Setting up a 29 gallon with ?????

[Loon36cf]

I have an extra 29 gallon tank and it's just staring at me whispering fill me fill me ha ha so I was wondering what you guy and gals thoughts would be on fish for a 29 gallon one species or a couple I'm open to all ideas

Thanks

[linuxrulesusa]

Mostly because I've been really looking into them lately, but I'd suggest a puffer for a unique oddball fish - several of the FW ones stay small enough, or else mixing salt to get brackish is not as hard as it seems before trying it. 

Or, another of my favorites is a Senegal bichir.  Or an African leaf fish, or African brown knife.

All these should stay small enough (if done singly in the case of the puffer/bichir, or a combo of say leaf fish/brown knife for a long while) to stay in that size tank.

If you want to go small cichlids, maybe a pair of apistos for the bottom, then a few tetras (I like black neons, lemons, and rummynose) for middle, and a couple hatchets for the top.  Or golden dwarf cichlids - I've got a few I've been growing out I got indirectly from GrizzlysDad (via a raffle at the last auction), and they're quite nice, especially with a tan or off white substrate and plants.

If you wanted interesting behavior from some African cichlids, gold ocellatus or multifasciatus are fun to watch digging...but a 20 long is just fine for them and the top 6-8 inches will be pretty bare.

These are a few of the 'less common' suggestions you might get.  You could always go with old standbys like German rams, or a trio of yellow labs (at least while young), etc.

[Loon36cf]

Ya I have been considering the dwarf puffers I have been keeping up on the thread you have on them. The girlfriend loves them it's the fact that so far I know they like to eat snails and the fish stores around me only really sell the bigger mystery or nerite snails and I don't really want to spend 3 bucks a piece on some food for the puffers. Of I could find some cheaper snails like trumpets I wouldn't mind.

I thought that all the knife fish grew pretty big? It wouldn't be an issue seeing I have other tanks I can eventually put them in

As far as the shell dwellers I haven't really done much research on them seeing alot of the lfs don't sell those very often around me so I haven't really seen them in so called real life but I like some of your ideas with the apistos as well but those too I can't seem to find either

[linuxrulesusa]

Ya I have been considering the dwarf puffers I have been keeping up on the thread you have on them. The girlfriend loves them it's the fact that so far I know they like to eat snails and the fish stores around me only really sell the bigger mystery or nerite snails and I don't really want to spend 3 bucks a piece on some food for the puffers. Of I could find some cheaper snails like trumpets I wouldn't mind.

I thought that all the knife fish grew pretty big? It wouldn't be an issue seeing I have other tanks I can eventually put them in

As far as the shell dwellers I haven't really done much research on them seeing alot of the lfs don't sell those very often around me so I haven't really seen them in so called real life but I like some of your ideas with the apistos as well but those too I can't seem to find either

If you go the dwarf puffer route, you just need a few snails and then you will have a ton.  Pond/bladder snails would be ideal (get some plants from an LFS that doesn't dip for snails and there will be some popping up pretty quick).  Ramshorns should work also?  They breed pretty quick, get 15-20 and you'd be set I think, especially if you put them in a different aquarium.  Malaysian trumpet snails I've heard are OK for dwarf puffers since they pick the meat out vs. break the shell...that said be very sure you want MTS before you put them in the aquarium because they are almost impossible to kill.  I've had them in the shed in what I thought was dry sand, put the substrate back in and all of a sudden they're crawling all over.  Very hardy - I've been breeding the same batch for 6 months in a 1/2 gallon tank on a window ledge (as a bit of an experiment)...no feeding except algae from the sunlight, no WCs, etc...there's still 5-10 in there without fail.

Green spotted puffers are cheaper and easier to find, but they need brackish and eventually full marine saltwater...so I don't know if you want to mess with that.  I have a couple reef tanks so I'm used to it now after a few months but it is intimidating at first.

African knife will stay 4-5" at least my experience over the past year.  MFK says 8" average in aquarium, but it could take a few years.  SA black ghost knife gets much bigger at 12-15" in aquariums, 20" in wild.  For the African brown knife, the supposed average is 8", but I've had mine a year and fed a steady diet of NLS etc and he's still only about 4-5" max.  My bichir grew from 1.5-2" to maybe 5 or 6"?  But not huge for sure.  If you're feeding frozen/meatier foods I'm sure they'll grow faster.

Hitch a ride with Rich E to Fins, they have tons of apistos.  Also the shelldwellers from time to time.

[Loon36cf]

What other fresh water puffers would be good for that size do you know?

[linuxrulesusa]

What other fresh water puffers would be good for that size do you know?

SA puffer, congo puffer/arrow puffer (very similar as to diet care etc), hairy puffer, red eye puffer, etc.

See here: http://www.thepufferforum.com/forum/ug.php/v/PufferPedia/

That site's been helpful to me recently.

Dwarf puffers are apparently $4-6 each, SA puffers $15-25 ea, congo/arrow puffers around $50, not sure on red eye puffer, didn't call around on that one.

SA puffers apparently prefer groups of 3+...so that might be tight in a 29.  Probably a 40 long would be better.  At least once they're full grown.

[Regalblue]

How about an Oscar?

[Loon36cf]

I have 2 oscars right now that are in a 90 they are only about 3 inches right now in a couple months they are going in a 150. I do love my oscars very fun to watch.

Ill check up on that site. Thanks a lot.

Are you getting a specific puffer if so what kind and are you planning on putting anything else with them?

[Regalblue]

Obviously I'm joking.  I'd recommend a Hairy or Congo Puffer. I really miss mine.

[Loon36cf]

Obviously I'm joking.  I'd recommend a Hairy or Congo Puffer. I really miss mine.

I know you are I can see you in that messing with everyone mood tonight ha how about you donate those white knights to me they would make a nice addition to my tanks lol

[Regalblue]

Sorry,  if these White Knights go anywhere it'll be to Steve or Jon Keeler.  I can put you third on the list tho.

[Loon36cf]

Sorry,  if these White Knights go anywhere it'll be to Steve or Jon Keeler.  I can put you third on the list tho.

Please do I'd love 5 to 10 of those

[RichE]

First I would start by adding water to the tank and then I vote for puffers.

I am looking into them for my kids tank, and Lou's Pet shop has the best prices on them.

[linuxrulesusa]

First I would start by adding water to the tank and then I vote for puffers.

I am looking into them for my kids tank, and Lou's Pet shop has the best prices on them.

What kind of prices at Lou's and which species?  I've never been there but would consider it if they have some of the more uncommon types.

[linuxrulesusa]

I have 2 oscars right now that are in a 90 they are only about 3 inches right now in a couple months they are going in a 150. I do love my oscars very fun to watch.

Ill check up on that site. Thanks a lot.

Are you getting a specific puffer if so what kind and are you planning on putting anything else with them?

I'm planning to get two kinds of puffers at the moment.

Both will go in 20 longs.  The first kiind will be dwarf/pea puffers.  Those will go in a planted 20 long with a few otocinclus, which I've read is hit and miss but fairly likely to work.  Especially with running the lights for the plants I need something for algae control.  I'm planning between 3 and 6 of the dwarf puffers depending on what is available when I go to get them.

The second tank (at work) I hope to put either a Figure 8 or a green spot puffer in for now...then if brackish or marine becomes too much of a hassle, I will consider another type.  This tank will have plastic plants instead of live plants since they don't really like saltwater.

The problem is the GSP and Figure 8 have the nicest patterning and color of the readily available kinds.  But they also take the most work with having to have brackish/salt water as they mature.  So down the road, I'd ideally like something like a true FW such as an arrow or Congo or hairy puffer.