Need Advice Stocking A 29 Gallon Tank

[FishySarah]

Hey. I could use some advice.

I have a bunch of mollies and a few guppies in my 29 gallon, and I recently aquired three ten gallons, and I've decided to move all the fish into the smaller tanks as soon as I finish cycling them.

I want to do something totally different with my 29 gallon tank.

The tank is fully cycled, has been up and running for three years

I have an AquaClear 50 running currently, which I put in as an upgrade from the filter it came with, a Whisper 30.

It is not heavily planted, just a few java ferns, but plenty of little caves and fake plants.

I want something oddball. I would really love a bichir.(I think he said Senegal bicher. I know it gets about six inches) I also like parrot fish. My lfs guy, who always seemed to know what he was talking about, said that a parrot fish and a bichir would be fine together if I got them comparable sizes. He also said I could put both these fish in a 29 gallon.

I have serious doubts. So I wanted to ask you guys.

Can I keep these fish? Can I keep one or the other of these fish? What are my other options? I'd kind of like something predatory, but I know 29 gallons is kind of small. Too small for a jack dempsy, definitely too small for an oscar, sadly. (those aren't oddball really though.)

Any advice?

 

[stang1]

The tank isn't big enough for either the Bichir or the Parrot Cichlid, I'm afraid.
Senegal Bichirs can reach up to 20" and Parrot Cichlids can reach 8".
You could try:

Halfbeaks
Dwarf Puffers - species only tank.
Leopard Bushfish (Ctenopoma acutirostre)

 

[shroob]

Senegals will mainly top out at 12" or there abouts, I've yet to see one over this. I havn't heard of a 20" senegal polypterus, I think thats what fishbase puts them at that, maybe a monster wild caught specimin, but in captivity 12" is a good size.

A good fish for that tank might be a red wolf fish (Erythrinus Erythrinus), if the dimensions allow. Its one fish I would really like to keep someday. Highly predatory and more active than their larger common relatives.

 

[stang1]

Don't tell me that shroob!
I've just had to rethink stocking plans as every site I've looked at quotes 20" as size. I've spent a week planning my new stock and I don't think my brain can handle another week of it!

 

[shroob]

Don't tell me that shroob!
I've just had to rethink stocking plans as every site I've looked at quotes 20" as size. I've spent a week planning my new stock and I don't think my brain can handle another week of it!

12" seems to be the conclusion amongs aquarists I've seen. Its actually only fishbase I have seen put them at 20", the go to guy (or gal in this case) would be beblondie, she knows her stuff on polypterus. Her intro on another site has them at 12". I'm guessing you discounted them because you thought they got too big? A slightly larger but in my opinion nearly as active and more attractive polypterus is polypterus delhezi reaching 14" which might be worth looking into.

But I digress I had another thought for the 29 gallon... you say you want predatory fish, polypterus arn't really predatory, I would call them more opportunists, if that matters to you or not I don't know but thought I would add it in.

Male Belonesox belizanus would fit in the tank, but might be abit too tricky to feed for your liking.
Ctenopoma acutirostre might also interest you, big big mouths and fairly available in shops.

If you wanted something really predatory then I would look for a congo puffer or arrowhead puffer, these have a nasty attitude and the equipment to back it up. You're looking at a single fish in a 29 gallon, they're known as 'lurker' puffers for a good reason - very inactive, burrying themself in sand until prey comes along.

I still however think the wolffish would be the best option if dimensions allow.

 

[stang1]

Sorry FishySarah for hijacking the thread.

It was size more than anything. Even though it's a 5ft tank, I didn't feel comfortable housing one in there alongside a BGK.
I might have to go back to my original plans!
Thanks for the info shroob.

 

[Truck]

a densley planted tank with 5 or so good caves for hiding places (even coconuts look cool, ive got them in my DP tank) you could have approximately 6 in there

dwarf puffers are highly intelligent fish, which are very inquisitive, they will eat snails and soon become to know their owner and will have their noses pressed up against the glass watching you lol.

 

[beblondie]

A 29 gallon really is worng for a polypterus let alone some parrots into the combo.Now as for size while fishbase lists Polypterus senegalus as 20''
thats the biggest one they have caught or maxium wild caught size.In home aquaria P.senegalus rarely reach over 12''STL. and many stay smaller
than that which when i made the intro I listed some max sizes quoted by fishbase but added the following ''maximum known sizes often smaller in captivity''.I have yet to see anyone post a pic of a senegal over 12'' stl.
And yes its possible some members of P.senegalus grow bigger than 12 inches the avg height for a human male is like 5'6-7'' yet there are some men that gorw 7 ' tall and others that stay 5' or shorter genetics can be a hassle-Anne

 

[FishySarah]

I've never heard of a wolffish, can someone give me more information? Some personal experience on them that I couldn't get just by googling facts? Only problem is I have never seen this type of fish in any store near me, and the last time I asked about ordering fish they weren't too eager.

I've heard dwarf puffers aren't very hardy so I'm not sure about them, and I also haven't seen them in any pet store around me either.

I am really disappointed I can't get a bichir OR a parrotfish. What about a single Jack Dempsey? No- never mind- I googled it, they get too big too.

Maybe I should just give up and go with tetras and/or gouramis and wait until I can get a bigger tank.

 

[beblondie]

If you want interesting behavior checkout shell dwellers they are cichlids-Anne

 

[shroob]

Rainbow wolffish, Erythrinus erythrinus. Grow to about 8" and are aggressive and predatory, they are more active than their larger relatives.

Wildwoods and another shop online (forgotten name right now), has them for sale at £35-£40 I think.

 

[FishySarah]

Hmmm.

Actually, I've been googling shell dwellers for the past 3 hrs, and they sound awfully cool. I'm going to go ask some questions on the cichild forum.

35-40 pounds? That's about 80 dollars. That is too much money to spend on a single fish, I think. But thanks for the suggestion.