Cichlids for 29gal Planted.

[Igor The Cat]

Okay, now i know that C-Man is going to get all giddy, but i need recomendations for NON-Dwarf cichlids for a heavily planted 29gal tank.

they must not dig up my plants, or even think about it.

 

[ram man]

A non-dwarf that won't harm plants... Never heard of it. I'm not sure if keyholes would be non dwarf, but you can always try them.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Angels or discus would work, for sure . But that's probably not what you mean.

 

[Igor The Cat]

I was thinking about Angels, but i havent been able to find any nice ones (Cant stand most cultivated varities) and the tank wont work for Altums. I was also thinking Discus but IMO discus need a bigger tank.

I might go all tetras after all.

cheers

-Java

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Your pretty limited for sure excluding dwarf cichlids. A pair of Adult discus would work. But i can't think of any better choices right off hand.

 

[Igor The Cat]

Since my tank doesnt have any super sensitive plants in it, would a Mesonauta festivus work?

cheers

-Java

 

[burtoncb47]

i dont know anything about the fish you mentioned above but i would not do the discus 30g just isnt enough room for two adult discus IMO. i felt bad have two full growns in a 55g.

Burton

 

[Cichlid-Man]

i dont know anything about the fish you mentioned above but i would not do the discus 30g just isnt enough room for two adult discus IMO. i felt bad have two full growns in a 55g.

Burton

Breeders use 20-25gal tanks for them. 2 Adults are perfectly fine in a 30gal.

 

[burtoncb47]

yes if they are being bred and that is the only purpose for them then a 30g is fine but if you want a really nice display with the idscus swimming around happily then its not enough imo. but this is just an opinion so i dont want to start an argument over this. but yes 2 adult discus in a 30g is doable.

Burton

 

[sphed]

I agree with burton, it is doable but the discus would def not be happy and you would have to do a lot more water changes even if they are adults. I would try the altums.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Altums are more sensative to water quality then discus from every Altum owner i've talked to.

festivums should be fine Java.

 

[Igor The Cat]

sphed: I know for a fact that Altums wont work, they are quite fast swimmers (many times faster than the Angels you see in most stores) and need lots of space. Plus they are VERY expensive to buy and feed.

cheers

-Java

 

[sphed]

Is this an altum?

 

[Igor The Cat]

No, that is a generic Pterophyllum sp. here is a good image of Pterophyllum altum

Notice the Kink above the mouth, more vivid vertical stripes, and the longer and thiner dorsal and anal fins.

cheers

-Java

 

[sphed]

are you 100% sure?

I picked that angel up at an lfs when he was the size of a quarter. Hes still a juvi, only about 3 inches. They didnt specify what type it was. He has the kink above his mouth and you cant really see his stripes because the pic quality sucks. As for the anal and dorsal fins they will probably get longer and thinner with age.

 

[Igor The Cat]

Im pretty sure, yours seems too also lack the vague stripe right infront of the caudel fin.

the kink above the mouth in all but wild breeds is usually a sign of stunting from bad water conditions or stress.

but who knows? you may have gotten lucky, but ive never personally heard of it happening before. Dealers tend to put the effort into discovering weather a fish is worth $40 or $2.

cheers

-Java

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I'd say thats not an altum. Not to mention only a handful of people have ever bred altums in captivity so the liklyhood of you scoring a juvi altum is very slim.