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Whay you'd give for five minutes' access to Bill Gates' bank account eh? Then you could have the Pencils AND the Queen Arabesque.

By the way, got a pic of this Plec? And a taxonomic name (always assuming it's not an L-number of course)? Only I don't think I've seen it.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Tough question, Cory Di, but I voted more schooling fish. I'd say add to your cardinal stock.
I'd also want to note that pencilfish do tend to occupy the upper layers of the water column, and would contribute to 'filling out' your tank. I've kept them, and did not find them terribly shy.
As for the Queen Arabesque, I've never kept that specimen, so I can't comment on it. IIRC, it may grow larger than what you may want. Thus, disrupting the "continuity of size" of the tank.
For peace of mind, I'd say no more pl*cos.

Other good top-dweller choices are the hatchetfish (watch it! They can jump!) and the zebra danio (quite active and good in small schools of at least 6). Some may think the zebra danio as ho-hum, but I find it quite attractive and an inexpensive addition.

-Wayne

Good point, queens tend to be finicky and shy in new enviornments. If they're already feeding at the store (whichc they should be), I don't think there'll be a problem. Just give them whatever food they're accustomed to. I had some problems keeping tetras with queens at first, as they would actually go down to the substrate and bite off chunks of pellet. I'd maybe section off a part of the tank, and put a log or something in which to hide in. She will eventually take residence in it, and you can start feeding her there. Once she becomes accustomed to it, remove the divider. Hey, who knows--she may even come out to beg for food; mine do.

Personally, I'd build up your existing schools..

If it weren't for your cory schools and bristlenose pleco, I'd have voted for the Queen Arabesque.. However, since it's a shy pleco and you've already got alot of competition for food at the bottom of the tank, I really don't feel that a Queen would be able to compete..

I've never heard of queens being rude, except to one another. The same goes with BNs. An interesting phenomenon--only when more than one BN is in a tank will they show any hint of territorial behavior.

I thought not Nick

I just got 6 pencilfish today

><>Dani<><

70 dollars? They are $33 at my lfs, and $24.75 with my employee discount. I really like them, I'm just not sure on them yet.

I do have the chance to get beckfordi pencils, but I'll pass on them. They don't have the colors of the trifasciatus pencilfish.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I vote on the pencilfish... and you telling me whereabouts you are, so I can see if the Queen is doable for my tank. The LFS I trust the most around here is also the most expensive and the only one I've seen with Queens... and I refuse to spend 70 bucks on a fish.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Trading in my bristlenose??? Surely you jest! He's the coolest fish in my tank, and is the only sexable male BN I've come across in a store. I wouldn't give him up for any fish.

Seems to me like pencilfish will be the eventual winners. When I go back in on Friday, I'll see if they're still there.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Voted for: Pencilfish

I'd have to agree that you already have a lot of bottom feeders in your tank. True, QA plecs are quite stunning, but since it is only a 29g, another pleco will add a lot of bioload to the tank and IMO will overstock it. If you REALLY want one I'd suggest trading in your bristlenose. If it were a 55g or 75g, I'd say it would be fine. Besides, who can resist the cute little pencilfish? I'm considering getting some of my own before my angel gets too big.

HTH

><>Dani<><

Queen arabesque plecos are Hypancistrus sp. L260, as they haven't been given a true scientific name yet. For a picture, check out [link=this]http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/images/queen_arabesque1.jpeg" style="COLOR: #808080[/link] link.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

still haven't voted, but I'd be tempted to go for the Pencil Fish. Although if they're trifasciatus, they may be a bit more delicate than my beckfordi, which are tough little critters.

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Personally I don't think you need more bottomfeeders. I haven't kept pencilfish but they get my vote as something new & different for your tank.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I'm having trouble deciding what fish to finish my tank stocking with. I currently have 7 lemon tetras, 6 cardinal tetras, 4 Corydoras habrosus, 5 Corydoras septentrionalis, 1 bristlenose (Ancistrus triradiatus) in my 29 gallon, and I'm hungering for more. I was planning to get more cories, but they were bought up. There are still several attractive options left, but I need help sorting through them.

First- There are five pencilfish (Nannostomus trifasciatus) left at my work, and they are very beautiful. I love their red highlights, and I like most Characin species a lot. If these guys are surface-dwellers, they could very well become my next tank addition. None of my current fish hang out near the surface much, so a school of top-living fish would be great. However, I know that many pencilfish species are shy. Is that true with the trifasciatus pencils?

Second- A queen arabesque pleco. We have six of them at my work, and they are simply gorgeous. The problem with them is that I have read too much about Loricariid battles. I don't want my male BN to beat up on a queen arabesque, so I'm undecided here. I have plenty of 'caves' in my tank, though the BN seems to have claimed all of them. Would I be able to safely add the queen arabesque, without territory problems?

Third- Do I just leave the tank as it is, or maybe just fill out my schools/shoals a little? I am concerned about overstocking, even though I crave more fish. Plus, I don't want to add anything that would create problems with the existing fish.

I'm really torn as to what I should do, so any comments would be appreciated.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I unfortunately can't get another tank, because my folks won't allow me to at the moment.

As for adding more cories, I'm sort of iffy on that. I would love another septentrionalis or two, but the store hasn't gotten any more in two months. The habrosus cories haven't really grown on me much (surprise!), mostly because they just don't look or act like real cories to me. I don't feel like adding more of them.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I would add a Queen Arabesque.





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Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Pencilfish are a truly wonderful little fish.
I would say def. pencils.
I had some 1 lined pencils, sadly I lost them after a power outtage last year. Too Stressful on the little guys.
Wondeful personalitys. I didnt find mine shy at all, they were right at the front always watching me, and they would dance with each other in the middle of the tank in the open areas. Beautiful fish!


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I wouldn't add anymore fish if it were my tank. But then again some pencilfish would look real nice

If you really want more fish, buy another tank

I would add a few more corys to your schools, make the one with only 4, 5-6, and then maybe add the pencilfish. Since the tank is quite tall, you have more room for upper level fish, and you can definitely stock the tank more than a 20 gallon. You already have a lot of bottom dwellers so I owuldn't add anymore of them even though I agree the queens are drop dead geogous. Pencil fish shold be a nice addition to the top area of your tank. Good Luck!

You have to realize that the stocking level for a 29 gallon isn't the equivalent of a 30 gallon, it only has the surface area of about a 20 gallon.

You know I have to admit I've never understood this. A 29 gallon is 30" x 12" x 18", a standard 20 gallon (or 20 tall) is 24" x 12" x 16" and a 20 long is 30" x 12" x 12". a 29 gallon has more surface area and is just slightly taller than a 20 tall which would certainly allow for more fish, and yes a 29 does have the same surface area as a 20 long, but it's 6" taller which would provide more swimming room for upper level schooling fish. Provided you have filtration for at least a 30 gallon I think you could definitely stock more fish in a 29 than a 20 long.

by the way, I voted queen arabesque plec, but I'd also add another cory or 2 to each school if your lfs gets more in.