Should i????!!!!

Alright so i have a huge question which i hope will spark a debate. So my tank(29 gallons) as been set up for a whole year now and i haven’t lost a single fish...hurray for me:-D and 2 weeks ago i went to the pet store to buy new plants. I originally wanted to buy new plants, a CO2 diffuser and flame tetras because i was looking for a nice colourful schooling fish to go with: 2 angelfish, 2 gold barbs, 1 redtailed black shark, 1 khuli loach, 2 Chinese algae eaters(getting rid of), a fire-mouth cichlid and 3 tiger barbs. But instead i ended up buying 6 glowlight tetras which i love! Anyways, when i was there i happened to see a tank of shrimp and of crayfish. Now most of my fish are big, semi-aggressive and get along great together, being big eaters haha. So, my original plan was to buy shrimp but after seeing their small size and the crayfish I’ve been reconsidering. I was wondering if the cray would be alright in my tank? My aquarium will be decently heavily planted and with the CO2 will hopefully grow like mad. There are many places to hide in but i don’t really want to lose any fish nor want the shrimp to be eaten. Now if neither one really works i suppose the big debate is what cool looking invert can i buy that is not as plain as snails but will survive and be peaceful.

PS: am not looking for stocking suggestions (i.e. OVERSTOCKED!!!!) please refrain....greatly appreaciated.

Thank you marcus

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Permalink Reply by Hmoobthor on August 8, 2011 at 10:42pm

shrimp will either by eaten by the other ifsh...

Crayfish will be agressive and attack your tetras and eat them possibly or even get harsse by the big fish.

Either you can go with species only tank would work great..

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Permalink Reply by Nick T. on August 9, 2011 at 1:39pm

I dont know much about shrimp but I have a blue crayfish and he doesnt mind my fish, however all the fish are larger or as big as him, one thing I noticed was that he picks on my 7 inch pleco, hes only like 3 and a half inches! How I see it is if the fish are larger than the crayfish you should be fine. when my fish swim near him he gets defensive not aggresive although my fish are more aggresive then yours(one ate a whole red tailed shark, first day for the rts too!

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Permalink Reply by zach seibel on March 1, 2013 at 7:38pm

shrimp may be ok most likely would become a snack and be careful with crayfish they loveee live plants and will totally wipe them all out. Also they will kill fish when they get larger due to aggression but if you get lucky and get a more docile one then go for it but buy tough plants. You can overstock if you nitrates and ammonia are ideal

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Piti on March 3, 2013 at 9:50pm

If you go with the crayfish make sure your tank is well covered. They will use tall plants or anything else that gets close enough to the surface as an escape ladder. Had this happen with one of mine once. Found him down the hall. As for the shrimp, they may become a snack. My tiger barbs love them.