55g zig zag eel tankmates

[Backfromthedead]

im not in agreement with the bichirs...theyll be good for awhile but once they put on some size you're gonna be very cramped in the 55.

definitely no tire track eel theyre much too big of a fish. i would recommend at least an 18" wide tank for a peacock, but you could probably keep one in a 55. an ebjd may work with the eel, as it will most likely not perceive it as a threat to its territory or as food. its worth a try.

i would personally try the peacock eel and a group of rainbowfish and gouramis.

 

[Cadillac15]

im not in agreement with the bichirs...theyll be good for awhile but once they put on some size you're gonna be very cramped in the 55.

definitely no tire track eel theyre much too big of a fish. i would recommend at least an 18" wide tank for a peacock, but you could probably keep one in a 55. an ebjd may work with the eel, as it will most likely not perceive it as a threat to its territory or as food. its worth a try.

i would personally try the peacock eel and a group of rainbowfish and gouramis.

Yeah, I agree with you on the Bichirs. Even if it's ok, I'd rather wait until I at least have a 75 before doing the small ones and would prefer to wait until I have my 125+ set up.

I have an empty 40g Breeder, so I am using that for a Lesser Siren now (once I can find one somehow. They aren't exactly native to Wisconsin). My wife is stoked about that. She actually really liked the banded water snake as well, but her issue with snakes is the way the cages are set up super humid, etc) vs just a water tank. I don't know, but yeah, I'm happy with that compromise.

As for the Eels, Tire track is definitely a no go. That would be way too big, Zig zags are cute, but smaller. I think my issue is I want big, and a 55g tank (imo) just isn't that big (My wife doesn't agree with this and thinks my 37g is big lol).

Now that I am doing the siren, the eels definitely aren't as high on my list of priorities. I really need to rethink this 55g now because I was originally going to add to my angelfish breeding, but I just really don't want to do that right now. I may do a single angelfish, but not another breeding pair. I'm just really at a loop. I want something interesting and unique. I don't want a bunch of smaller cichlids (a couple 8" would be nice) but cichlids aren't even necessary at all.

I like things that look unique. Having been doing a lot of browsing, here are some of the unique ones that have really caught my attention in the 55g range, but I still have to research about compatability vs species only, etc.

African Butterfly Fish, Leopard Ctenopoma, The Rainbowfish (which I literally just looked up at your recommendation and super pretty), Certain Gouramis (Like the Opaline), Plecos (I LOVE plecos for some reason), Dwarf pike are pretty cool, some type of frog that can cohabitate with fish.

Sorry, I know that's a lot, and i've been doing a TON of research on here and on the web, but I'm still fairly new to all of this. Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[Backfromthedead]

Yeah, I agree with you on the Bichirs. Even if it's ok, I'd rather wait until I at least have a 75 before doing the small ones and would prefer to wait until I have my 125+ set up.

I have an empty 40g Breeder, so I am using that for a Lesser Siren now (once I can find one somehow. They aren't exactly native to Wisconsin). My wife is stoked about that. She actually really liked the banded water snake as well, but her issue with snakes is the way the cages are set up super humid, etc) vs just a water tank. I don't know, but yeah, I'm happy with that compromise.

As for the Eels, Tire track is definitely a no go. That would be way too big, Zig zags are cute, but smaller. I think my issue is I want big, and a 55g tank (imo) just isn't that big (My wife doesn't agree with this and thinks my 37g is big lol).

Now that I am doing the siren, the eels definitely aren't as high on my list of priorities. I really need to rethink this 55g now because I was originally going to add to my angelfish breeding, but I just really don't want to do that right now. I may do a single angelfish, but not another breeding pair. I'm just really at a loop. I want something interesting and unique. I don't want a bunch of smaller cichlids (a couple 8" would be nice) but cichlids aren't even necessary at all.

I like things that look unique. Having been doing a lot of browsing, here are some of the unique ones that have really caught my attention in the 55g range, but I still have to research about compatability vs species only, etc.

African Butterfly Fish, Leopard Ctenopoma, The Rainbowfish (which I literally just looked up at your recommendation and super pretty), Certain Gouramis (Like the Opaline), Plecos (I LOVE plecos for some reason), Dwarf pike are pretty cool, some type of frog that can cohabitate with fish.

Sorry, I know that's a lot, and i've been doing a TON of research on here and on the web, but I'm still fairly new to all of this. Thanks for all the help so far!

well youve got some cool fish picked out there. what i would do is group your fish according to their native range.

for instance, you could have the african butterfly and ctenopoma with a small school of congo tetras, a red jewel cichlid, and a medium sized synodontis cat; which are all central-west african riverine fish.

or if you went with a borneo theme, you could have boesmani rainbows, pearl gouramis, tiger barbs, and a clown loach or two.

either one of these tanks would be stellar. i want one of each with this theme but just dont have the tanks!

