75g Tank, Bichirs, and Other Fish

[lord_sunshine]

Hello, I have a new 75g tank and just finished a fish less water cycle and things are ready to roll. My thing is, I am wanting to do 2 bichirs (Ornatipinnis and probably Delhezi) along with some other fish. The only thing is, the fish store people are telling me that I can only so 2 more fish with those bichirs. I know that I'll need a pleco and I don;t really want to have just one random fish in there. So with those two bichirs, what do guys think I do as far as tankmates (how many more than what species). I would like to have a Black Ghost Knife in there also.

 

[Zimmanski]

Hello, I have a new 75g tank and just finished a fish less water cycle and things are ready to roll. My thing is, I am wanting to do 2 bichirs (Ornatipinnis and probably Delhezi) along with some other fish. The only thing is, the fish store people are telling me that I can only so 2 more fish with those bichirs. I know that I'll need a pleco and I don;t really want to have just one random fish in there. So with those two bichirs, what do guys think I do as far as tankmates (how many more than what species). I would like to have a Black Ghost Knife in there also.

I don't know much about bichirs so I hope someone else chimes in on them. One thing though, you don't NEED a pleco, unless you WANT a pleco, and bgks get too big for a 75 gallon tank.

 

[lord_sunshine]

Man really? I didn't think that they got that big.

 

[Zimmanski]

Man really? I didn't think that they got that big.

The do get very long, and are more ridged than most fish so they need turn around room, I think the general thought on this forum is 125+. Too bad, I love those guys haha. Of course you can do whatever you want, just wanted to let ya know to look up their requirements

 

[lord_sunshine]

So as far as numbers. What sayeth the general public?

 

[GodFan]

Man really? I didn't think that they got that big.

Look up a african brown knife. Much smaller but still extremely cool!

 

[Samfred0205]

I love bichirs very interesting and there is many species make sure to check them all out before you make a decision

 

[GodFan]

I love bichirs very interesting and there is many species make sure to check them all out before you make a decision

Me too just dont have the right size tank lol

 

[Samfred0205]

Same maybe one day

 

[lord_sunshine]

Yeah, I've been doing research for months now. Lol What about 1 bichir, 1 Ghost Knife, and some other fish?

 

[GodFan]

Yeah, I've been doing research for months now. Lol What about 1 bichir, 1 Ghost Knife, and some other fish?

Ghost knife is too big for that tank

 

[Samfred0205]

I think you would be fine adding more fish with the two bichirs than two depends on what you want to adf

 

[lord_sunshine]

Well I was thinking severums and South American cichlids.

 

[Samfred0205]

Really depends on the species but I would say with the two bichirs you could get at least 6-8 medium cichlids in there

 

[Cynic]

Just echoing the no to the ghostknife replies

 

[Myfisheatsyours]

Honestly I'd do those 2 and multiple Senegal bichirs. I have an ornate with 3 senegals and it's a very entertaining tank right now. The ornate tends to hide unless he's hungry but the senegals are always very active. I have them in a 75 gallon currently. The ornate will reach over 2 ft eventually so a larger tank will be required in a year or 2. def stick to the bichirs, you won't have to worry about ich as they can't get it.

 

[lord_sunshine]

Cool cool. Thanks for the help guys.

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

Honestly I'd do those 2 and multiple Senegal bichirs. I have an ornate with 3 senegals and it's a very entertaining tank right now. The ornate tends to hide unless he's hungry but the senegals are always very active. I have them in a 75 gallon currently. The ornate will reach over 2 ft eventually so a larger tank will be required in a year or 2. def stick to the bichirs, you won't have to worry about ich as they can't get it.

quick note on this, Bichir are not immune to ich but they do have a great resistance to it.

i have one senegal(sp) in my 125 and i think he's one of the best fish i have, but the senegal will reach anywhere between 9"-12" so be prepared... also i've noticed mine(probably like most of them) has a lower jaw that can stretch/expand so just be careful of how small the other fish are once yours starts to grow

 

[lord_sunshine]

Yeah, I'm trying to think ahead of the game. I'm just going to do one red spotted gold severum and a Geophagus Surinamensis. I think that'll probably be all I'll have room for.

 

[apet66]

Watching your progress as I have from the beginning.