Hello! starting 30 gal, want help!

[r0addawg]

Hello everyone. First time poster. So heres my scenario. I have a 30 gallon, not too big, not too small, decent size for me. I want to do a tank that isnt too extravagant. such as a beautiful planted tank. i want to do something a little less complex considering i may move at the end of the year.

i have a few ideas, but the one i can not get out of my head
is doing and Electric blue Jack dempsey.
Now i know all will say at this point a 30g is too small!
from what ive read ebjds can get aggressive from being in a smaller tank. but i will plan on getting a bigger down the road, when he starts getting bigger.
it will be a simpler tank. some art. plants, sand for him to dig. decent drift wood and caves yadda yadda.
If a 30g would be suitable tank for a baby/young ebjd what tank mates could i put with him, that would somewhat balance out with the slow growth of the ebjd. that way they wouldnt get too mean to each other.

Would this just be a bad idea?
And remember theres a reason im asking before doing something wrong and hurtful to the fish.

thanks for reading a long post!

 

[TTTT]

EBJDs can be finicky, so they may not be a good idea for a begginer.
If you are SURE you are going to get at least a 55g, an EBJD would be good.

 

[MonsterMinis]

Yep, EBJD's can be fairly sensitive and are not generally considered a beginner fish because of their somewhat delicate nature. simply put they get the color due to inbreeding, so genetically they can be a very hit or miss for health. If you're willing to take the plunge into one. get a robust juvi/subadult and not a tiny baby. you'll likely spend abit more but your chances of a health fish are significantly increased with haveing a slightly older fish. be sure to pick from a decent group as well, a fiesty active fish is what your looking for. EBJDs I've seen swing from eccedingly doicle fish to very aggressive. so the tank-mates is really going to be a hit or miss. a senegal Bichir may fit the bill for a tank mate, being a bottom dweller the EBJD may be more inclined to ignore it. I would avoid other cichlids as a general rule and a top-water fish is more likely to be a target for attacks then a bottom dweller. Again it will heavily depend on the individual aggression level of the fish you get.

And I would also agree to look into a 55 or 75 in the long run. a minimun ideally would be a 40 breeder. And thats if you're goign to house just the EBJD for life. due to their delicate nature the large water volume and lower stocking is your ideal way to go.

meticulous care and a single fish in a 30 could be happy for a long time. either add tank-mates intended before you get the EBJD or wait until you upgrade to a larger tank to add them. cichilds tend to be very territorial, particularly if the "first" inhabitants of a tank. So get the EBJD last or add them at the same time. personally when dealing with any potential "king" of a tank i like to let the tank-mates settle in so they are ready from the get-go to hold their own. Lots of hideing spots/hideing places will also go a long way when keeping potentially territorial fish together or "claimers" Sometimes simply re-arrangeing a tanks decor can break up a territorial fish. But i've found it often doesn't last long. and introducing yuor "final stock" before anyone hits puberty often ='s a happy tank.

And welcome to MFK!

 

[Bonzo]

It think it is best to purchase the EBJD when you get the big tank. With the 30 gallon you have, I personally would do a community tank with a pair of dwarf cichlids. Small fish with attitude. Most of them are also colorful too. It is also easier to select tank makes for them compare to EBJD; however, if you have your heart set on EBJD, you might want to purchase just 1 with some swordtails as tank mates. Regular water change is a must for them.

 

[Nabbig2]

Don't get an ebjd until you actually have a 55g.

 

[Stump]

It think it is best to purchase the EBJD when you get the big tank. With the 30 gallon you have, I personally would do a community tank with a pair of dwarf cichlids. Small fish with attitude. Most of them are also colorful too. It is also easier to select tank makes for them compare to EBJD; however, if you have your heart set on EBJD, you might want to purchase just 1 with some swordtails as tank mates. Regular water change is a must for them.

I agree with this.

 

[shua]

Don't get an ebjd until you actually have a 55g.

at least a 55g. they get prity good size, but good tast in fish

 

[TTTT]

Don't get an ebjd until you actually have a 55g.

x2. Make sure you actually will be able to get a larger tank, so your plans don't change. You don't want an EBJD jammed in a 30g for life.

And welcome to MFK!

 

[r0addawg]

Awesome thanks for helping me settle my mind guys! so far your the most helpful fish forum ive ever been too. Also im just new to the site. if i said i was new to tankin, sorry! ive had multiple tanks, wouldnt call myself anything more than rookie. haha. I was just looking at those senegal Bichir last night! thats awesome you said he'd do good with a ebjd. I think i will wait until i get a bigger tank for him. Hes so awesome though! how would bichir's do in a 30? theyve really caught my attention lately i unfortunetly havent done too much research on them yet. and i hate buying fish without some research. even crawfish

 

[MonsterMinis]

I suggested Sens as I have 2 of my own and they are the smallest species and also one of the cheapest ones. a hearty active species. not as colorful as some of the others but what they lack in color the make-up for with personality. atm I have my 2 in a 20gal High and have had them in it for abit over 6 monthes. depending on the dimension of the 30 I would say likely a single or pair would be fine. they appreciate a deeper/longer tank more so then a higher one. And my 2 won't take any guff from my sassy tire track eel with them. but neither do they harass the tire track.

And it would seriosuly depending on the EBJD's disposition if they will get along. a cichlid bent on "claiming a tank" will destroy anything reguardless of disposition/ect. of it's tank mates. But a sen or 2 in a 30 for awhile until you can get a 55 or 75 then putting them in the larger tank w/ a EBJD to big for them to eat could be a nice mix as long as the EBJD didn't get to dominant. personally I'de shoot for the 75 over the 55 for the extra depth. the 6" of extra floorspace will be well worth the few extra bucks from the 55 to 75 imo. the footspace of a 55 really cramps some of the larger fish's needs. The exceptions are the fish that need height more then depth such as Angel's and Discus for example but these fish also appreciate the extra horizonal space a 75 offers over the 55. And if you're not wanting to go so big as a 75 a 40breeder offers a depth/width that though loseing a few gallons is more ideal for some species like cichlids and bottom dwellers then a 55 imo/ime. As I'm sure your learning.. shoot as big as you realistically can, and try and understock the tank. I don't think your wants of an EBJD are out of your grasp, as long as your prepared to put the elbow grease into it.

and a single sen in a 30 could be for life. may be abit tight. If you go with captive bred over wild caught they max in the 10" range. my guys hit 6" pretty fast but have slowed down considerabley since hitting it.

and if you haven't.. check out the Cichlid forums, and Bichir forums towards the bottom of the main page. You'll learn alot from the stickies and paruseing the threads. You'll find the more avid hobbiest on those forums who can give more exact answers to some questions. and learn more about fish then you'de ever wanna even fathom to know