Oddball Tank - 90usg

[shroob]

Hi there,

Very soon I will have a fully set up and cycled 90USG tank (standard dimensions 48x18x24 LWH). Up a fortnight ago, I was set on it being a cichlid breeding tank, this idea changed though when I saw a small Black ghost knife at my LFS, the way it swam just amused me for ages. So now I'm quite set on having an 'oddball' tank with a BGK (I know these can reach nearly 2ft in the wild, but in aquariums I've read from reputable sources that 10" is more likely), so just wanted to run by some stocking options with you.

My tank has plenty of deco, a huge piece of bogwood that is the centrepiece and a flat piece of slate. At the moment it has no plants, but I plan to have lots of tall vallis/amazon swords around the back and sides and clumps of java moss on the bogwood. The tank has a sand substrate.

Stocking:
1 BGK
2 Senegal polypterus
1 Ctenopoma acutirostre
6 Congo tetras

Thats my latest stocking option I have come up with, the congo tetras are a maybe. I added them as the tank seemed to me to be abit empty. As always I'm open to suggestions (on other fish and general comments) and welcome feedback.

 

[Esfa]

Hi there,

Very soon I will have a fully set up and cycled 90USG tank (standard dimensions 48x18x24 LWH). Up a fortnight ago, I was set on it being a cichlid breeding tank, this idea changed though when I saw a small Black ghost knife at my LFS, the way it swam just amused me for ages. So now I'm quite set on having an 'oddball' tank with a BGK (I know these can reach nearly 2ft in the wild, but in aquariums I've read from reputable sources that 10" is more likely), so just wanted to run by some stocking options with you.

My tank has plenty of deco, a huge piece of bogwood that is the centrepiece and a flat piece of slate. At the moment it has no plants, but I plan to have lots of tall vallis/amazon swords around the back and sides and clumps of java moss on the bogwood. The tank has a sand substrate.

Stocking:
1 BGK
2 Senegal polypterus
1 Ctenopoma acutirostre
6 Congo tetras

Thats my latest stocking option I have come up with, the congo tetras are a maybe. I added them as the tank seemed to me to be abit empty. As always I'm open to suggestions (on other fish and general comments) and welcome feedback.

sounds good to me. you coupld replace the sens with a group of 6 reedfish. its really cool how they swim.

and maybe some african butterfly fish?

use Anubias barteri, Nymphaea zenkeri, Vallisneria, and you have a nice african biotope going on.

and then stick a bit of java moss and java fern in for good measure

 

[shroob]

I was thinking of reedfish, but I never see them around here, and they are also abit too thin for my liking, though I still might get them. Could I have 1 senegal and say 5 reedfish, or would this be too much? I would like to see the group interactions, but I still have a few mixed feelings about them.

 

[Esfa]

I was thinking of reedfish, but I never see them around here, and they are also abit too thin for my liking, though I still might get them. Could I have 1 senegal and say 5 reedfish, or would this be too much? I would like to see the group interactions, but I still have a few mixed feelings about them.

yeah, you could probably have that. feed them up and they can get pretty beefy.

 

[Mr._Fishy]

I would be careful with the ctenopoma and congo tetras. I have personally had a 5 1/2" bichir eat a 2 1/2" ctenopoma and some member (I think it was DarkEntity) found his congos in the mouth of his senegal.

The reedfish and senegals should be fine. I keep one of each in my 80g. They do seem to like each other, sometimes they will sleep together and share the same hiding spot.

A properly cared for bgk can reach up to 20" in aquaria. Unfortunately, very few obtain a length greater that 12" or so, as not very many people can keep these wonderful fish alive and thriving. My bgk is 10" and still growing.

Ryan

 

[shroob]

I would be careful with the ctenopoma and congo tetras. I have personally had a 5 1/2" bichir eat a 2 1/2" ctenopoma and some member (I think it was DarkEntity) found his congos in the mouth of his senegal.

The reedfish and senegals should be fine. I keep one of each in my 80g. They do seem to like each other, sometimes they will sleep together and share the same hiding spot.

A properly cared for bgk can reach up to 20" in aquaria. Unfortunately, very few obtain a length greater that 12" or so, as not very many people can keep these wonderful fish alive and thriving. My bgk is 10" and still growing.

Ryan

Yeah, the ctenopomas cavanous mouth is quite a worry. The tanks now 100% set up, the media has been in another tank for some time now and I should be going to LFS tomorrow. I'll do a scout around and check out what fish they have got, I'll probably come back with something completely different knowing me , but if they still have the BGK and I watch the way it swims I don't see any reason why I won't get it.

