180 Stocking question

[Manning99]

Been using the forum for a while but only just made an account, have a standard 180 planted with driftwood, rocks and pvc that I wanted to add a belly crawler or other pike to but with the varying information online wasn't sure if any would work with me stocklist. Cheers
Permanent:
1x Senegal bichir
1x Delhezi bichir
1x Ropefish (only had 1 available and he chills with the other polys anyway)
1x Black spotted eel
1x leopard ctenopoma
1x BGK

Unsure:
5x Angelfish
Currently in the tank but since my del has been chasing them about abit lately I would return them to my LFS if the situation gets any worse

Wanted:
Some small belly crawler or pike cichlid
2x African butterfly fish

Open to any opinions on current or planned stock, Cheers.

 

[Damascus]

Your bichir (delhezi) is gonna get big. Your African butterfly fish are automatically out. They will just be an expensive poly meal. Same thing with a small 5" pike is that sooner or later your delhezi will get big enough to eat him.

 

[Manning99]

Yeah was under the impression the ABF was a 50/50 dependent on the bichir, was looking more for a pike in the 8-12 inch range.

 

[Damascus]

Let me look at some potential species that may work long term and get back to you. Nothing coming to mind as pikes aren't really my strong suit

 

[Manning99]

Same mate have never kept a pike just fancied another mid dweller that could handle the bichirs incase I have to rehome the angelfish.

 

[Damascus]

I would make life easy and put them in a different tank and restock with fish that would positively work out long term

 

[Rocksor]

A 10" female lugubris could easily consume a senegal and delhezi since the bichirs are slow growers compared to it. Stick to a belly crawler, maybe a sveni or saxatilis type pike if you want to try it. The sveni or saxatilis are purchased on the larger side compared to your chosen bichirs, so your bichirs are going to have to be 8-10" already. The pikes are fast eaters though and could easily outcompete the bichirs.

 

[Manning99]

Cheers will have a look if either of them are available next time I go my LFS, have noticed all the pike they stock tend to come in on the large side and yeah if/when I have to remove the angelfish would like to have something lined up to take their place.

At the minute I'm thinking the sveni but not wholly decided if pike are the best choice or not due to if I take the angels out now by the time my sen can get big enough to Co habit with the size pike I see at my LFS the visable occupants of the tank would be mainly my ctenopoma and BGK for quite a few months.