African Butterfly Fish Compatibility

[dtsw1106]

My friend recently left the fishkeeping hobby and gave me his 33usg tank for free
I've always wanted to keep ABF's, but have never had the opportunity.
I'm looking to start a tank with ABF's, but have come to a roadblock with stocking.

My initial thoughts on stocking:

2 African butterfly fish
10 Sterbai Corydoras

But after some research, I've seen a lot of people disagreeing with keeping corydoras with ABF's. I'm kinda stumped on what I can keep with them now since a 33usg isn't exactly big enough for some of the other recommended fish (eg. Congo tetras, African ghost knives, African leopard bush fish etc.)

What do you think I would be able to keep with them?
This tank will probably be heavily planted with some floating plants as well as a tight fitting lid.

 

[jkarlson]

I believe you can house a single Leopard Bushfish in a 33, just give it plenty places to hide.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

As I wrote in a similar thread today, I think I combined my two ABF with 10 Corydoras sterbai last summer without issue, to make things as safe as possible I would suggest you buy the often small catfish first and let grow in length and girth before adding the young ABF.

I definitely combined my sterbai with my four Leopard Bushfish last summer without issue in my Rio240, having let the catfish grow for ~4 months in my 620T. While a 33 USg could not hold four bushfish, it could house one.

Alternatively (to a Leopard Bushfish), you could do 6-8 Upside Down Catfish. Or if you wanted something active in the daytime, choose 6 deep bodied midwater fish that aresedate swimmers and not too boisterous at feeding time (eg. X-Ray Tetra or if you can find some, Yellow Tail Congo Tetra)

 

[dtsw1106]

Thanks for the advice!

How does 2 African butterfly fish + 1 leopard bush fish sound in the 33usg then?

I didnt think 33usg would be enough for the leopard bush fish, I read they get up to 8" o.o

 

[Llegmore]

As the owner of the similar thread, I say listen to the Goat. He's the expert.

Congrats on ure tank. Should be fun.

 

[dtsw1106]

I'm just a tad confused as most places I've looked says leopard bush fish needs a minimum of 50usg cause they get quite big. You think a 33usg would be enough though?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Both ABF and Leopard Bushfish are very sedate fish for their size, which makes their space requirement far lower than many would expect, the complete opposite of hyperactive fish like Leopard/Zebra Danios.

As for adult size, Leopard Bushfish do well to reach ~14cm in captivity, but in the wild they reach ~20cm.

Something that dawned on me overnight is that although I mixed my bushfish with Corydoras sterbai last summer, my bushfish were smaller (~8-11cm) back then. I saw the biggest one, now a little longer "yawn" yesterday and his extendable mouth aopened up to reveal a cavity which I swear was the same girth as my middle finger (somewhere ~1.5cm) which is not far off the girth I remember my C. sterbai being before I sold then and the Brochis splendens to the same buyer... I'm not sure if I would risk it now, I would be far happier with a small group of 6-8 Synodontis nigriventris instead that get quite bulky for their size and they are a tried and tested classic addition to an African oddball tank stocking like this.

 

[dtsw1106]

Also a quick question about the ABF.
Do you think they'd jump out if I dont use a canopy?
I like open top tanks a lot and I've been wondering.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Also a quick question about the ABF.
Do you think they'd jump out if I dont use a canopy?
I like open top tanks a lot and I've been wondering.

In the wild, ABF are know to jump upto 3-foot out of the water to catch flying insects, so I'll let you decide the answer to that in the next 3 nanoseconds.

I think it was earlier this year, possibly the end of last, I left the front lid flap of my Rio240 open while I popped back to the bathroom to get some more water for their tank. On my way back which the buckets, I hear a "thunk" and came back into the back room to find an ABF sitting the right way up on the wooden floor, must have been startled by a tankmate and glided (I hope) 4 foot down to floor level!

 

[Peter C]

Just a bit of advice, my mate bought some African butterfly fish in my local fish store labelled as friendly passive fish

Within a week they attacked and ate every other fish in his tank, even fish that was bigger than them

The pet store (after being complained to) replaced his fish and relabeled the ABF in every store nationwide as an aggressive fish

 

[dtsw1106]

Oh dang, I read that they jump, but I'd might try risking it.. Now that you tell me that, I might try to get a new canopy as the one on the tank is pretty old.

And yes peter, I'm well aware that they'll eat anything small enough to fit in their deceptively small mouths. They're also really pretty fish that I'm willing to build a tank around their needs.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

A good fitting condensation tray would suffice if you did not want the expense of a proper lid, weighed down by something that will provide enough resistance to stop a fish pushing the tray out of the way during their leap of death attempt. Please do not risk having nothing, it will end in tears.

 

[dtsw1106]

Reading back at my last post I'm kinda confusing myself.
I was under the impression that I completely agreed with you about the covered tank, but reading back it sounds like the contrary.
I apologise for this confusion. I already have decided to put a cover on the tank; the only thing open for discussion is whether or not I should get a wire top or a full canopy.

I blame insomnia for this misunderstanding.

Cheers