new fish for tank

Question
Hello.

I have a 29 gallon tank with 2 lepoard danios, 2 zebra danios, 6 cardinal tetras, 3 neon tetras, 1 diamond tetra, 3 glowlight tetras, 1 peppered cory catfish, 1 pleco, and 1 yoyo loach.  (a total of 20 fish.)

I am looking for a "star" for my tank, therefore, I would like to get a non schooling fish that would not harrass its fellow tankmates.  I have already tried a dwarf gourami, but they seem to get ick very quickly.  I have also tried a guppy, but is there anything else other than those 2 I could try?

Thanks a bunch!

Quin

Answer
Hi Quin;

Actually your tank is pretty well-stocked. A 29 gallon can handle safely up to about 30 inches of fish. If none of your  fish were over an inch as adults you could could count each as "one". But, you have to calculate population based on the future adult size of your fish. As you can see below your fish all get larger than that. My calculations put your fish population as anywhere from about 40 to 50 inches. That's quite a bit for a 29. It may be why anything else you add gets sick or doesn't survive. Your tank is just maxed out.

Leopard danios - 2.4 inches each
Zebra Danios - 2.4 inches each
Cardinal Tetras - 2 inches each
Diamond Tetras - 2.4 inches each
Glowlight Tetras - 2 inches each
Peppered Cory Cat - 2.8 inches each
Plecostomus - 4 to 12 inches each, depending on variety
YoYo Loach - 4.3 inches each

All that said, if you really want to try one more fish and you will be changing 25% of your tank water at least once a week and vacuuming the gravel....now promise me you will do that *wink*...you could try a fish that likes to be alone and are compatible with yours;

Male Betta (Yes they can live in community tanks, but it's am individual thing. Some are too shy)

African Butterfly - http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/488.htm

A Dwarf Cichlid such as the following;

Cockatoo -

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/438.htm

Panda -

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/440.htm

Keyhole -

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/181.htm

Do your research beyond what I am recommending. All the above dwarf cichlids will need plenty of hiding places to dive into when they are feeling shy. A betta or a butterfly will need floating plants to feel comfy. Butterfly fish may need to eat live baby crickets at first until he gets used to you and your tank. Keep all these things in mind as you choose your fish. And.....don't forget those water changes! Your tank is headed for serious disaster as those guys all grow if you don't watch it.

Have fun!

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins