Leopard Bushfish

[jkarlson]

I have a 55 Gallon: 4' long X 13" wide X 2' Tall. Moderate/Heavy Planting, Multiple Hiding Spots.

I've had this tank up and running. I've been interested in trying to breed them(yes, i've heard its incredibly difficult) and was wondering how many my tank would comfortably hold. I've read articles they're incredibly intolerant of their own kind, and some that say that they interact well with each other. I currently have a 2.5"-3" Leopard Cte. living in there that has been in there since Day 1. He's very active and social and doesn't bother anyone except when the Rosy Barb(also been in there since Day 1) interrupts him hunting. I stock the tank with around 15 Ghost Shrimp weekly and he eats a majority of them(I actually never find any when I re-stock, but they're notoriously good hiders). I added a new Leopard Cte. 3 days ago that is around .5" long. I monitored them together them constantly while I was around and the young one just hid all day. The larger one was mostly out and about. The small one stayed hidden for 2 days until today when I woke up to him swimming around the tank in the open and around plants. Since then I've actually seen them swim side by side for a short distance, and the larger one doesn't seem to mind the young ones company. So assuming I've gotten lucky and got mellow ones or they actually are a semi-peaceful species, how many Leopard Bushfish can I keep in my tank?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I had my four "teenagers" (~8-12cm) in my Rio240 without any issues at all last summer and would be happy to consider them in my 48x12x15 during a fish juggle. Three of them have grown up together over the last two years from being the size of a 50p coin, the fourth was bought seperately 18 months ago and because he was so much bigger, there were no territorial battles and he was instantly accepted as their new alpha bushfish.

Like a few species, I'd say two is a bad number, it opens up bad odds of bullying. But depending upon what else you have planned for this tank, I'd say upto six is very doable, with a densely scaped aquarium using loads of bogwood and bushy plants.

 

[jkarlson]

I had my four "teenagers" (~8-12cm) in my Rio240 without any issues at all last summer and would be happy to consider them in my 48x12x15 during a fish juggle. Three of them have grown up together over the last two years from being the size of a 50p coin, the fourth was bought seperately 18 months ago and because he was so much bigger, there were no territorial battles and he was instantly accepted as their new alpha bushfish.

Like a few species, I'd say two is a bad number, it opens up bad odds of bullying. But depending upon what else you have planned for this tank, I'd say upto six is very doable, with a densely scaped aquarium using loads of bogwood and bushy plants.

Since the new guy is doing so well, and there seems to be no problems so far, I may try to add 1 or 2 in the near future, if my stocking space allows.