30 Gal Tanganyikan Setup

[RTCfan86]

I have a 36” x 12” 30 gallon aquarium that is currently stocked with the following:

3 Synodontis Lucipinnis
2 Julidochromis Transcriptus
1 Altolamprologus Compressiceps

There is no indication that the Julies are a pair, as I have not seen any breeding activity. They stay out of each other’s way.

I am wondering if I have any options to add any more fish. I would love to have more activity in the tank, but understand that I may have chosen my own fate here by having a rock dweller setup. I would love to find a couple more of the Julies and try to start a colony, but they’ve been hard to find locally.

 

[DJRansome]

I would add julidochromis and remove the synodontis and the altolamp. Or add a colony of shellies with the juli pair.

 

[RTCfan86]

Appreciate the advice!

 

[danotaylor]

I do like your rock scape, but giving your rock dwellers so many hidey options will result in you barely ever seeing them. If you reduce the hard scape to 2 piles and leave some open water in the middle of the tank you may well see them more.
All the best!

 

[RTCfan86]

Thank you for the advice! I did see the Synos always cruising when I didn’t have as many rocks in there.

 

[Bwirtz]

Not a ton of options given the footprint. Cyps and a Paracyprichromis need more space. I agree with the others; juli species that you have or add more of the same or adding lamp multifactiatis or similius. If you got with the shellies you need to reduce the rock work and add 3 or so shells per fish.

 

[lucentvue]

I’ve had cyps in a tank that size and they’ve done well