Suggestions for 29 gallon setup

[wlagory]

I am a new member here and have not posted many questions. I have been busy checking out the site and trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible. But I have to say, I love this site! I would love any suggestions.

Here's the senario:
I have had this tank set up for 1 1/2 years and it houses 2 keyhole cichlids, 3 black tetras, 4 neon tetras, 2 otos, and 5 corydoras. The keyholes are extremely shy and I have never had success with getting them to lighten up and be a little more personable. Usually in order for me to observe them I have to sit, motionless, in front of the tank for 10 minutes before they come out of their caves. They have been in the tank for a year and the tank is planted and has plenty of driftwood.

I want a more lively cichlid and I'm wondering if it would be possible to add a pair of some type of apisto to the tank (or any other possible dwarf). I don't want to bring the keyholes back to the fish store because I know they probably wouldn't get a good home.

Is it possible for me to add another cichlid pair to this setup? Would it help to remove some tetras? Should I add more keyholes to see if I could get a pair? If any of you can help with any[/U} suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[Apistt_ed]

Is it possible for me to add another cichlid pair to this setup? Would it help to remove some tetras? Should I add more keyholes to see if I could get a pair? If any of you can help with any[/U} suggestions I would greatly appreciate it!

Hello wlagory,

I would say that it would be more than possible for another pair of apistos to be added to your tank without any problems. If you would like to add a pair of apistos just to add them and not worry about fry or spawnings, then you can leave all the tetras and cories. Obviously you can take the tetras and cories out if breeding is the aim. Just based on the water qualities for keyholes, I would suggest an apisto that can handle water with neutral ph and even slightly moderate hard water like A. cacatuoides and or A. borellii. They would all do fine.

Keyholes are very timid fish even when full grown and do fine with most fish that are not overly aggressive. If you'd like to add more keyholes so that a pair-bond can form naturally, that is also a great option if you don't want to add an apisto pair. I have kept groups of 8-10 keyholes in a 29gallon just like yours and even had them live rather peacefully when a pair does form and spawn.

Here are just two options for you to consider. best of luck. john

 

[wlagory]

Thanks a lot Apistt_ed! I appreciate the advice. The 29 gallon has always looked like there would be plenty of room for another dwarf pair, but I was never quite sure. I though maybe another cichlid would pissibly bring out some of the keyhole's behavior.

I really like Laetacara curviceps but have not really ever seen their behavior. Would they be as shy as the keyhole's? I had a single bolivian ram in the tank previously and he seemed to adopt the keyhole shyness. I know apisto cacatuoides would be spunky enough but I'm not sure about the other dwarf acaras. What do you think about curviceps?

Also, the black skirt tetras are quite rowdy. Could a keyhole cichlid be afraid of a large black tetra?

 

[AdamT]

I dunno about your black skirts or your keyholes, particularly, but I did have some blue tetras that were very active at one point. Their tankmates were not exactly afraid of them, rather they just seemed to effect the average activity level. Everyone else got real hidey not because the tetras were a threat, but because their behavior seemed to indicate that they were concerned.

Your keyholes might not necessarily fear the tetras. Perhaps the keyholes just figure the tetras are afraid, and are staying under cover just in case. Even smaller fish can upset larger fish in this manner.

Whatever the fish psychology, lowering the activity level of the tank should be good for shy fish, right?

 

[wlagory]

I have always suspected this to be the case. The black tetras move in jerky, spastic motions. I wouldn't be surprised if they are sending the danger signal to the keyhole's. I will take them back to the fish store and see what happens.

If I get rid of the black tetras, what else could I add for dither fish? Should I get more neon's? I have also heard that pencilfish are good dithers. Any suggestions about dithers or the cichlid addition?

 

[Mike Wise]

Keyhole Cichlids, Cleithracara maronii, are just shy by nature. I doubt that much can be done to prevent this. Black (skirt) Tetras are active, but I doubt that they alarm the Keyholes very much. It is worth a try to remove them. Pencilfish are excellent dither fish, being active only when feeding & being chased.

 

[AdamT]

Folks around here (myself included) really seem to dig the pencilfish. I also like rummynoses.

More keyholes might be good. Far be it from me to dissuade anyone from picking up apistos, but the keyholes might feel better with more of their own kind around. If you have N fish and N hidey-holes the fish will tend to all hide, just cause they can. But if you have N+1 fish for N hidey-holes then someone will always be out and about, and that will make the fish that are hiding more confident.

But these are just generalizations about fish behavior based on my experience, which doesn't actually include keyholes. Grain of salt advised.

 

[wlagory]

Yeah, I kinda agree that the keyholes would like to have a some buddies. I think I might have two males, so throwing a few more to see if I could get a pair would be cool. I think I will definately get some pencilfish to replace the black tetras.

How many pencilfish is appropriate for a small group? I think I will see what I can get as far as dwarves go. I've seen Laetacara curviceps once and really thought they would be interesting to keep. They seemed friendly. If I can find keyhole's maybe I could go for that. Do curviceps act as shy as keyholes or are they more active?

By the way, thanks for all the great suggestions everyone!!