Tankmates for a 55 with a Senegal Birchir

[unknown_7]

I was wondering what fish will not bother him or him bother it.

 

[gheitman]

From what I have read the only fish that a bichir will not bother are those that don't fit in his mouth.

 

[Fruitbat]

Bichirs are generally not aggressive fish but they are certainly predatory. Any fish small enough to be eaten probably will be. I avoid keeping bichirs with aggressive/territorial cichlids, 'plecostomus'-type catfish, and any fish that is toothy enough to cause the bichir damage (larger bichirs, piranhas, snakeheads, wolf fish, etc.).

Currently I have bichirs of various sizes housed with appropriately-sized Synodontis cats, African Knife Fish, Bush Fish (Ctenopoma and Microctenopoma species), African Butterfly Fish, African Mud Fish, Congo Tetras, Variegated 'Sharks' and Mormyrids.

-Joe

 

[unknown_7]

Wow, probaly half those fish I don't think I have seen at my lfs. My bichir for some reason is very passive and nonpredatory, I have put feeder goldfish, feeder guppies, rosey red minnows, ghost shrimp, crickets, mealworms and other things and he ignores all of them, he might eat a stray bloodworm or some frozen shrimp from the grocery store but that is it. But I don't want to risk buying some nice fish, put them in there and he eats them or they eat him.

 

[unknown_7]

Are there any COMMON tankmates. Lol. I have been noticing mine thinks the fins of my female convicts are shrimp.

 

[Toirtis]

Depends on what is 'common' where you are. You can get away with many larger gourami species, large congo tetras, larger rainbows (bosemanni work well), severums, ....just a few that I have had success with in past years...now I prefer to keep them in biotope-type tanks, so mostly Ctenopoma, Xenomystus, and Synos with mine these days.

 

[whitetiger_CJ]

I am not familiar with availability of fish in canada, but I can think of a few fish that I carry at petsmart. bala shark, silver dollars, leopard climbing perch, larger gouramis, syno cats. knife fish, there are alot more. any larger fish that isn't really aggressive.

 

[Toirtis]

I am not familiar with availability of fish in canada,

Actually, easily as much as the US, and some you don't get....but it really depends on where in Canada Unknown_7 is....this is a pretty massive country, and some places have very little selection.

 

[unknown_7]

That was very helpful. I am considering that biotope idea that you were talking about toirtis. I think I might like that. Do you have any favorite links that talks about that, to help me with that, thanks in advance. If that plan does not go well then I think I will go with the rainbows, gouramis, severums and congos. Thanks for all your posts. Thanks.

 

[beblondie]

BICHIR BIOTOPES
African River
West and Central Africa are full of rivers. Within each of these river systems are
numerous biotopes -- this description will focus on species found in slow-moving
sections and side streams.
WATER:
pH 6.9-7.2,
3-8 dH,
temp;75-81F (24-27 C)
TANK:
The tank should be furnished with wood for hiding places, and fine gravel or sand for a substrate.
The lighting should be muted, and the water should have a slight current.
PLANTS:
Bolbitis heudelotii , Anubias, Vallisneria, Eleocharis.
FISH:
African tetras, Mormyrids, African tetras African Knifefish, African Butterfly fish,
Synodontis, Hemichromis, Pelvicachromis,

African Swamp
The waters support a variety of species and vigorous plant growth making it an ideal subject for a biotope aquarium. Reedy plants line the shores of waterways
WATER:
pH 7.2-7.8,
2-8 dH, 7
Temp:70-75F(21-24 C)
TANK:
The tank should have fine gravel, sand, or clay for a substrate.
Dense vegetation and floating plants help recreate the natural setting.
Use submerged wood to provide hiding places.
The lighting should be bright and the water should be clear.
PLANTS:
Bolbitis heudelotii, Ammannia, Marsilea, Eleocharis, Anubias, Nymphaea, Water
Lettuce
FISH:
Mormyrids, African tetras, barbs, spiny eels, Haplochromines, Tilapia, Hemichromis, Synodontis,