90gal Oddball Centred On Bichirs.

[kniesh]

Ok so I have been keeping smallish community fish for a while now and did venture into larger Cichlids, Jewels and what have you. Now though I have fallen in love with Bichirs. they just look great and I know my tank isn't massive but I wouldn't mind some sort of oddball tank built around them now (with ur help obviously).

The 3 Bichirs I have seen so far are- Senegal, Ornate and Armoured. I wouldnt mind more than one kind if at all possible. I will try buying them at the same small size so I can watch them grow. I will also be adding 3 Peacock Eels and possibly a Blood Parrot, although he seems happy enough where he is. The rest is open to debate but I have a list of possibles so far, some opinions would be welcome.

Ornate Bichir
Senegal Bichir
Armoured Bichir
Black Ghost Knife/Elephant Nose
Ornate Pim (Pimelodus ornatus)
Pictus Cat
Shovelnose Cat (Sorubim lima)
White Line Pimelodes

Obviously any other suggestions to that list very welcome.

That is a list I have made up so far but obviously not totally sure on which combo would be best or doable. Obviously with tank size I dont think all of these are an option but a few should be ok so some suggestions would be very welcome.

Just got to find an LFS that will take the 30 odd fish in there now before I can start to stock it, cant wait.

Sorry, tank dimensions are ---48"x24"x18"

 

[beblondie]

Your choice of bichirs
P.p.polli
P.palmas palmas
P. palmas buettikoferi
P.senegalus (senegal bichir)
P.delhezi (armoured bichir)
the above generaly stay about 12''-14'' total length

your tank isn't big enough for an ornate bichir which grows 18-24 inches
blackghost knife fish reach 18+ inches
I'm not sure how big the others get but you really need to research the adult sizes-Anne

 

[Esfa]

The BGK will get too big for your tank, along with the ornate as said above

I would suggest two of the smaller birchers, a syno and a few ropefish.

Might not be right with these, though.

 

[kniesh]

Thx for ur reply. I did research all the adult sizes and have them here. I included the ornate and BGK because it actually lists a 75gal as the minimum for one in the profile on here. I figured the tank wasn't really ideal for the Ornate especially my question is more about the compatability of different Bichirs really, i.e. could the rest you listede live happily together or is there going to be some kind of aggression on the larger armoured, towards say the Senegal or marbled? Also I was after a few suggestions for tank mates which people might suggest or have experience with. I was actually slightly worried about a Bichir in with my Peacock Eels tbh as they are long and thin. Do you think they would be ok? Thx.

 

[kniesh]

I have been looking at Ropefish and I dont think these are going to be different enough from my eels tbh. They would probably be a better alternative if I didn't have the Eels already as I very rarely see them and they are very hard work to make sure the are eating.


Oh and what do you guys think about the Shovelnose? I would really love one of these but they seem to be impossible to get hold of. I asked about one in one of my LFSs and he started talking about the false one I think. They are the mssive ones right? I have travelled out to Pier Aquatics in Wigan which is meant t be great for catfish but didnt even see any there.

Saying that it will probably be about £200 once I do find one.

 

[Esfa]

how big are your eels? I think they will be alright if you have lots of hiding places where the Birchers cannot reach them


and there are always shovelnoses in my LFS, for about £40 i think lol

my LFS is amazing.

 

[Maximus]

how big are your eels? I think they will be alright if you have lots of hiding places where the Birchers cannot reach them


and there are always shovelnoses in my LFS, for about £40 i think lol

my LFS is amazing.

What LFS is this then?

 

[Esfa]

how big are your eels? I think they will be alright if you have lots of hiding places where the Birchers cannot reach them


and there are always shovelnoses in my LFS, for about £40 i think lol

my LFS is amazing.

What LFS is this then?

Porton Pet and Aquatic center near salisbury :

i would say:

Ornate Bichir
Senegal Bichir
Armoured Bichir
Ornate Pim
Pictus Cat
White Line Pimelodes

and your tank should be about full.

 

[Maximus]

how big are your eels? I think they will be alright if you have lots of hiding places where the Birchers cannot reach them


and there are always shovelnoses in my LFS, for about £40 i think lol

my LFS is amazing.

What LFS is this then?

Porton Pet and Aquatic center near salisbury :

i would say:

Ornate Bichir
Senegal Bichir
Armoured Bichir
Ornate Pim
Pictus Cat
White Line Pimelodes

and your tank should be about full.

LMAO.....I work there!

What are the chances?!

 

[kniesh]

You dont deliver to Liverpool by any chance do you Maximus

 

[Maximus]

You dont deliver to Liverpool by any chance do you Maximus

I'm affraid not

 

[matt295]

what a coincidence lol

 

[Maximus]

Esfa - Sorry, I forgot to thank you for the complement

 

[kniesh]

ok, I think I am gonna get rid of the current occupants on Friday so I will be looking for the newbies from then on. I have now got definates in;

Senegal Bichir
Marbled Bichir
3x Peacock Eels ( I am presuming these are ok with Bichirs)
Adonis Plec (Got a lot of growing up to do before he goes in)

I was looking at some sort of Dat aswell but I am thinking the tank may not be large enough, is this the cse? If so I need some sort of middle/top dweller now to fill the gaps. Anyone have any other ideas that would be avilable to me in the UK? Or suggst a species of Dat that may be suitable. I would love one of these.

 

[mark7616]

how big are your eels? I think they will be alright if you have lots of hiding places where the Birchers cannot reach them


and there are always shovelnoses in my LFS, for about £40 i think lol

my LFS is amazing.

Thats bloody expensive I paid £16.50 for a 4-5" one and wildwoods sell them for £20 and wildwoods is a rip off for there livestock.