Please help with suggestions and recommendations

DanaJ

I've been looking into types of fish all morning. Here is what I'm interested in.
It seems like corys can coexist with certain sharks?
I'd like to add a shark(smaller size) to the tank. It seems like adding one is advised? Is the red tail or rainbow more likely to get along with a variety of other fish?

Here are some ideas on fish I've looked up and taken a liking to:

black spotted cory
trilined cory
yellow laser cory
panda cory


leopard danio
Zebra Danio

Cardinal Tetra

checker barb
Cherry Barb

glass fish

Clown Loach
kuhlii loach

rainbow or redtail shark- whichever is the more peaceful.


Would the above listed fish get along together for the most part? Suggestions on what to add/remove?
I would also need help on deciding amounts on each, if possible.
I don't want to crowd my tank, and this isn't set in stone, just gives an idea of what interests me so far.

Lauri

Well personaly I would start with the danios they are good fish to cycle with. I never had an issue with them.

Lauri

Forget about the clownloaches they will get too big for your tank. As far as bottom fish stick with a few cories or a small pleco or a kuhlii loach. Neon tetras would be better than cardinal, cardinal are touchy when it comes to parmaters. Neons and danios get along well.

Start off with a few danios to cycle.

After cycle:

I would go with a school of Neons 6-8
a couple of bottom dweller.
You could try the barbs but I do believe they tend to be fin nippers.

You could also look into gouramis I had a pair of Pearl gouramis and they were wonderful. I never had a problem with them bothering my other fish.

Best of luck to you

DanaJ

Thanks Lauri. I'll either go out today before work or tomorrow to pick up a few danios to cycle my tank.
I'm pretty excited about starting to finally add fish!

How long do I need to have the tank cycle? When can I add in a few more?

Lauri

While the tank is cycling you should test the tank every day for.. Amonia, nitrite, nitrate. Do small water changes if the readings get too high.

When the amonia and nitrite read zero and the nitrate start to rise, the cycle is complete. Keep in mind this may take a while everyones tank is different. At that point you can to being slowly to add more fish.

DanaJ

Wow, thanks Lauri.
I just came home from the local pet store that has one of the best reputations for fish. I bought 2 zebra danios. They were 99cents each.
They're active and cute!
There were so many amazing fish there!

musho3210

I would suggest you getting a normal danio, do not get the long-fined ones because they might get nipped a lot. Get at least 5 danios, 6 would be much better. You should go back to the fish store and buy 3 more, i started cycling my tank with 5 zebra danios and so far no casualties. When danios are kept in pairs one of them will be more domanent and will attack the smaller fish. WHen theres 5+ the bully can switch fish every once and a while .

Do you know how to introduce your fish. Your lfs will tell you to dip your bag in the water for 20 minutes before you let the fish it, they are wrong.

The best way to do it is to get a .5-1 gallon container, my .5 gallon empty fish bowl works fine. Put as much water as the danios need, just as long as they are fully submerged its fin. Now every few minutes take half a cup full of aquarium water and put it in the bowl. Repeat this process until youve added around 2/5 of a gallon. Now net the fish out and put them in your tank. This way the fish will not only get used to the temperature, but they will get used to the chemistry.

musho3210

DO NOT GET A RED TAIL SHARK, THEY NEED LIKE 1000 GALLON TANKS!!!

Red tail sharks arent peacefull and they grow very very very big. Do not get these for a 29 gallon tank. I dont think a 29 gallon can fit any sharks....

Lauri

Zebra danios are great, we had those and it was always fun to watch them zip around the tank. Musho good advise on the introducing your fish to the tank :) also on gettin a few more danios they like to be in groups of 4 or more. Good luck DanaJ, have any more question dont hesitate to ask :)

musho3210

The good thing about danios are that they will eat almost anything you feed them. I feed my danios Tetramin Tropical Crisps and Frozen food. Make sure you feed your fish a variety so they wont get bored of one type and will get all the neutrients they need. Feed only once a day while cycling. If all readings are low during cycling, you could try feeding twice.