EDIT: Just thought I'd ask, whats more active reedfish or senegal polypterus?

 

[DarkEntity]

I've lost a Congo Tetra to my Senegal...was rather shocking to see something that size vanish so quickly Congos were 3-4" and the Senegal was about 6" at the time if memory serves....

The Ctenopoma, get them with a baby Senegal and grow them up together, it should be fine as the Ctenopoma grow faster than the Polypterus....i wouldn't personally get 2 Senegal's, maybe one and a Palmas, Delhezi, or other upper jaw species. My Ctenopoma now sleep with my Senegal, without problem, granted my now "attempting to mate" pair are far far too large to even try to eat.

BGK....i really wouldn't put one in with the Ctenopoma's, my reasoning is that the BGK are nocturnal hunters, and ive heard them nip eyes out of fish.....the eyes on a Male Ctenopoma are huge....i was too worried about them turning into a snack.

(if required i can show you how to sex Ctenopoma, as they get older it seems to be really easy)

 

[Mr._Fishy]

I've lost a Congo Tetra to my Senegal...was rather shocking to see something that size vanish so quickly Congos were 3-4" and the Senegal was about 6" at the time if memory serves....

The Ctenopoma, get them with a baby Senegal and grow them up together, it should be fine as the Ctenopoma grow faster than the Polypterus....i wouldn't personally get 2 Senegal's, maybe one and a Palmas, Delhezi, or other upper jaw species. My Ctenopoma now sleep with my Senegal, without problem, granted my now "attempting to mate" pair are far far too large to even try to eat.

BGK....i really wouldn't put one in with the Ctenopoma's, my reasoning is that the BGK are nocturnal hunters, and ive heard them nip eyes out of fish.....the eyes on a Male Ctenopoma are huge....i was too worried about them turning into a snack.

(if required i can show you how to sex Ctenopoma, as they get older it seems to be really easy)

My bgk has nipped the eyes out of angelfish and a swordtail. I would be careful with the Ctenopoma too, but they are nocturnal too, so the risk should be smaller than with a diurnal fish.

Ryan

 

[shroob]

Definately food for thought then with the BGK. Seems I might reconsider my stocking options, but I'll probably know better when I visit the LFS (hopefully tomorrow). Sure is hard to stock a tank, too many fish that are great .

 

[dnn3]

i have a bgk and i am always amazed when i watch him swim. i've had him for a couple of months and he hasn't harmed anyone. he's still relatively small though, about 6 inches. my botia loach shares his hiding place with him.

 

[DarkEntity]

I've lost a Congo Tetra to my Senegal...was rather shocking to see something that size vanish so quickly Congos were 3-4" and the Senegal was about 6" at the time if memory serves....

The Ctenopoma, get them with a baby Senegal and grow them up together, it should be fine as the Ctenopoma grow faster than the Polypterus....i wouldn't personally get 2 Senegal's, maybe one and a Palmas, Delhezi, or other upper jaw species. My Ctenopoma now sleep with my Senegal, without problem, granted my now "attempting to mate" pair are far far too large to even try to eat.

BGK....i really wouldn't put one in with the Ctenopoma's, my reasoning is that the BGK are nocturnal hunters, and ive heard them nip eyes out of fish.....the eyes on a Male Ctenopoma are huge....i was too worried about them turning into a snack.

(if required i can show you how to sex Ctenopoma, as they get older it seems to be really easy)

My bgk has nipped the eyes out of angelfish and a swordtail. I would be careful with the Ctenopoma too, but they are nocturnal too, so the risk should be smaller than with a diurnal fish.

Ryan

my Ctenopoma are pretty much on the same clock as me, the sleep at night....so dont expect them to stay nocturnal

 

[simonas]

I've got a BGK I've had for couple of years. he was in my sons community tank for 2 thrids of that time and now he's happy in mine. Never harmed anyone and neither did the one I had many years ago in a discus tank so I'm surprised to hear they can be aggressive. I would have them down as only a night time muncher of small fish

I got three reedfish about 12 inches long and one Ornate Bichir. I love my Bichir but I rarely see him. He's the least active and visible member of my tank the reedfish however are aleways out swimming and looking great and mine are quite chunky and eat anything that is offered in the tank. Plus less potential for harm in the tank as I think Bichirs have the potential to hunt and kill fish when they can be bothered

 

[Mr._Fishy]

BGKs generally aren't very aggressive. They are predatory though. If they can't or don't want to eat it, chances are they won't bother it.

Ryan