Does The Sound Good?

[smack_13]

hi everybody

i was wondering if the was a good list for a 55 gallon tank that i am thinking about getting

1 brown african knife fish
2 african butterfly fish
1 or 2 Leopard Ctenopoma (maybe)


please let me know if you guys have and comments or suggestions

P.S. first post!!!

 

[jayjay]

Yeah sounds good to me, I like congo river biotypes maybe a shoal of congo tetra? USD cats maybe? Senegal bichir? Just a few suggestions.

 

[smack_13]

I like the idea of the Senegal bichir and the tetras but if i add those to my list will that be too much?

 

[CAC]

I think that haveing 2 12" fish in there may be abit much, be you could probably have that list, and some congo tetras too IMO...
The Ctenopoma arent very aggressive, the brown knife will be hiding quite alot, and the ABFs will be on the surrface, so there wont be much going on in the main part of the tank, so im sure you could have some things going on in the middle section...maybe a senegal would work???

Mikey

 

[ringham]

IMO you have defo enough room in your tank.

 

[jayjay]

Tis what I would do -

1 senegal bichir
1 african knife
1 ABF
8 congo tetra
1 Ctenopoma (are generally shy)
5 USD catfish

That is if you have good filteration.

It not's overstocked IMO, though it would need good filteration.

 

[smack_13]

I think that haveing 2 12" fish in there may be abit much, be you could probably have that list, and some congo tetras too IMO...
The Ctenopoma arent very aggressive, the brown knife will be hiding quite alot, and the ABFs will be on the surrface, so there wont be much going on in the main part of the tank, so im sure you could have some things going on in the middle section...maybe a senegal would work???

Mikey

actually i would only have one 12 inch fish because the brown knife only gets to about 8 inches in captivity or atleast thats what it said when i researched them.

for filtration i was looking at this filterthe freshwater one with a heater and mabye this one too. i would get the 300 would that be enough?

 

[jayjay]

Yeah those filters will do well, get the biggest you can

 

[smack_13]

UPDATE: i have decided to go with a 75 gallon which i will get some time next month but i wont be able to set up for a month or two due to home work and a low budget . so should i stay with the list i have or could i add more?
this is my list so far

1 brown knife
2Ctenopoma
2ABF
1 senegal bichir
8 congo tetra

Tis what I would do -

1 senegal bichir
1 african knife
1 ABF
8 congo tetra
1 Ctenopoma (are generally shy)
5 USD catfish

That is if you have good filteration.

It not's overstocked IMO, though it would need good filteration.

please excuse my stupidity but what are USD cats?

 

[jayjay]

USD cats = upside down catfish

Also I was talking to someone about there ABF's and every time they get groups they end up with one. So I don't know if this is true but he believes one per tank.

With a 75g i'd try -

1 senegal bichir (maybe 2)
1 african knife
1 ABF
12 congo tetra
2 Ctenopoma
5 USD catfish

I think that would be a good tank, get some good filteration, bogwood, sand substrate, tiger lotus', abunias nana etc.

 

[rob newland]

With a 75g i'd try -

1 senegal bichir (maybe 2)
1 african knife
1 ABF
12 congo tetra
2 Ctenopoma
5 USD catfish

Hmmm sounds good to me .
Just try and get your Ctenopoma as big as possible otherwise they could become food for some of the larger fish in there. Also for Ctenopoma you need a densely planted tank as they are ambush predators so they will hid away in dark places looking for food to swim past (similar to my leaf fish - I am guessing they are from the same family as they seem to be very similar in looks and characteristics). Your USD cats will benefit from these plants, especially if you get broad leafed ones as mine like to rest upside down underneath them. As for the knife provide plenty of caves as it is a very shy fish (mine is gradually becoming more confident and will come out more, although all it seems to eat is the algae wafers i put in twice weekly).
Good luck and be sure to post pics when you're done .
Rob

 

[ringham]

In terms of filtration, the Eheim Pro 2 is a fantastic filter and I highly recommend it.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

i'd be careful about getting 5 UDC (Upside-Down Catfish). that's a general common name applicable to several species--some of which get quite large.

 

[jayjay]

I mean synodontis nigriventirs, when I say USD cats.

 

[smack_13]

Hmmm sounds good to me .
Just try and get your Ctenopoma as big as possible otherwise they could become food for some of the larger fish in there. Also for Ctenopoma you need a densely planted tank as they are ambush predators so they will hid away in dark places looking for food to swim past (similar to my leaf fish - I am guessing they are from the same family as they seem to be very similar in looks and characteristics). Your USD cats will benefit from these plants, especially if you get broad leafed ones as mine like to rest upside down underneath them. As for the knife provide plenty of caves as it is a very shy fish (mine is gradually becoming more confident and will come out more, although all it seems to eat is the algae wafers i put in twice weekly).
Good luck and be sure to post pics when you're done .
Rob

so will the Ctenopoma always stay hidden or will he come out more once he gets used to the tank? also instead of the usds could a couple of cories go in the tank?