lashing out" because it is not "happy" at being denied what nature says it needs.

When I acquire shoaling fish, I usually get an odd number. This is purely aesthetic. Just as 3 or 5 roses look better in a vase, so I "think" 7 or 9 fish are better than 8.:)
 
#8 ·
Ok, thanks for the response! :) I figured since I'd heard it more than once it wouldn't hurt to buy an odd number of fish anyway, and I agree, I think the odd number does look better. I only have my 5 rasboras and was in the works of planning to add a few more and I had remembered someone saying that I should have an odd number so I thought I'd ask the opinion of those on the forum. Sometimes my rasboras seem to chase eachother around the tank, but I've also seen them trying to spawn as well, so they must not be too unhappy - but the more the merrier! I wasn't really impressed with their coloring much after first bringing them home, which was why I was looking at adding rummies as well, but just in the last few days their colors have really started to show and I'm loving them more and more. :) So, Toli, if you are looking for a small shoaling fish - they have my recommendation!
 
#9 ·
Ok, thanks for the response! :) I figured since I'd heard it more than once it wouldn't hurt to buy an odd number of fish anyway, and I agree, I think the odd number does look better. I only have my 5 rasboras and was in the works of planning to add a few more and I had remembered someone saying that I should have an odd number so I thought I'd ask the opinion of those on the forum. Sometimes my rasboras seem to chase eachother around the tank, but I've also seen them trying to spawn as well, so they must not be too unhappy - but the more the merrier! I wasn't really impressed with their coloring much after first bringing them home, which was why I was looking at adding rummies as well, but just in the last few days their colors have really started to show and I'm loving them more and more. :) So, Toli, if you are looking for a small shoaling fish - they have my recommendation!
Once settled, Harlequin Rasbora, Lambchop Rasbora or Hengels Rasbora do brighten up considerably, and in planted tanks with floating plants to dim the light, even more.

The chasing is good, that is part of the reason they need a group. They interact naturally. I have a group of 20 marble hatchets, and they will suddenly decide to "play" and 3 or 4 will chase a bit, then another will join in, then 2 will circle each other wildly, another will try to cut in... fascinating. We call it play, and it might well be, but also serious stuff to the fish, exercising their "muscle" as it were.
 
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