 

[Cadillac15]

well youve got some cool fish picked out there. what i would do is group your fish according to their native range.

for instance, you could have the african butterfly and ctenopoma with a small school of congo tetras, a red jewel cichlid, and a medium sized synodontis cat; which are all central-west african riverine fish.

or if you went with a borneo theme, you could have boesmani rainbows, pearl gouramis, tiger barbs, and a clown loach or two.

either one of these tanks would be stellar. i want one of each with this theme but just dont have the tanks!

I would love the Central-West African Riverine fish tank. I like doing themes (my 37g is a black water amazon setup). with a 55g, what would be ideal stocking for those species?

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Yeah, I agree with you on the Bichirs. Even if it's ok, I'd rather wait until I at least have a 75 before doing the small ones and would prefer to wait until I have my 125+ set up.

I have an empty 40g Breeder, so I am using that for a Lesser Siren now (once I can find one somehow. They aren't exactly native to Wisconsin). My wife is stoked about that. She actually really liked the banded water snake as well, but her issue with snakes is the way the cages are set up super humid, etc) vs just a water tank. I don't know, but yeah, I'm happy with that compromise.

As for the Eels, Tire track is definitely a no go. That would be way too big, Zig zags are cute, but smaller. I think my issue is I want big, and a 55g tank (imo) just isn't that big (My wife doesn't agree with this and thinks my 37g is big lol).

Now that I am doing the siren, the eels definitely aren't as high on my list of priorities. I really need to rethink this 55g now because I was originally going to add to my angelfish breeding, but I just really don't want to do that right now. I may do a single angelfish, but not another breeding pair. I'm just really at a loop. I want something interesting and unique. I don't want a bunch of smaller cichlids (a couple 8" would be nice) but cichlids aren't even necessary at all.

I like things that look unique. Having been doing a lot of browsing, here are some of the unique ones that have really caught my attention in the 55g range, but I still have to research about compatability vs species only, etc.

African Butterfly Fish, Leopard Ctenopoma, The Rainbowfish (which I literally just looked up at your recommendation and super pretty), Certain Gouramis (Like the Opaline), Plecos (I LOVE plecos for some reason), Dwarf pike are pretty cool, some type of frog that can cohabitate with fish.

Sorry, I know that's a lot, and i've been doing a TON of research on here and on the web, but I'm still fairly new to all of this. Thanks for all the help so far!

How about: African butterfly fish,boseman rainbowfish pair,a pair of honey gourami,
A couple Adonis plecos and perhaps a northern (not southern) leopard frog?

 

[Backfromthedead]

I would love the Central-West African Riverine fish tank. I like doing themes (my 37g is a black water amazon setup). with a 55g, what would be ideal stocking for those species?

i would do one ctenopoma and one hemichromis of your choosing, just not the fasciatus who will get large and mean.

one synodontis angelicus. hands down my favorite syno cat.

your african butterflyfish is the pickiest in terms of water parameters, so i would adjust your tank in accordance to his needs, which includes a tight lid. ive never been able to properly keep them. the one i had jumped the tank after about six months, but i did find out he loved live crickets to eat.

congo tetras should number 6-8.

that stock should fill your tank completely once theyre all mature. i would include some good hiding spots/caves for the ctenopoma and syno, as well as a few hanging/floating plants for the butterflyfish. i hope you do this theme. sometimes ive been tempted to chuck my red devil out the back door and set up this exact tank in his 75 lol.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Polypterus Senegalus would do fine in a 55 for probably years. I'd feel comfortable having around 4 of them.

 

[Cadillac15]

Polypterus Senegalus would do fine in a 55 for probably years. I'd feel comfortable having around 4 of them.

Yeah, but again, I don't want for years. I want for life. I don't want 4-5 years down the road to go "Oh, I need to surrender these guys because I don't have a tank suitable for them" If I get a bigger tank, I want bigger Bichirs, so I'm looking for life. Trying to be responsible with it. I'm really concerned about being ethical with my fish as I really do care.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Yeah, but again, I don't want for years. I want for life. I don't want 4-5 years down the road to go "Oh, I need to surrender these guys because I don't have a tank suitable for them" If I get a bigger tank, I want bigger Bichirs, so I'm looking for life. Trying to be responsible with it. I'm really concerned about being ethical with my fish as I really do care.

my hats off to you. even if you have plans for the upgrade you dont know when it will happen. you can ask anyone here im not a conservative stocker but senegals grow longer than the width of a 55 gallon which to me is unacceptable for anything but an emergency hospital tank.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Yeah, but again, I don't want for years. I want for life. I don't want 4-5 years down the road to go "Oh, I need to surrender these guys because I don't have a tank suitable for them" If I get a bigger tank, I want bigger Bichirs, so I'm looking for life. Trying to be responsible with it. I'm really concerned about being ethical with my fish as I really do care.

By years I’m severely underestimating. Unless you get wild caught senegalus or have a truley anomalously genetic specimen then captive bred senegalus will be fine for life in a 55. Backfromthedead I think you may be over estimating just how big cb sens get.

But for informations sake, tlindsey you have senegalus in a 55 don’t you?