Big fish and little fish?

Question

My boyfriend and I just bought a 29 gallon fish tank. We're trying to decide what fish to put in there. He likes bigger fish, but I like the smaller fish. For example, he likes how cichlids look, since they're so big. But I love little fish, like tiger barbs. Any advice on what big fish and little fish go well together? (I obviously don't want the little fish to get eaten.)

Answer 1

Well before you decide what fish you put in, make sure you to cycle your tank :) If you know this already, I apologize for telling it to you again, but it's an important step that must not be overlooked. In the wild, and in established tanks, there are nitrifying bacteria that break down toxic ammonia from fish waste and excess food into less toxic nitrates. In a brand new tank, these bacteria don't exist, so any fish in the tank will produce ammonia, which, not being broken down by bacteria, will kill or weaken the fish. So, it is vital to cycle your tank.
There are a few methods. Do you have access to an established tank? These bacteria live in the gravel and in the filter cartridge, so if you can get some from another tank, you can put the bacteria right into your tank (don't let the gravel or filter cartridge dry out). If you do this, in a day or two, your tank will beready for fish.
Another way is to get Bio-Spira. It is the actual live bacteria in a little pouch, and your tank will instantly be ready for fish. http://fishstoretn.com/bio_spira.html

Other methods, which include putting a source of ammonia in the tank and letting the bacteria build up on its own, or putting a fish in and letting the fish produce ammonia (which borders on animal cruelty, because the fish will suffer from the ammonia in the tank), take 2 to 6 weeks before your tank is ready. If you rush that, any fish you buy may die, so try one of the instant methods I mentioned above (bio-spira or gravel from another tank)

Anyhoo, that said, you musn't forget that a 29 gallon tank cannot accomodate any very large fish like most cichlids. But there is definitely a way to make you both happy. You like small, he likes big; you can have both. Let him choose one centrepiece fish, such as:
A pair of pearl gouramis, or
One gold or one blue gourami,
A pair of kribensis cichlids, or
An angelfish, or
A couple rainbow fish.

And then you can also get a school of small fish, some sort of tetra:
neon tetras http://img225.exs.cx/img225/3290/neontetra6mc.jpg
cardinal tetra http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/Fishpics/cardinals.jpg
lemon tetra http://www.aqua-fish.net/imgs/fish/034.jpg
harlequin rasbora http://tropicalresources.net/phpBB2/templates/BMan1Blue/images/profile_pics/fish_profiles_heteromorpha1.jpg
glowlight tetra http://www.solodvds.com/images/fish/Hemigrammus_erythrozonus_s.jpg
zebra danio http://www.winternet.com/~mchristi/fish/zebradanio.jpg
... the list goes on and on and on.
You would get a school of about 10 of one of those types.

Then throw in a handful of corydoras, and you're all set :)

Answer 2

cichlids typically do not like other fish. They will kill a lot of other varieties. Most any type of fish will eat any other fish that easily fits in their mouth. They are not vegetarians. I have found that in my fish tanks if i do mix smaller fish with bigger ones that it is best to put a few of the small ones together. If they can school together for protection they are a lot safer. No matter what kinds you mix, be sure to ask about behaviors and compatibility before you put any of them in the same space. Also do not put African Dwarf frogs with fish. I have found that they are much happier on their own with a few snails.

Answer 3

Big fish should be 2 kissing gouramies and a peacock eel and the little fish should be 5 black skirt tetras, 3 corys catfish and 3 tiger barbs!

Answer 4

Just so you know.....Tiger Barbs come from the Cichlid family and if you get Tigers that are a bit bigger than the Cichlids they will be ok. Start off with small cichlids and a large barb and you will be fine.

Answer 5

i have a 29 gallon and i have 2 copper gouramis..med-lg size...3 guppies..small...and 6 zebra danio...get along great...had 2 pink kissing gouramis..but they outgrew the tank and went to bigger waters...55 gallon...

good luck and have fun

Answer 6

ok. you shouldt put a VERY small fish with a VERY big fish, but a just normally big fish with an average small fish, its ok
hagve fun with your new pets!!!

Answer 7

you typically want one gallon per fish

Answer 8

BONZAI!