29 gallon cichlid tank

[Bucs20fan]

The majority of peacock cichlids get around 6 inches or so, NOT peacock bass. We're just trying to help even though this is a salt water forum, because alot of us still have this fish or had them in the past. And werent trying to beat you up for having a tiny tank for fish that eventually get 4 inches.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Hello, I would say just the yellow lab alone would be a fun tank in a 29. I have a very mean one I keep alone and it's more enjoyable then if he were with other friends and picking on them

 

[beang2299]

so really i shouldnt do a 29 gallon cichlid tank?

 

[Sharkbait19]

so really i shouldnt do a 29 gallon cichlid tank?

The only cichlids I would keep in a 29 long term are any of the dwarf cichlids (kribs, rams, apistos, nannacara, laetacara, etc.) and the shell dweller (basically a mini version of the mbunas).
Other options are a solo convict or a pair of the smaller amantitlania cichlids (rainbows, nanolutae, Honduran red points) and some dithers.
The big issue I found with mbunas when I was keeping them in a 36 bow front is that it was impossible to stick them at the right level where it wasn’t too high waste output to manage but they also wouldn’t kill each other off. The smaller you go, the more difficult it becomes to balance it.

 

[Bucs20fan]

so really i shouldnt do a 29 gallon cichlid tank?

A single cichlid and maybe some small catfish or loaches would be great.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

so really i shouldnt do a 29 gallon cichlid tank?

I would say no, 75 minimum for say 4 small. If you want a 29 just one yellow I run 9 tanks 4 are cichlid. The yellow is fun by himself

 

[nereefpat]

The only cichlids I would keep in a 29 long term are any of the dwarf cichlids (kribs, rams, apistos, nannacara, laetacara, etc.) and the shell dweller (basically a mini version of the mbunas).

Those are good suggestions.

I would do something like apistos, corydoras, and a group of whatever tetras you like.

 

[Bucs20fan]

Those are good suggestions.

I would do something like apistos, corydoras, and a group of whatever tetras you like.

Perfect suggestions, Id err on the side of caution and get green cory cats, as they get rather large for cory cats. Some yoyo loaches would be awesome.

 

[threebuoys]

If you have good filtration, some rocks or structure for the fish to use to escape from each other, I believe you could go up to 5 maybe 6 peacocks in a 29 if you get them when they are small and only get males. Yeah, they will get big and you may have to re-home as they grow, but they are an easy fish to keep, very active, and very colorful as they mature. I say no females because males can kill each other fighting for a mate. No females calm them a bit. Not to mention only males have color. As others have said, hybrids can get larger and would not be the best for a small tank. Nor would more aggressive african species.

I've gone the 29 gallon route before with both male and female. Well, after several months, that tank had about 30 2 inch fish. All surviving and appearing happy, but admittedly way too crowded, so had to give some away.

Have a 90 gallon now with I have no clue how many adults. They swim too fast for me to count. They are all healthy and happy. The Orange Blotch Peacock must be 8 inches, but fairly tame. The 6 inch dragon blood had to be moved to isolation in a spare 20 gallon because he would kill every male he could find and mate with every female he could find. Still need to rehome him. I have a 30 gallon sump filtration on that tank which I believe allows me to keep the high population without problems.

Good luck

 

[death-by-reef]

Although this is a Saltwater focused forum, many of us keep or have kept many different types of freshwater fish. In my experience with cichlids there is a balance between overstocking the tank to distribute aggression and not allowing anyone fish to establish a territory, and having such a high bio load that it overwhelms the chemistry of your tank. As others have said, I would avoid convicts. I have worked with them and bred them and they can be problematic.

i started with mbunas and moved into reefs

 

[death-by-reef]

im currently keeping labs in a 40 with a pictus

 

[FiddlersReef]

I love my reef tank, but I just recently setup a Waterbox Marine X110 as a cichlid tank that I've always wanted, and I wish there was a forum out there half as good as this one for it. If there is, I haven't found it yet anyway. Any suggestions?

 

[Sharkbait19]

Monsterfishkeepers is a really good one for freshwater. Not as active as here, but plenty of very knowledgeable people.