Best fish for a 29 gallon tank (and how many)

Best fish for a 29 gallon tank

In order of how well they suit a 29 gallon tank. "Up to" is the most of that one species the tank holds on its own; mixing species splits it.

1. 1.Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha

   1.75" adult · groups of 8+ · 73–81 °F · pH 6–7.5 · up to 17 in a 29 gallon

   Seriously Fish says harlequins really should be kept in a group of at least 8–10.^[1] A 29 holds a school with room for bottom-dwellers.

2. 2.Cardinal tetra Paracheirodon axelrodi

   1.5" adult · groups of 8+ · 73–81 °F · pH 4.5–6.5 · up to 20 in a 29 gallon

   Prefers warmer, softer water than neons; Seriously Fish recommends a mixed group of 8–10 and a 60 × 30 cm or larger footprint.^[2]

3. 3.Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi

   1.5" adult · groups of 8+ · 72–77 °F · pH 6–7 · up to 20 in a 29 gallon

   A school of 10 or more fits easily; Seriously Fish's minimum is a group of 8–10 in a 60 × 30 cm footprint.^[3]

4. 4.Corydoras Corydoras spp.

   3" adult · groups of 6+ · 72–78 °F · pH 6.5–7.5 · up to 6 in a 29 gallon

   A group of six bronze or peppered corys fits a 29 by bio-load. Seriously Fish suggests an 80 × 30 cm footprint for bronze corys, a little longer than a 29's 76 cm.^[4]

5. 5.Kuhli loach Pangio semicincta (sold as P. kuhlii)

   4" adult · groups of 6+ · 72–79 °F · pH 5.5–7 · up to 7 in a 29 gallon

   Sold as Pangio kuhlii, but Seriously Fish says the trade fish is almost always P. semicincta or a relative. Keep a group of 5–6 or more in a 60 × 30 cm or larger footprint.^[5]

6. 6.Apistogramma cacatuoides Apistogramma cacatuoides

   3.5" adult · groups of 2+ · 72–84 °F · pH 5–8 · up to 5 in a 29 gallon

   The cockatoo dwarf cichlid. Seriously Fish says a 60 × 30 cm footprint suits a single pair, and a group needs more room.^[6]

7. 7.Honey gourami Trichogaster chuna

   2" adult · groups of 2+ · 72–81 °F · pH 6–7.5 · up to 10 in a 29 gallon

   A calm centerpiece; Seriously Fish suggests a pair or small group.^[7]

8. 8.Cherry barb Puntius titteya

   2" adult · groups of 6+ · 68–81 °F · pH 6–8 · up to 15 in a 29 gallon

   A peaceful barb kept in groups of at least 6–10.^[8]

9. 9.Pygmy corydoras Corydoras pygmaeus

   1.2" adult · groups of 8+ · 72–78 °F · pH 6–7.5 · up to 26 in a 29 gallon

   Pairs well with a school of small tetras; buy at least 6, preferably 10 or more.^[9]

10. 10.Platy Xiphophorus maculatus

    2.5" adult · groups of 3+ · 68–79 °F · pH 7–8.2 · up to 8 in a 29 gallon

    A hard-water livebearer; keep more females than males.^[10]

11. 11.German blue ram Mikrogeophagus ramirezi

    2.5" adult · groups of 2+ · 81–86 °F · pH 4–7 · up to 8 in a 29 gallon

    For a planned soft, warm-water tank: Seriously Fish keeps it at 27–30 °C and says it isn't recommended for the general community aquarium.^[11]

Shrimp and snails for a 29 gallon tank

Listed separately: the fish bio-load budget below doesn't describe invertebrates, so they aren't counted in it.

• Amano shrimp Caridina multidentata

  Strong algae eaters that don't need a group; keep a tight lid.^[12]

• Nerite snail Neritidae (e.g. Vittina natalensis)

  Grazes algae off glass and decor.^[13]

• Mystery snail Pomacea diffusa

  Needs hard water, with a pH of at least 7.2 per Aquarium Co-Op.^[14]

How many of each fish fit in a 29 gallon tank

A 29 gallon (30 × 12 × 18 in) holds about 25 gallons of water once you take off the glass. Our stocking calculator budgets that water by adult size and body shape: about 0.8 gallons per inch of slim fish (tetras, rasboras), 1.2 for medium-bodied fish (guppies, corys) and 2 for heavy, messy fish (goldfish, plecos). That works out to roughly 31 inches of small, slim adult fish in total. It is an upper limit, not a target: filtration, plants, territory and how often you change water all move it.

Stocking ideas for a 29 gallon tank

Stocking plans that fit the tank's bio-load budget, with a temperature and pH range that suits everything in them.

Fish to avoid in a 29 gallon tank

• Zebra danio · needs 30+ gallons, 36 in long

  Seriously Fish says even a small group needs a 90 × 30 cm (36 inch) footprint, longer than a 29; a 30 gallon meets it.^[16]

• Angelfish · needs 75+ gallons, 40 in long, 16 in front to back

  Seriously Fish's smallest tank for angelfish is 100 × 40 × 50 cm; the smallest standard tank that meets it is a 75.^[17]

• Fancy goldfish · needs 40+ gallons, 36 in long

  Grows to around 8 inches with heavy waste; our species data starts fancy goldfish at 40 gallons.

• Common pleco · needs 125+ gallons, 72 in long

  Reaches about 20 inches and, per ScotCat, needs a 6-foot tank or larger.^[18]

29 gallon tank FAQ

How many fish can you put in a 29 gallon tank?

Roughly 31 inches of small, slim adult fish by our bio-load method: for example 10 neon tetras and 8 pygmy corydoras, or a pair of cockatoo dwarf cichlids with 8 harlequin rasboras, with room to spare. Each species' group size still applies.^{[3, 9, 6]}

How many neon tetras can you put in a 29 gallon tank?

Up to about 20 on their own by bio-load, and at least 8–10 so they school.^[3] Ten neons leave room for a group of pygmy corydoras.

Is a 29 or a 30 gallon better for fish?

They hold about the same water (25–26 gallons), but the 30's 36 inch length suits active fish: Seriously Fish's 90 cm minimum for zebra danios fits a 30 and not a 29.^[16] The 29's extra height suits plants and taller fish.

Can I keep black skirt tetras in a 29 gallon tank?

A group of 12, the shoal Seriously Fish says usually stops fin-nipping, uses about 36 gallons of our bio-load budget, more than a 29's 25.^[19] They're better in a 40 gallon or larger.

How many corydoras can you put in a 29 gallon tank?

Six bronze or peppered corys fit by bio-load, filling most of the budget.^[4] For a mixed community, a group of 8–10 pygmy corydoras leaves room for a school above them.^[9]