Bichir

[halfbloodprincess]

I was just wondering what would be compatible with a Senegal Bichir? Would it be OK by any chance with this:
1 yoyo loach
2 corydoras
1 platy
1 clown pleco

 

[cheesy feet]

Would probably try and eat your smaller fish (platy's etc..)

 

[geo7x]

I certainly wouldn't risk it.

Click here to see their capabilities. The senegal on that thread is now mine and I know I certainly wouldn't put platies or cories (or yoyo loaches even though off the top of my head I'm not sure what they are but I doubt they get past 3") in a tank with him.

 

[halfbloodprincess]

Is there anything on that list that would be ok? I figured the platy wouldn't work.

 

[cheesy feet]

Not 100%, clown plecs are still small.

 

[halfbloodprincess]

I certainly wouldn't risk it.

Click here to see their capabilities. The senegal on that thread is now mine and I know I certainly wouldn't put platies or cories (or yoyo loaches even though off the top of my head I'm not sure what they are but I doubt they get past 3") in a tank with him.

I just read the post you gave the link for and I think I wouldn't chance any of the fish on my list. What is compatible with it in a 30 gal. tank? Wouldn't the fish have to be pretty large?

 

[halfbloodprincess]

So what fish can go with a Senegal Bichir in a 30 gallon tank?

 

[cheesy feet]

Fish which are bigger than its mouth.

 

[andyourblueblood]

a sen. will initially out grow a 30g tank. other wise i would say med. sized catfish, like pictus' four lined, ect. smaller cichlids like festivum. i have done many combinations. just be sure the other fish can't be easily swallowed and will grow just as fast as the polypterus.

 

[Mr._Fishy]

And also make sure your senegal will be able to get to the food before it is eaten by all the other fish. Clown pleco and yo yo loach should be fine, platy and cories, definitely a no no.

 

[Straydum]

keep in mind that the "fitting into the mouth" view is just to make sure the fish doesnt get eaten whole. it doesnt mean that your bichir would leave it alone and not attempt a bite out of it.

 

[geo7x]

a sen. will initially out grow a 30g tank. other wise i would say med. sized catfish, like pictus' four lined, ect. smaller cichlids like festivum. i have done many combinations. just be sure the other fish can't be easily swallowed and will grow just as fast as the polypterus.

IMO a 30g is fine for life. Senegals bichirs rarely exceed 10" in captivity, 12" being an absolute maximum.

With Senegal tankmates the depth of the fish is, in some cases, more important than length. A 3" danio (like the one in the picture) would be risking it, but a 3" angel fish (for example, there are plenty of other deep bodied fish at that size) that has a body as deep as its length, would be fine.

Torpedo shaped fish are best avoided unless they are longer than half the length of the sengal.

 

[DarkEntity]

I can say a big no no to Cory's, i had some of the largest Albino Cory's ive seen and when my Senegal realised she couldn't fit the whole thing in at once, she decided to de fin the fish first then have a go

Then came the "oi you haven't fed me for 3 days" so here look at this as she grabbed a 4" Congo Tetra by the tail and swam about with it, flailing from her mouth...oh and the Senegal in question is only about 7"

So what fish can live with a Polypterus....anything fast enough not to get caught and large enough and strong enough not to get de finned and eaten, mine seems to love my Ctenopoma's they all sleep together, its rather lovely