African cichlid tank

[swolek]

Why not pick ONE species to start that you're interested in (remembering that it must be compatible with pictus catfish) so we can help you with a stock list?

[twoisplenty]

Since your Pictus Cat fish are already present how about looking for the following compatible fish:

Congo Tetra's Congo Tetra - Phenacongrammus interrutpus You can get 4-6 of these, the males are the more colourful so I would get all males if possible :)

Black Skirt Tetra's Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi All tetras do better in groups so 6 is a nice group

Boesemani Rainbow Fish Tropical Fish for Freshwater Aquariums: Boesemani Rainbow 3-4 of these OR

Praecox Rainbow Fish Tropical Fish for Freshwater Aquariums: Praecox Rainbow 3-4 of these

[Evangeline]

Could I have one senegal bichir, one male firemouth and the two pictus catfish. Would love to have two angelfish in there but guessing they wouldnt be compatible with firemouth.

[Evangeline]

My nitrite is 0 and nitrate is now reading .5, I will have to pick all the coral out of the gravel because these fish like slightly acidic and not hard.

[twoisplenty]

How are you cycling? With your Pim cats?

Sure you could have the Birchir, the Pim cats and a firemouth cichlid. You could also add a couple Convicts too or A Red Bolivian Ram :)

[Evangeline]

Yes all I have are the two pictus catfish in there and used the folter system and gravel from an old tank. I dont think I want convicts as they breed like rabbits and can be quite aggressive. Could I pit a pair of large angelfish in there. I herd angels and bichirs are fine together or would the firemouth hurt them, if not I would be happy with just the bichir, pictus, and firemouth. The brichir is going to get big anyways. Funny question but do you have to worry about the senigel bichir biting you when cleaning out the tank., they look like they have teeth.

[Evangeline]

Ok so my water is testing good. I got one male firemouth and a senigel bichir in the 55 gallon aquarium. The tank looks so empty. I do realize the fish will grow. Is there anything else I could add. I saw severums in the pet store I loved but I read they can get 10 inches which I am guessing is to big. The male firemouth is small but seems territorial aggressive. I want to make sure whatever I get isnt small enough that it will get eaten by the senegal bichir which is 3 inches or bullied by the male firemouth. Any suggestions.

[bridget246]

Ok so my water is testing good. I got one male firemouth and a senigel bichir in the 55 gallon aquarium. The tank looks so empty. I do realize the fish will grow. Is there anything else I could add. I saw severums in the pet store I loved but I read they can get 10 inches which I am guessing is to big. The male firemouth is small but seems territorial aggressive. I want to make sure whatever I get isnt small enough that it will get eaten by the senegal bichir which is 3 inches or bullied by the male firemouth. Any suggestions.

That senegal bichir is going to get large for that 55 gallon. With larger fish like that your running yourself low on options with other fish. I have a 65 gallon with a jack dimpsey. I wanted to put in tank mates with him but I can't. Anything able to handle his size would be too large to have both of them in the same tank.

I thought this was going to be an african tank? I remember my first fish. A yellow lab(RIP late last year), firemouth(RIP), convict(RIP), common pleco(RIP this year), and a jack Dimpesy. I had all of these small fish in one 10 gallon tank because the LFS told me they only grow to the size of my tank and I took his word for it. Most of the fish lived until around 7 or 8 in separate tanks. I've learned so much since then.

Sorry I could not be of more help. I have a few other fish but my focus has always been on african cichlids(lake malawi only). I could answer tons of questions related to those.

On my 75 gallon I have 3 canister filters. Mainly because I'm lazy with changing out the filters. I change the tank once a week and the filters once every few months. My Africans love the fast lake like current we have in there mixed with the holey rock. I haven't seen a fish yet that didn't show their true colors in that tank after only a week of being there.

[Huginn]

That senegal bichir is going to get large for that 55 gallon. With larger fish like that your running yourself low on options with other fish. I have a 65 gallon with a jack dimpsey. I wanted to put in tank mates with him but I can't. Anything able to handle his size would be too large to have both of them in the same tank.

I thought this was going to be an african tank? I remember my first fish. A yellow lab(RIP late last year), firemouth(RIP), convict(RIP), common pleco(RIP this year), and a jack Dimpesy. I had all of these small fish in one 10 gallon tank because the LFS told me they only grow to the size of my tank and I took his word for it. Most of the fish lived until around 7 or 8 in separate tanks. I've learned so much since then.

Sorry I could not be of more help. I have a few other fish but my focus has always been on african cichlids(lake malawi only). I could answer tons of questions related to those.

On my 75 gallon I have 3 canister filters. Mainly because I'm lazy with changing out the filters. I change the tank once a week and the filters once every few months. My Africans love the fast lake like current we have in there mixed with the holey rock. I haven't seen a fish yet that didn't show their true colors in that tank after only a week of being there.

A senegal will not get too large for a 55gal. . . This fish only gets at MAX 12inches, a 55gal is four feet long and a foot and a half wide, giving him more than enough room to turn and swim. Further more, senegals do not not have the biomass to require a large tank, nor are they very active. They produce a small amount of waste and can be more than happy in a 55gal for life. . .

P. senegalus senegalus ('Senegal' or 'Cuiver's' bichir)- 12"

Bichirs do not need a great deal of water depth in their tanks 8 to 12 inches is actually
sufficient for any of the species.The minimum tank size for a single small species of
bichir is a tank with a footprint of 36''x12''x16'' your standard 30 gallon tank

Polypterids an introduction and primer 3.0

Sens are the smallest of all polys and the author of this sticky actually breeds them and has been keeping them for many years. Maybe you are thinking of P. delhezi? They only get a few inches bigger, but are much girthier and would do better in a 75gal with more width.

[Evangeline]

I went to the pet store with the list of african cichlids and the guy told me he didnt recommend africans because they are so agressive and can fight and kill each other which I guess is true your always taking a chance so I looked around and found a baby senigel which I absolutelly love and a small firemouth. I already did my research before buying these two and it says senigels can get to 12 inches but most dont grow past 10 inches. I will just stick with the pictus and other two fish then. They will all reach a good size eventually. Right now it looks like a empty tank.