Bottom feeding tankmates?

[Synirr]

I'm moving my baby bichir and his oscar buddy into a bigger tank next week, and I as thinking of what I should get in the way of a bottom feeder... It would just seem wrong to have a bottom feeder-less tank. Any suggestions? I rather like the look of weather loaches, if they would be ok...

 

[Paul_MTS]

either i'ved got missed up but.....

I'm pretty sure there coldwater and beingonly small critters would certainly make a tasty snack for the other fish.

 

[JapaneseShiba]

I own an albino (not true albino) young oscar, and he gets along GREAT with my 3 tiger barbs! They all actually eat together and swim in a little group! You can look into that is you bottom feeders don't work out...

But when I first purchased my oscar, he was put in a 20 gallon with a pleco. and 3 dojos (weather loaches), and they all got along great also!

I have never had a Bichir (but looking into getting one!), but I heard that they get along fine with weather loaches, even though they may nip at the loaches occasionaly because they are both bottom.

You can go to a tropical fish store and ask about if it would be safe, but I think it would be fine, just as long as the other fish are bigger than the Bichir's and Oscar's mouths!

Just make sure you keep a close eye on the tank for the first week! If everything goes fine for the first week, than it should be alright.

 

[ryan]

either i'ved got missed up but.....

I'm pretty sure there coldwater and beingonly small critters would certainly make a tasty snack for the other fish.

Weather Loaches can live in temperatures ranging from 40-77 F (4-25 C). I have kept that in coldwater and in lower tropical temperatures with equal success. However, as paul says they would end up as snacks for either the Oscar or Bichir.

 

[Synirr]

I've been told by several sources about algae eaters living with oscars by simply avoiding detection, which is why I mentioned the weather loach. I just think they look cool, and was hoping that maybe they could work out... I've also heard that some weather loaches can get up to 12" long... which would be an ok size, if I could find one like that, I think. I won't chance it, though, if you guys say it's not going to work.
From what I've heard, it's not a good idea to put plecs in with bichirs...

 

[Dwarfs]

either I've got missed up but.....

I'm pretty sure there coldwater and being only small critters would certainly make a tasty snack for the other fish.

Weather Loaches can live in temperatures ranging from 40-77 F (4-25 C). I have kept that in coldwater and in lower tropical temperatures with equal success. However, as paul says they would end up as snacks for either the Oscar or Bichir.

Bichirs aren't picky, and a big one would chow down on a loach, one of my senegals bit my finger yesterday, I'm lucky he's only 3 inches long

*An oscar would DEFINITELY eat a weather loach, my mogurnda gudgeon ate a part of a 5 inch horseface loach (same size as him), so there is no doubt a large oscar would do the same to a weather loach *

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Synirr

Weather loaches might not be a good idea with your fish, but if you ever have room for them in a tank with more peaceful fish, you will love them. Here are a couple of old TFF threads about them that you might find interesting:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...l=weather+loach

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...l=weather+loach

I hope you enjoy reading them.

 

[Synirr]

Oh well, no weather loach, then. Any other suggestions?

 

[Cody]

I've been told by several sources about algae eaters living with oscars by simply avoiding detection, which is why I mentioned the weather loach. I just think they look cool, and was hoping that maybe they could work out... I've also heard that some weather loaches can get up to 12" long... which would be an ok size, if I could find one like that, I think. I won't chance it, though, if you guys say it's not going to work.
From what I've heard, it's not a good idea to put plecs in with bichirs...

my bichir hangs out with my plec and also my bichir swim to me everytime i come by, he then hits the glass and sinks. its funny. Hmmmm i would say get another bichir there fun!

 

[Dwarfs]

What size tank? Large clown loaches might work, but you'd have to buy big ones

 

[Synirr]

What size tank? Large clown loaches might work, but you'd have to buy big ones

I wouldn't necessarily have to buy big ones... neither my bichir nor my oscar are over 4 inches long yet!
Tank is a 29 gallon, but I'll upgrade when the fish get bigger.

 

[Cody]

hmmm then buy sum babies! well may b just small ones