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Realistic Number of Cardinals in a 29

2K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  Byron 
#1 ·
I'm getting ready to buy the cardinal tetra for my 29 gal planted. The tank already has 3 honey gourami, 9 brown kuhlies, and a farlowella (RCS will be moved before the cardinals go in). The cardinals will complete my stocking. I was only planning on about 11-12, but last time I was there I counted something like 15 or 15 cardinals in the tank. I would feel bad just leaving a few like that especially knowing that they will not end up in a good home as the pet store is terrible about helping people.

So my question is, how many would be the max I should have in a tank like mine? Would I be okay to buy the entire group if it was 16 cardinals? Visuals of the tank can be seen in my aquarium log.
 
#2 ·
I'd go for the whole group at the store. Like you said, most won't get near the home you'll provide for them. Plus, if for whatever reason, a few don't live long, you'll have a nice school! :-D

Gwen
 
#4 ·
I concur. You could double that number with no problems in a 29g. This is a very quiet, sedate fish, and they live in groups of thousands.

Observations in their habitat have shown that in a well-planted environment, or one thick with branches (which is more common), they remain in groups of 5-6 within the larger shoal. Once they get into more open areas, they congregate closely together in the thousands. The point of all this is that you can never have too many, at least not for the fish themselves.:)

Byron.
 
#7 ·
I would suggest 7-9 of each species.
 
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