Zebrina pike cichlid compatibility question

[Lazybum34]

Hello everyone, I am looking into ordering either a solo or pair into zebrina for my 6x2x2 180g with currently has

1 tiger oscar
1 endlicheri bichir
1 senegal bichir
1 black ghost knifefish
1 pseudopimelodus bufonius

Thanks in advance.

 

[Ansorgii]

I kept them before, in my experience they get along with anything that doesn't look like another creni. Silver dollars, angelfish, datnoides, various cichlids, stingrays... all not a problem. Even fish they could easily eat they ignored.

However, if they don't like another fish, they are ruthless beasts punching way above their weightclass.

The one fish I kept they did kill was a silver arowana, they bit his fins and did the alligator role. My theory always was that due to the somewhat similiar size, colours and patterns, they thought he was another creni, as I can't really think of another explanation.

Your bichir have a similiar shape, so I don't know how they will react to them. The rest should be fine, tho they will put your Oscar in his place if he tries anything.

 

[Username6942098]

I kept them before, in my experience they get along with anything that doesn't look like another creni. Silver dollars, angelfish, datnoides, various cichlids, stingrays... all not a problem. Even fish they could easily eat they ignored.

However, if they don't like another fish, they are ruthless beasts punching way above their weightclass.

The one fish I kept they did kill was a silver arowana, they bit his fins and did the alligator role. My theory always was that due to the somewhat similiar size, colours and patterns, they thought he was another creni, as I can't really think of another explanation.

Your bichir have a similiar shape, so I don't know how they will react to them. The rest should be fine, tho they will put your Oscar in his place if he tries anything.

+1
I have seen it done on fb before but no records of long term success. I would try a single in that tank because pairs tend to be more agressive from what I have read, also make sure to have a backup tank just incase things dont go as planned.

 

[Ansorgii]

In my experience the pairs aren't more aggressive when ot comes to zebrina. They are "impossible" to bring in the mood to breed, so its likely not gonna happen. The Struggle is more about finding a good pair and keeping it.

In my last pair, the female suddenly became very aggressive to the point it bullied the much larger male to death. Aftwards I gave it away to a friend in whose tank she stired up everything. He later put it with his Alligator gars, who despite being able to eat her were bullied by her aswell.

I have no idea why she became so aggressive. I think Zebrina overall are fish for lovers who can afford them. I personally don't want them again, they are beautiful, but so are many other fish.