cichlids in a 29g
- Thread starter infant340
- Start date
I don't think it would work. First off, kenyi are mean little bastards, and you really can't tell males from females with color alone (they also change color to signify dominance.) I had some for a whole year and wondered why I never had fry, and it turned out my big female was actually a male. And a pair of convicts are seriously territorial (especially a mated pair), although I'm sure the kenyi will beat the crap out of them for trying to enforce their territory. I really don't know much at all about labs, but the other 2 definitely don't mix behavior wise.
So short answer, no, they'll probably kill each other.
Kenyi usually work best in a species only tank (if only to stop hybridization).
Plus it would be crowded once the fish got full size.
So short answer, no, they'll probably kill each other.
Kenyi usually work best in a species only tank (if only to stop hybridization).
Plus it would be crowded once the fish got full size.
What Brockway said.
Basically no. Now you could have some labs by themselves in there....or a pair of convicts but nothing else.
Some people don't care for the lakes to be mixed, some do. Usually temperment and water needs comes into this.
I'd take a pair of kenyi over a pair of convicts anyday in a fight. I think Africans are much more territorial and arn't scared to bull rush the trespasser. And well being a more timed african, the labs are the ones that would go down first.
So for this tank size and aggression say no.
Many other options for cichlids for a 29gal though. I'd say first decide weather you want Africans or SA/CA.
Suggestions:
Africans
Shelldwellers - You could make a cool colony of shellies.
Kribs - a pretty popular and colorful cichlid, pretty mild mannered, pretty easy to breed.
Brichardi - Lake tang cichlid (lake where prob the coolest cichlids behavior wise come from). Pretty mild mannered, especially towards their own kind. Easy breeders.
Yellow Labs - Good, mild mannered african from lake malawi with good color. A poster fish of the aquarium hobby today, and on of, if not the most recongnized fish in the hobby. You could keep some in a 29gal....i do it. I have 6 in the 29gal. You might end up having to move them out when they get larger, but they should be fine for a while.
Calvus, or Altolamprologus compressiceps - Awesome fish. Lake tang cichlid, a natural predetor....even has the looks of it. Its really rather peacful despite its looks. You could keep a few in a 29gal. They are very slow growers...just like most Lake Tang cichlids.
Julies - Cool, but territorial. They stay fairly small.
SA/CA
Rams - Good looking small cichlid, especially for a planted tank. Mild mannered. Sensitive to bad water conditions. Fairly hard to breed (at least from what i've heard.....conditions gotta be good)
Apistogrammas - Very cool dwarf cichlid. Lots of colors and look great in a planted tank. Some species are fairly easy to breed and keep while others are more sensitive to bad water and harder to breed.
Convicts - The jackrabbits of the aquarium, give them water and they will breed....i promise. Cool cichlid, lots of personality but can get testy a lot. I'd classify them as aggressive.
Keyhole - interesting little cichlid, rather peaceful. Pretty good community tank cichlid.
Angelfish - Breeding pair would work fine in a 29gal, prob. alone.
Hope that gives you some ideas. Just because you can't get the fish you originally wanted to, doesn't mean there is no chance for cichlids. Don't turn back to the darkside (community fish) for the answers!
Basically no. Now you could have some labs by themselves in there....or a pair of convicts but nothing else.
Some people don't care for the lakes to be mixed, some do. Usually temperment and water needs comes into this.
I'd take a pair of kenyi over a pair of convicts anyday in a fight. I think Africans are much more territorial and arn't scared to bull rush the trespasser. And well being a more timed african, the labs are the ones that would go down first.
So for this tank size and aggression say no.
Many other options for cichlids for a 29gal though. I'd say first decide weather you want Africans or SA/CA.
Suggestions:
Africans
Shelldwellers - You could make a cool colony of shellies.
Kribs - a pretty popular and colorful cichlid, pretty mild mannered, pretty easy to breed.
Brichardi - Lake tang cichlid (lake where prob the coolest cichlids behavior wise come from). Pretty mild mannered, especially towards their own kind. Easy breeders.
Yellow Labs - Good, mild mannered african from lake malawi with good color. A poster fish of the aquarium hobby today, and on of, if not the most recongnized fish in the hobby. You could keep some in a 29gal....i do it. I have 6 in the 29gal. You might end up having to move them out when they get larger, but they should be fine for a while.
