30 Gallon Tanganyikan Setup

[HookedOnFish_MI]

I have a 30 gallon aquarium (36”x12” footprint) with rock piles spanning the length of the tank. The tank currently has 3 Synodontis Lucipinnis in it. What Tanganyikan options do have for this tank size with the Synos? Could a single species like a Calvus work? I was thinking keeping anything in groups may be risky if breeding starts and the Synos begin getting bullied.

 

[MacZ]

To be frank Altolamprologus are not much better if it comes to aggression towards other fish while brooding. If you can get mature, sexed fish at least the catfish will not run over the cichlids while patroulling the tank at night.

 

[MacZ]

Adding: Injust realized what 30 galons are in Liters: Don't keep Altolamprologus in this tank as a group. It's barely enough for a breeding pair.

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

Adding: Injust realized what 30 galons are in Liters: Don't keep Altolamprologus in this tank as a group. It's barely enough for a breeding pair.

Agree. Let me clarify my initial post. When I said single species, I meant just 1 Altolamprologus. I’m not sure if they are better kept in groups, or if I can have just 1 as a centerpiece fish with the Synos.

 

[MacZ]

Ah, I see. Yeah, a single fish will work, they do better in groups, a bit similar to angelfish, but as soon as breeding occurs, you get the gist.
So a single specimen (That what you wanted to say?):
Possible: Yes. Optimal: no. Bad husbandry: I don't think so.

 

[HookedOnFish_MI]

Ah, I see. Yeah, a single fish will work, they do better in groups, a bit similar to angelfish, but as soon as breeding occurs, you get the gist.
So a single specimen (That what you wanted to say?):
Possible: Yes. Optimal: no. Bad husbandry: I don't think so.

Appreciate the advice here. You’re correct, I meant to say single specimen rather than a single species tank. I think I may focus on getting the Synos to spawn for a while first, which is something I always wanted to do after seeing my grandpa so successful with them years ago. After I’ve had my fun with that then perhaps I’ll consider bringing in something else.

 

[anewbie]

Once angels hit maturity 1 or 2 is best; i do have one stable group of 6 in a 120 but even in my 600 a small group managed to break down. As kids i suppose you can have as many as you want as long as you understand they will likely need to be thinned and if you don't do it they will.

I should soften this a bit as sex makes a huge difference - all males are more likely to work out in a group as well as all males with 1 female; multiple females with a male usually leads to extra females being dead. It is a bit more complicated than that in my experience but even when i had 2 pairs in a large aquarium eventually the dynamics break down and 10 feet just isn't enough room to solve their differences. Of course individual fishes behave differently and i've have had it be stable for a couple of years it is just that eventually they figure they have to go on a murderous rampage.

 

[MacZ]

I was comparing behaviour, not tank sizes

 

[anewbie]

I was comparing behaviour, not tank sizes

Well yea but isn't behavior impacted by tank size (sometimes?)

 

[MacZ]

A. calvus only have territories during mating season. And as they don't breed endlessly in a loop but may have 1-5 clutches in a row and then stop for months they are not as comparable to angels as it might have sounded. I see parallels, but not exact pendants.