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Just looking for some advice on 29g tank stocking

2K views 6 replies 7 participants last post by  spike0544 
#1 ·
Hello, I'm new here and just wanted to see what the thoughts and experiences of some you were regarding tetra stocking.

My girlfriend and I have a 29 gallon tank and we want to keep tetras and some other compatible species. We currently have 2 Neon Tetras, 3 Glowlight Tetras, 1 Rubber Lip Pleco. The tank is healthy and is planted, water tests every other day, temperature kept between 78-82 F, and a 5 gallon water change weekly. How many tetras could we keep happily ( Neon, Glowlight or similar, none of the bigger or long-fin varieties)? And from personal experiences what fish work well with tetras? My girlfriend has her heart set on getting a male beta to go in with them (and I enjoy betas but am concerned about how one would jive with the tetras because I have heard contrasting stories) or another larger 2"-3" species that does well with the tetras. We want to keep it mainly a tetra tank but just want to have some other neat species in there to break up the monotony. ( Our ultimate goal is to eventually do discus fish with the tetras, but we don't want to take on discus care yet until this tank is well established and has been going strong for at least a year.) So we just want to stock it with something interesting while we help it come into its own. I look forward to any advice and appreciate it all :).

Thanks,

Jeff

P.S. Once I find our camera I will try to get some pictures up
 
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#2 ·
I don't have a lot of experience with tetras, but I can give you a few pointers.

www.aqadvisor.com for stocking limits. It's a GREAT stocking resource.

As for tetras, they are generally shoaling fish. You'll want to add a couple more of both the neons and the glolight since you have the space. Try to have at least 6 of each before adding new specied into the tank.

You can look at the tropical fish profiles up in the category bar of this forum for some help on what kinds of tetras might be good. Search for "tetra" and all the species will pop up and you can look through them. Rasboras are similar in size to tetras, so you could also look into those.
 
#3 ·
I agree with what tf1265 says about having larger groups of the tetras...

As far as the betta, in my experience I haven't seen a problem with keeping a betta in a community tank as long as the other fish aren't showy ones, aren't known to be fin nippers, and if they are shoaling fish kept in sufficient numbers. For example, I have a betta in my planted 10 gallon tank along with 6-7 neon tetras and 5 other tetras (sold to me as green fire tetras, but I have sincere doubts about that...). I have never seen any agression between them, nor have I seen any evidence of aggression by way of shredded fins or other wounds.

I also have a male betta in my 67 gallon tank with harlequin rasboras, mollies, platies, yoyo loaches, zebra loaches, dwarf honey gouramis, bristlenose pleco, and german blue ram without ever seeing any interaction between the betta and the others, let alone aggression. That tank is also planted... I think the more plants, the better, because it breaks up sight lines.
 
#6 ·
I am of the opposite view to the other members respecting the Betta. While there are always exceptions, a male Betta is not a community fish. It should always be housed separately, or with substrate fish. I had a Betta years ago, he delighted in eating neons, and that experience is widespread. There are better fish to combine with tetra.

You need a group of any tetra species, six minimum but more is always better for the fish. But a 29g is not limitless in space so once you up the existing two species, I would consider one more as maximum, provided it is similarly a slow-swimming species like the two mentioned; something fast would not be a good match. Some surface fish (thinking hatchetfish) and substrate fish can be added.

I would also lower the temperature. Neon tetra last better at temperatures in the low to mid-70's, and 78F is about as high as it should be. All fish require more oxygen and more energy the higher the temperature, so it is always a good idea to maintain a temperature in the lower half rather than the upper half of their range, where feasible--meaning, depending upon what is in with them. They will be healthier at a lower temperature.

The pleco may be an issue temp wise too, depending what species. I would need the scientific name to say more on this.

We have fish profiles, second tab from the left in the blue bar, so you can find info on many fish including the Neon Tetra and Glowlight Tetra. Click on the shaded names to see the respective profile.

Byron.
 
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