Bichirs and Malawi Eye Biters

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cockroach

cockroach

Goliath Tigerfish
MFK Member
Jul 28, 2005
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Taiwan
I am going to be setting up my bichir tank in October, it is 180lx82hx45w. I will be housing about 15 bichirs in there and was looking for an African fish to fish the upper levels. I already have one female Malawi eye biter (Dimidiochromis compressiceps) and love her and was wondering if i could get 2 males and 4 females or would they harass the bichirs too much. The tank will also house 2 synodontis eruptus.

There will be tree like drift wood (i.e. Logs siliconed upright on tiles) and some round river rocks. Filtration will be a sump filter 120lx40hx30w.
 
The simple answer is NO and especially not breeding pairs-Anne
 
thats why i was asking wondering if they would be too aggressive. so what other african fish, not malawi cichlids can i put in there?

I was thinking some fronts as there are lots of them available at the moment for good prices. but then they also hang around the bottom of the tank which leaves a void in the middle and upper levels and crowded on the bottom.

Been looking at ctenopoma lately, would about 6-8 of these be able to be placed in there ?

What other fish do you think?

Thanks for the replies!
 
Is there seriously no-one out there with more of an opinion on this. no suggestions?!!
 
You could give it a shot. I have a friend who has several senegalus, and a reed fish in his african cichlid tank and they all do fine together. Also seen the senegalus take out smaller cichlids.

Also I bred D. compressiceps before and they aren't really agressive towards bottom dwelling tankmates.

Also if you through some dithers in there they will spend most of the time hunting and should pretty much ignore your birchirs.

IMO I would give it a shot.
 
My female D. compressiceps female is about 5" and on occasion she pushes the upper jaws around, never the lower jaws, especially when they are crusing around on their way to the surface. but never anything remotely aggressive, almost seems out of boredom in fact.

but whats worrying is if they get aggressive during breeding, thats why i thought 2 males, they would keep each other busy and the females distract them.

Well thanks for the reply Honda really appreciate it. Any thoughts on the fronts?

would the ctenpoma be too small once the bichirs start reaching size?
 
What species of bichir are you planning on?
 
well so far i have one of each:
p. endli endli
p. endli congicus
p. lap
p. del
p. ornat
p. sen
sen (albino)
p. palmas polli
p. palmas butti
p. palmas palmas
p. weeksii

planning one or two more laps and some other bichirs as and when i find them. when the p. ornate, endli and congicus get a good size i might move them into my bigger tank.
 
If you want multiple males, go with at least three. If you have only two, the stronger male will most likely kill the weaker one. With three males, agression will be spread out and kept to a minimum.

Fronts should be fine aswell.
 
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