how about these fish in my 29 gal??

[pog0]

Hi everyone!

I'm starting my first tank where I get to actually pick out my own fish! I currently have a small, 5 gallon tank with some fish that I saved from certain flushing. I bought a 29 gallon tank, which is almost done cycling (finally!!) and I've been thinking about what kind of fish I'd like.

Fish I have currently in small tank:
- 1 common pleco
- 1 red tailed black shark
- 1 bala shark

Yes, I know all these fish are way too big for the small tank or even for my new tank. The pleco and the bala are likely going to be dropped off at the LFS soon, and the RTBS may be as well. For now, however, I have them.

Fish I've been thinking about adding:
- 6-7 neon tetras - for some reason, my boyfriend is really adamant about these
- furcata rainbow - I just saw CaysE's pictures of these fish and though they were pretty
- 6 harlequin rasboras - They seem entertaining, though I'm not sure if my pH is too high for them.
- 3 yoyo loaches - these guys seem so! cool!, but I suppose my 30" long tank is not long enough for their antics.
- honey gourami
- marbled hatchets - I really like these guys, too, although the current in my tank isn't lengthwise and I read they like strong current. Do you think they'd be unhappy? Also, my pH may be too high.

So, what are your thoughts? I know I can't fit ALL these fish, obviously, but do any stand out as being horrible mistakes? Are there any that definitely WOULD NOT go to together well? I don't have a good feeling for how many fish can fit in a 29 gallon, but I guess I can't fit both, say, a school of neon tetra and a school of rasboras.

For reference: my tap water pH is always near 8.0, and the temperature of both the tanks is around 78 (at least now, during summer it is), and I'm very good about weekly water changes. The 29 gal is lightly decorated, with one tall fake plant, a big fake driftwood, some short plants, and a little hidey-hole log.

Sorry if that was a long post thanks for any input!

[Blue Cray]

If you do get rid of those fish then the fish you want to add then they'll work perfectly fine. The loaches may or maay not work cuz of their size but everything else is perfect.

[Ghost Knife]

I wouldn't put any of those addtional items with the Pleco and Sharks. If you feel you have to have a loach put 2 Clown Loaches in there, but they don't do well after a year or two in a 29G. I have 8 Cories mixed with my Rainbow Shark and Ghost Knife and they seem happy so maybe that is an option for you as well.

[pog0]

Originally Posted by Blue Cray

If you do get rid of those fish then the fish you want to add then they'll work perfectly fine.

All of them? That seems like a ton of fish!

[pog0]

Originally Posted by Ghost Knife

If you feel you have to have a loach put 2 Clown Loaches in there, but they don't do well after a year or two in a 29G.

Hmm. You mean the clown loaches won't do well in a 29 gal? Or they won't do well with sharks and pleco? Sharks and pleco are going to be gone soonish. However, I don't want any more fish that are going to outgrown the tank, and I read clown loaches need around 75 gal.

[Ghost Knife]

Originally Posted by pog0

Hmm. You mean the clown loaches won't do well in a 29 gal? Or they won't do well with sharks and pleco? Sharks and pleco are going to be gone soonish. However, I don't want any more fish that are going to outgrown the tank, and I read clown loaches need around 75 gal.

Right, you could keep 2 Clown Loaches in that 29G for at least several months, but you would eventually need to upgrade to at least a 55G later.

[trashion]

I don't understand why you would keep two clown loaches in a tank, they do MUCH better in larger groups of at least 4+. One of the fish that I think should never have been introduced to the hobby...they just get huge.

[pog0]

Originally Posted by trashion

I don't understand why you would keep two clown loaches in a tank, they do MUCH better in larger groups of at least 4+. One of the fish that I think should never have been introduced to the hobby...they just get huge.

I don't want clown loaches at all! It was something Ghost Knife suggested, and not on my list of fish I want.

I kind of have the same feeling about some of the fish at Petsmart. Why do they sell these fish that get giant, like common plecos and bala sharks, without asking people is they have a ginormous tank at home?

[COM]

They do that on purpose. They want your fish to not be healthy. That way you will keep returning to PetSmart and buying medications and water conditioners and all sorts of crap and then eventually a replacement fish. That is how they make their money.

[trashion]

pog0, that wasn't directed at you

COM's right. It's ridiculous. Most LFS stock smaller fish, from what I've noticed, with only a few of these "tank-busters." The few that they stock, they usually give good advice about.

[COM]

I don't know about that Julie. Most LFS sell common plecos, all sorts of sharks, and lots of comets. Even the best stores generally won't deny a sale to a determined stupid customer, and I can't really blame them. They do have the pay the rent after all.

[pog0]

COM, are you conspiracy theorist?

I do worry about the fate of my poor pleco. I quite like him, even though I can't keep him for much longer, and my LFS doesn't even want to take him. I wish I could start a Pleco/Bala Shark Rescue Foundation or something. /digression

[Ghost Knife]

Local stores will usually take them, but the retail outlets usually avoid that.

[COM]

No, I'm not a conspiracy theorist. I'm a business man. Pet care has become a big and very profitable business. See Petco Park in San Diego. It's not a place for a picnic; it's a place for the Padres.

[pog0]

I just went to Petco Park to see a Padres game, actually What you say makes sense, and I agree with you, I just hate to think that they're in the business of being cruel to animals.

So, anyway, any thoughts about those fish on my list?