African Brown Knife Substrate

[Marine Iguana]

Does anyone know if an african brown knife would do okay in a bare bottom aquarium (bottom, back, and sides are painted black). I love the look of them and I'm interested in adding one to my tank, but don't want to add one if it won't do good without substrate.

 

[kno4te]

They’ll be fine without substrate. Just prefer some driftwood to hide and swim around. That’s more preferable.

 

[Marine Iguana]

Plenty of hiding places for it! Thanks!!!

 

[kno4te]

Should be good.

 

[Hendre]

I've kept them in a bare bottom tank before, the main issue was the brightness causing them to hide more often. But your tank looks like it is darker with plenty of hiding space so that's perfect.

To be honest that looks ideal to me, what other fish are going in

 

[Marine Iguana]

x1 Senegal Bichir
X1 Delhezi Bichir
x1 Palmas Bichir
x1 Gold Dust Bichir
x1 African Brown Knife
x2-3 Hujeta Gar Characin
x1 Leopard Ctenopoma (possibly)

Eventually will go into a 120 or 180 when I can get a used one for a good price

 

[RocketGarStar]

x1 Senegal Bichir
X1 Delhezi Bichir
x1 Palmas Bichir
x1 Gold Dust Bichir
x1 African Brown Knife
x2-3 Hujeta Gar Characin
x1 Leopard Ctenopoma (possibly)

Eventually will go into a 120 or 180 when I can get a used one for a good price

I'd be careful with the polypterus/bichir. The palmas is relatively safe, but the others get big enough to swallow the ctenopoma, akf, and hujetas completely. I'd be careful, and separate them when they get big.

 

[Hendre]

I'd doubt it. Knives get a pretty solid 6-7", Ctenopoma will definitely not get eaten at full size. Remember these are polys that'll max at 11-13" if you're lucky

 

[kno4te]

Should be fine unless the sizes are dramatically far apart (large/aggressive polys and small fish). 9.9/10 times it works.

 

[Marine Iguana]

Yeah, I'm not too concerned about the bichirs eating the other inhabitants. If any come in radically different in size, I'll grow them out in a separate tank for a while.