Will any these fish work

I might delay getting a 55 gallon and continue to work with this 37 gallon tank. In any case, I would like some suggestions for tank mates using the fish from this cookie cutter setup for 29 gallon tank.

Tanganyika Mini-Community

Same as 20 gallon long with the exception of the
cookie cutter below.


If you wanted three pairs (groups) of fish:
• 'Lamprologus' (Shellies) brevis, multifasciatus, meleagris, ornatipinnis, ocellatus, speciosus, similis, Neolamprologus signatus,
Altolamprologus sp. "Compressiceps Shell"
• Neolamprologus caudopunctatus (non-Shellies)
• Julidiochromis ornatus or transcriptus
• Telmatochromis bifrenatus, brichardi or vittatus
• Paracyprichromis nigripinnis,
• Xenotilapia flavipinnis



Victoria & Malawi Combo

• Haplochromis sp. "Ruby Green" - trio
• Metriaclima lanisticola - 5
• Ancistrus temminckii "Bristlenose Pleco" - 2

Hey Tre,

I think that the Vic/Malawi combo may be ok in a 29. The lanisticola are pretty uncommon, but not very aggressive for mbuna. The Ruby greens aren't bad either. It would be tight in a 29, but would likely be ok.

I haven't kept all those Tangs, but think that two choices may be better than three.

Paracyps are super cool, but you should have a group of 6+ and that tank is a bit small fro them. They may also get bullied by whatever else was in the tank (short of the Altolamprologus, who won't really mess with anyone). While they stay in the water column or in high caves/glass during the day, they rest on the bottom at night. A colony of multis or a pair of Julidochromis defending fry would not likely be cool with this.

Christine would probably have better advice than me....

Tony said:

Hey Tre,

I think that the Vic/Malawi combo may be ok in a 29. The lanisticola are pretty uncommon, but not very aggressive for mbuna. The Ruby greens aren't bad either. It would be tight in a 29, but would likely be ok.

I haven't kept all those Tangs, but think that two choices may be better than three.

Paracyps are super cool, but you should have a group of 6+ and that tank is a bit small fro them. They may also get bullied by whatever else was in the tank (short of the Altolamprologus, who won't really mess with anyone). While they stay in the water column or in high caves/glass during the day, they rest on the bottom at night. A colony of multis or a pair of Julidochromis defending fry would not likely be cool with this.

Christine would probably have better advice than me....

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Wow, this tank is really limited as to what it can accommodate and what I would like. I think I will just wait a few more months, especially with a baby on the way in a few weeks.

TeamPisces said:

Wow, this tank is really limited as to what it can accommodate and what I would like. I think I will just wait a few more months, especially with a baby on the way in a few weeks.

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10-4, bud. 55 would be infinitely better for an African setup imo.

Thanks. In the meantime, the 37 gallon tank will either become a fantastic home to a betta or tropical community tank.

Don't let me scare you away.. you could definitely set up a pretty awesome Tang tank in a 29.... just stick with two species though.

I don't like to do Vics in small tanks....at their best, they are super energetic and the less spaztic fish need a place to hang out without getting constantly run over. At their worst, they're just major A-holes. I like to keep them in a 4 ft. tank.

As for the tangs....one of my favorite tanks is a 40B with a trio of comprecisseps, N. caudopunctatus and Julies....so yeah, maybe 2 kinds of tangs in a 29.

chriscoli said:

I don't like to do Vics in small tanks....at their best, they are super energetic and the less spaztic fish need a place to hang out without getting constantly run over. At their worst, they're just major A-holes. I like to keep them in a 4 ft. tank.

As for the tangs....one of my favorite tanks is a 40B with a trio of comprecisseps, N. caudopunctatus and Julies....so yeah, maybe 2 kinds of tangs in a 29.

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Thanks Chris. I am sending a pm regarding any fish you may have for sale.