Calvus, or Altolamprologus compressiceps - Awesome fish. Lake tang cichlid, a natural predetor....even has the looks of it. Its really rather peacful despite its looks. You could keep a few in a 29gal. They are very slow growers...just like most Lake Tang cichlids.
Julies - Cool, but territorial. They stay fairly small.
SA/CA
Rams - Good looking small cichlid, especially for a planted tank. Mild mannered. Sensitive to bad water conditions. Fairly hard to breed (at least from what i've heard.....conditions gotta be good)
Apistogrammas - Very cool dwarf cichlid. Lots of colors and look great in a planted tank. Some species are fairly easy to breed and keep while others are more sensitive to bad water and harder to breed.
Convicts - The jackrabbits of the aquarium, give them water and they will breed....i promise. Cool cichlid, lots of personality but can get testy a lot. I'd classify them as aggressive.
Keyhole - interesting little cichlid, rather peaceful. Pretty good community tank cichlid.
Angelfish - Breeding pair would work fine in a 29gal, prob. alone.
Hope that gives you some ideas. Just because you can't get the fish you originally wanted to, doesn't mean there is no chance for cichlids. Don't turn back to the darkside (community fish) for the answers!
I dont know an infinite amount about cichlids...but I do have a 29G tank and have some rock dwellers from lake tanganyika in it.
Brichardis are very easy to breed and gorgeous little fish. I would suggest that you get one or two types of these guys and do your research on what types are compatible etc. When I put my tank together I put 5 pairs of different types...and now that they're all growing and getting bigger the aggression is more apparant.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if I had to do it again I'd probably have picked two types and gotten a little group of each kind...or a group of one kind and then one of a single species.
Thats my .02
Brichardis are very easy to breed and gorgeous little fish. I would suggest that you get one or two types of these guys and do your research on what types are compatible etc. When I put my tank together I put 5 pairs of different types...and now that they're all growing and getting bigger the aggression is more apparant.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if I had to do it again I'd probably have picked two types and gotten a little group of each kind...or a group of one kind and then one of a single species.
Thats my .02
I'd agree with Cichlid-man on the Africans except where he says brichardi are
No way! If you established a pair from 6 juvies you'd have to remove the others or pick out the cadavers. Once the pair are breeding however, they tolerate many generations of young within the spawning site and the older young are allowed to stay around to look after the latest fry.
I would also recommend the smaller species of julidochromis - transcriptus, ornatus or dickfeldi - or neolamprologus leleupi / cylindricus. As with brichardi, the approach is to obtain 6 juveniles and allow them to form a pair, then remove the others. Leleupi form pairs usually but in captivity it has been known for males to keep a harem of 2 or even 3 females. In a 29 you'd best stick to a pair. I would say the 29 is too small for altolamps, calvus or compressiceps.
I would also recommend the smaller species of julidochromis - transcriptus, ornatus or dickfeldi - or neolamprologus leleupi / cylindricus. As with brichardi, the approach is to obtain 6 juveniles and allow them to form a pair, then remove the others. Leleupi form pairs usually but in captivity it has been known for males to keep a harem of 2 or even 3 females. In a 29 you'd best stick to a pair. I would say the 29 is too small for altolamps, calvus or compressiceps.
They say it's best not to mix africans and americans because of the different diet and water requirements.
Plus, there will be a fight more than likely between the kenyi and the cons.
Plus, if you have a breeding pair of cons, more than likley there will be trouble especially in a 29g.
Even non-breeding the 29 g is too small for all of them to establish there territories, so you will run into problems.
I would say keep the kenyi with yellow labs and skip the cons
Plus, there will be a fight more than likely between the kenyi and the cons.
Plus, if you have a breeding pair of cons, more than likley there will be trouble especially in a 29g.
Even non-breeding the 29 g is too small for all of them to establish there territories, so you will run into problems.
I would say keep the kenyi with yellow labs and skip the cons
Infant340 - Is getting most of all my fish, so he'll get the yellow labs, the silver angels, the pleco, and the 4 swordtails. He can do what ever he wants with the fish i'm getting him, either sell them or keep them, I just need to get rid of them so he wanted them. I think he should keep the yellow labs and sell the angels and the swords.. but it's up to him. I hope he makes a reasonable decision and not overstock his tank.
