29 Gallon Stocking Question

[AmigoSpageeto]

I have a 29 gallon heavily planted, dirted tank that I need fish for. I currently have a bristlenose pleco in there that I want to keep in there. I am okay with rescaping the tank to accommodate different types of fish but the fish has to be able to live with a lot of live plants and on a dirted substrate. I have done a tank with guppies and tetras before and am looking for something new. I am wanting to get some fish that will pop with color/personality. Bigger or smaller fish are fine with me and I'm also okay with a species only tank as long as my pleco can still live in there (I am not too worried about him because the tank has a lot of plants and hiding places). I was thinking of getting a pair of kribensis and a school of black neon tetras. I'm just not sure if the kribensis can live in a dirted tank, because they like to dig. I am okay with other dwarf cichlids too, but again not sure if a dirted will work with them?

Thanks in advance for your input. I'm pretty lost here with all the different fish options out there and was just curious what people have found success with before.

 

[ProudPapa]

Black neons are great fish. You can't go wrong with a big school of them.

 

[FishBoy101]

You could do a betta sorority.

 

[AmigoSpageeto]

You could do a betta sorority.

I have thought about it but heard it can go south pretty easily...

 

[FishBoy101]

I have thought about it but heard it can go south pretty easily...

True, but bettas are cool, just make sure there are no trouble makers. Another option could be a community tank. Or maybe some angelfish.....

 

[AmigoSpageeto]

True, but bettas are cool, just make sure there are no trouble makers. Another option could be a community tank. Or maybe some angelfish.....

Could I put angelfish in a 29? Would it work to have a pair and some black neons or should I only get 1 if i wanted the black neons?

 

[ProudPapa]

Could I put angelfish in a 29? Would it work to have a pair and some black neons or should I only get 1 if i wanted the black neons?

I've only kept one, and I've only had it for a few months, but pretty much everything I've read says to keep a single angel or a large group, and even then if two pair up you might need to remove the rest. I don't think I'd try more then one on your tank.

 

[AmigoSpageeto]

I've only kept one, and I've only had it for a few months, but pretty much everything I've read says to keep a single angel or a large group, and even then if two pair up you might need to remove the rest. I don't think I'd try more then one on your tank.

Okay thank you. I think I am going to get an angelfish then. Plus my LFS just got in some beautiful philippine blue ones that I will try and get one of.

 

[Nataku]

Betta sororities are an extremely delicate thing which can go south quickly. Having a heavily planted tank is a great way to give them plenty of hiding spots though, which is important. But, a sorority will need constant monitoring to make sure if things go south you can quickly intervene and separate females out into different tanks. If you do not have spare tanks set up you can put individual female bettas in, I would not recommend this.

Some other fun ideas:
Bolivian ram OR german blue ram pair, as these fish are full of personality and also quite pretty to look at.

Other dwarf cichlids (apistogramma) are also good options. It really comes down to what you'd like your boy to look like. C. Agasizzi, c. Cacautuoides, c. Hongsloi, c. Trifasciata etc.

Fancy tailed swordtails - a lot of people go oh this is a boring beginner fish, but look up lyretail or fi-fin swordtails and tell me those aren't neat looking fish. Also - don't want swordfish to breed? Get males that are lyretails and they can't breed the females, but will still put on beautiful displays. So no getting over run with babies. They're so a great adult size for a centerpiece group of fish for a 29. And being livebearers, the extra poop is good plant ferts.

A slightly unusual choice with a ton of personality? Sparkling gourami. These tiny little fish start out shy but soon become just as fascinated with watching you as you do them. They are a social gourami, and so are best kept in sizable groups of their own kind. Also, they make noise! They make a chirping or croaking noise as part of their heirarchal displays, so don't be surprised if one day you hear some weird noises and they seem to be coming from your tank.
Sparkling gourami are small and quite peaceful, so you could keep them with another small schooling species if you wanted without issue.

Threadfin rainbowfish - a neat looking fish with beautiful mating displays.