African Tank

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dbcb314

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 4, 2007
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Whenever I get my tank I really think I am going to go with an African region tank (I believe west africa) with the bichirs being the main attraction.

I was brainstorming what fish could possibly go in the tank and wouldn't get too big and this is what I came up with... (ALL fish that fit the area... not gonna put all these in a 75 lol)


- african butterfly fish
- african knifefish
- senegal bichir
- delhezi bichir
- albino senegal bichir
- ornate birchir
- palmas bichir
- kribensis
- albino kribensis
- congo tetras (???? not sure)
- Bush Fish


am I missing anything?




And do any of you have "west african" tanks? If so... whats in there and got any pics?
 
first off, ornates won't fit in, and kribs will probably get eaten. not sure what a bush fish is so can't help you there. I have an african butterfly fish and i have to say it is REALLY boring. i just sits at the top and only swims for food or when it really feels like it.

i'd go with the african knifefish as they are pretty sweet, along with of course several bichir and then you can do some more research as to what else you want.
 
I think what he mean by bush fish is a african leaf fish.
 
I keep a Leopard/Spotted Ctenopoma (Bushfish) with my Bichirs and its ideal-very cool fish to keep. It never bothers the Bichirs at all. Don't leave this one out my friend.

Leopard.JPG

leopard perch.jpg
 
Having kept many African 'biotope' tanks...I'll offer these suggestions:

1) Members of the genera Ctenopoma and Microctenopoma (the 'Bush Fish') make excellent tankmates for bichirs of appropriate size. I'm currently keeping five species of 'Bush Fish' and all of them are in tanks with bichirs. Many species of Bush Fish are reasonably active. By the way...the fish being sold in some of the 'chain' pet stores as the 'African Spotted Leaf Fish' is actually Ctenopoma acutirostre, one of the Bush Fish, and is not closely related to the true African Leaf Fish (Polycentropsis and Afronandus).

2) You didn't mention any sort of 'clean up' crew but there are a number of West African species of Synodontis that will fit nicely into a bichir tank. The dwarf giraffe cats (Parauchenoglanis and Anaspidoglanis) will also work very nicely.

3) The African Knife Fish (Xenomystus nigri) makes an excellent tankmate for medium-sized bichirs.

4) I have kept 'kribensis'-type cichlids with small- to medium-sized bichirs without too many problems. There are other West African cichlids like Benitochromis that will also do reasonably well.

5) Big Congo Tetras (Phenacogrammus interruptus) can also be kept with small- to medium-sized bichirs.

6) I'm currently growing out some gorgeous 'Coppernose Barbs' (Raiamas christyi - formerly Opsaridium) which will eventually reach about 7 inches. They are VERY attractive and incredibly active and make great 'dither fish' for a bichir tank. Toyin at Rehoboth Aquatics is about the only source I know of for these fish.

7)The African Butterfly Fish (Pantodon buchholzi) goes well in a tank with small- to medium-sized bichirs and gives you something that will occupy the very top layer of the water column. As has been mentioned...don't expect them to be the most active fish you've ever had but they are great-looking fish.

Hope this helps,

-Joe
 
dbcb314;947247; said:
yeah by bush fish I mean the Ctenopoma genus of fish


Are they decently active beserker?
Click to expand...

Mine (C. acutirostre) is 6"-literature says 8" max. but I doubt that'll happen in most tanks. Activity wise they're preety good and on show most of the time-they do appreciate some cover though. Eats cockles, bloodworm and prawns-has a big appetite.
ROB
 
Thanks FRUITBAT!!!! good info!! Got any pics of your tanks?

I didn't know there were "clean up crew" fish from the area. Thanks for mentioning it.

Yeah... I know ABF are boring... but they take up such a small amount of space, and its space very few fish use, so I am just thinking "why the hell not"... they look cool as hell...

Thanks beserker for the info
 
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