Stocking a 29 G

cnlight

Member
Well from my experience with damsels, I wouldn't go with the four stripe. They tend to be very aggresive and territorial, same goes with your clown fish for that matter. The yellow tail is a fairly good choice, but those can also get aggresive especially in a 29. With that small of space, you will have a lot of fighting going on. Stick with the royal gramma, and maybe try an ocelleris or common percula (sp?) clown fish. Also I really like my orchid dottyback, not the purple dottyback. Maybe a sixline wrasse would be good too. You really will want to limit yourself to three or four small fish over a period of time.
Of course when getting the new fish allow at least a month or two between adding new fish, so as not to overload the tank. I hope this helps.
 

mary

Member
A six line wrasse and a royal gramma are not meant for each other. The gramma is territorial, the six line is aggressive . Stick with one royal gramma. They are gorgeous, small yet do get annoyed at fish that come near their area, which in a 29 may be the whole tank. Believe me, I stupidly put in another six line wrasse after getting one out, that tormented smaller fishes. I was told that that was unusual. Guess what. They are terrible after awhile. They seem aquarium safe, until they get used to the tank. Now I can't get my other one out and can not get any wrasses { not six line}I would like to because of it. My six line killed my gramma . Refused to let it eat and drove it back into the deep recesses of the aquarium and it starved. A couple of fire gobies might do well, after the tank has cylcled well enough. A small bi-color blennie also. Adorible. Clowns are really too large eventually to go into a 29. They really are happiest with their chosen leather or anemone. Took mine a year to make up their mind as to which leather to make as their own. Now they are inseperable from it. Good luck. There are many lovely small fish. Get a good book on Marine fishes and the care of. Hope you have live rock. .
 

michelle13

Member
I have a percula clown, bi-color blenny, firefish, and a royal gramma. I've had them all over a year and they get along with no problems. A six-line wrasse would be good, maybe a couple of chromis, or even a bangaii cardinal. I think that damsels are too aggressive and territorial for a tank that small.
 

kaiser

Member

Originally posted by mary
Clowns are really too large eventually to go into a 29.

Are you serious?
That's really disappointing I can't put four small fish in a 29G, and the alternatives given are expensive and hard to find. Instead of getting a common $3 damsel, you guys think I should go to another town and get a $50 orchid dottyback?
 

mary

Member
Marks magic, Yes they do, does that make it right? Cruelty to animals is a common ailment of mankind.
 

mary

Member
Kaiser, Grammas are not expensive. Check Foster -Smith on line. You could order fish from www. Live Aquaria.com They don't have a mininmum and the fish you like are in their catalogue or on line and not too expensive. SWF is also a wonderful source. They have a minumum and that prevents me from ordering all the time. Salt is cheapest from Foster Smith{ Live aquaria} I order the largest I can and save some money there. It is cheaper than our LFS and any other source. However, what I have ordered from SWF.com has come in very healthy and has done fine after acclimation. You could have just three or four damsels,. That would be beautiful in a small tank. I have always wanted them but determined that I did not want aggressive fish. I love blennys and such. They are very sweet little guys but bold, not aggressive. Don't give up on getting inexpensive fish. A lot of small fish in Foster-Smith are in the 10-12 dollar range. It is fun shopping on line so take your time and enjoy. This hobby is supposed to be a learning adventure and terrifically enjoyable. I have a financial situation where by I have had to wait inbetween purchases and that makes it all the more exciting.
 

mary

Member
You could also add colorful cleaner shrimp eventually. Two in that they are very social. One much smaller than the other, so they stay together as a pair. Peppermints are fun also and keep any aptasia from becoming a problem. They must be fed just as fish are. In a small tank they would have to be in that scavenging is their job and I don't think they would be able to survive without being fed. They aren't real cheap. I paid 25.00 for two. The brilliant red with neon white stripe down their backs. My six line actually leaves them alone. Pajama fish are lovely also, as well as Benghii Cardinals. I found that mine however, hunted down the shrimp at night. Easy to catch and took them back for credit a year or more after I realized where the shrimp were bing consumed. .
 

mary

Member
Michelle has a great collection of fish. Just refrain from the six line. Please. You will only be very sorry. Now mine has decided to harrass the neon gobies, who up to now haven't been bothered by the wrasse. I must remove it and that means destroying everything in the tank to get it. They won't be trapped. As soon as they come out. he chases them and attempts to nip them. Beware.
 

kaiser

Member
Peppermint shrimp are fairly easy to find and cheap ($7-8) in my area.
Which of these 3 damsels are better for a community?
- 2-striped (striped damsel, reticulated damsel
- 3-striped (humbug damsel, white-tail)
- 4-striped (black-tail humbug damsel)
 

mary

Member
I do not know a thing about mixing damsels. Si sorry. Please address this question to someone else. Usually the rule of thumb with other fish of the same family, and if they are aggressive, you never mix. I meant three or four of the same would be lovely in your tank. I love the brilliant blue ones. You may prefer others. A competent LFS should know these things, or ask tech support at SWF . Sorry I couldn't get to you earlier. Too busy a day.
 
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