Possible tank mates for a severum and a birchir in a 340 litre tank.

[Butterflyfishboy]

I am considering getting a 340 litre tank with a sump filter. 4 foot wide, 2 foot tall and 18 inches deep.

I want to get some ideas of possibilities before I order it. Ideally I would like a Rotkeil severum and a senegal birchir.

With these two what other tank mates do you think would be possible? Cichlids in particular but would also like other suggestions just to get an idea or what would be possible.

 

[Death by Fish Tanks]

Go for 5'+ American Cichlids. Firemouths, Convicts, Acaras, etc.

 

[AJ356]

I am not sure of the thinking behind just one Bichir? I find them to be quite social creatures, all be it with the occasional misinderstanding at feeding time, which always seemed more by accident than intent.

I guess you are limited to a degree, with 340 litres and you could only do Senegal I think, out of the Bichirs.

To take this even one step further and I am sure you won't agree. I think Bichirs should be species only set ups. I feel they can easily miss out at feeding time unless target fed, especially with quick to react cichlids.

I would also establish your general hardness (GH) to help decide whether to go South American (soft water) or Central American (hard water).

 

[GaryE22 137]

I agree with @AJ356 . Senegal bichirs and no severum with no other fish. It seems a huge tank, but it isn't for fish that size.

A lot of people are keeping bichirs now, as they have become very popular. They are often kept badly. They'll stay alive in crowded tanks, but if you are going to keep big fish, they need big room.

 

[Butterflyfishboy]

I agree with @AJ356 . Senegal bichirs and no severum with no other fish. It seems a huge tank, but it isn't for fish that size.

A lot of people are keeping bichirs now, as they have become very popular. They are often kept badly. They'll stay alive in crowded tanks, but if you are going to keep big fish, they need big room.

I am not sure of the thinking behind just one Bichir? I find them to be quite social creatures, all be it with the occasional misinderstanding at feeding time, which always seemed more by accident than intent.

I guess you are limited to a degree, with 340 litres and you could only do Senegal I think, out of the Bichirs.

To take this even one step further and I am sure you won't agree. I think Bichirs should be species only set ups. I feel they can easily miss out at feeding time unless target fed, especially with quick to react cichlids.

I would also establish your general hardness (GH) to help decide whether to go South American (soft water) or Central American (hard water).

Thanks for your reply. No disagreeing here. I was just wanting to see if my ideas were realistic. I really want to get an idea of what I can do before I buy a tank.

If a birchir isn't an option, what would you say is good with a severum? I 100% want one of a birchir or a severum.

 

[Butterflyfishboy]

I am not sure of the thinking behind just one Bichir? I find them to be quite social creatures, all be it with the occasional misinderstanding at feeding time, which always seemed more by accident than intent.

I guess you are limited to a degree, with 340 litres and you could only do Senegal I think, out of the Bichirs.

To take this even one step further and I am sure you won't agree. I think Bichirs should be species only set ups. I feel they can easily miss out at feeding time unless target fed, especially with quick to react cichlids.

I would also establish your general hardness (GH) to help decide whether to go South American (soft water) or Central American (hard water).

Thanks for getting back to me. My 1 birchir and 1 severum

I am not sure of the thinking behind just one Bichir? I find them to be quite social creatures, all be it with the occasional misinderstanding at feeding time, which always seemed more by accident than intent.

I guess you are limited to a degree, with 340 litres and you could only do Senegal I think, out of the Bichirs.

To take this even one step further and I am sure you won't agree. I think Bichirs should be species only set ups. I feel they can easily miss out at feeding time unless target fed, especially with quick to react cichlids.

I would also establish your general hardness (GH) to help decide whether to go South American (soft water) or Central American (hard water).

Thanks for your reply. My only thinking behind 1 birchir was only my very early research that it would be ok and they are 2 of my favourite fish.

Wasn't set in stone and just wanting to check before I buy a tank to see if I need to think of other options. What bigger fish would you reccomend as a centrepiece in a 340l?


I am still undecided between bigger cichlid tank or a severum and smaller fish or just a general community

 

[AJ356]

All my fish are cichlids right now. I'm into the breeding and parental care. Central Americans, as they suit my harder tap water.

I've never been one for Severum's, not sure why. Beauty in the eye of the beholder I guess!

If I was you, I'd be tempted by 4 or 5 small Senegal Bichirs only in the 340 litre with a commitment to myself to upgrade the tank size as the Bichirs grow. What's the foot print of the tank, 4 foot in length, and the rest? They might look tiny in a 340 litre at first, but you'd be setting yourself up for success.

My Senegal bichirs were awesome, always regret moving away from them. They were so active, not just bottom dwellers as some people think. The beauty of having just them is that you can tailer their diet 100% to their needs, no compromising, that's the beauty of species only tanks.

But I suspect you are attached the Severum idea, fair enough.

Have you thought about dither fish instead of other cichlids? Certain types of tetra's for example, or things like Corydoras catfish or similar? Do you want a cichlid tank or a traditional community tank of smaller fish with one Severum on patrol? Obviously, not such small fish that the Severum dines out on them. I don't know if Severum's are happy being a lone wolf as the only one in the tank, maybe, not sure.

I'm not sure what I'd do cichlid wise with a Severum, always such a gamble with Cichlids and how they will interact with each other, unless the tank is huge. What about Rams? Or Rainbow cichlids, although they are harder water ideally? Blue Acara? I think my concern would be breeding with any multiple cichlids of the same kind, unless you have a back up plan for removing a pair and breeding them separately if they pair up in the main tank?

I'd still have a think about your water parameters. I wouldn't keep Severum's unless I had soft water, but loads of people don't seem to give a to$$ about water hardness.