Stocking Around An African Butterfly Fish

[Pixietina]

its a 2.5ft tank (i always pic the strange length ones )
but its 19inces tall,
i have the african butterfly fish for a week but only now has he decided that guppies are a good meal... so ive moved the guppies.
but now i have a nice tank with 1 fish that i have no idea what to put with it.
id like a nice display fish and maybe a few swariming kind?
help!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

First off, did you know that ABF are semi-social? I reckon you could easily house four in that tank, 1 male and 3 females (females have straight anal fin rear edge, males have a "kink" like a racing track chicane). They will really appreciate a good covering of a floating plant on the water surface and a tall (possibly fake) plant or two that goes beyond the water level.

I reckon you should continue the African theme with...

• 6-10 Congo Tetras (or perhaps Yellowtails, although I've been experiencing fatal injuries through their jousting behaviour), or "Debauwi" Catfish (often missold P. buffei, but all are mid-water schoolers)
• One or a trio (not two) Congo Bushfish (Microctenopoma congicum), or Ornate Bushfish (Microctenopoma ansorgii)
• ~6 Uside Down Catfish, Synodontis nigriventris

 

[Pixietina]

yay there are actually species i can keep with the monster thankyou xxx

 

[karin]

I think it is way to small a tank for congo tetras. These are fast swimming fish and need some room. Also my males are 3.5 inches in lenth, 10 of these would be cramped.

I had an African butterfly with gourami and angel fish also bottom half dwellers like corys, rams and other small apisto cichlids.

 

[Channti]

I'm housing 2 African Butterfly fish in my 46 gallon (36" long, 20" high, 16.25 wide) along with.../

4 Yoyo Loach (soon to be 6)
11 Serpae Tetra
1 Angel Fish

...And eventually will add
8-10 Emperor Tetra.

African Butterflyfish will only eat fish that will fit into their mouths. Therefore, deeper-bodied tetras are a generally a good tank-mate.

I have also kept Cories with these guys, but my Cories and Serpaes did not get along.