bowfin and tankmates... pls advise!

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ermgravy

ermgravy

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 1, 2007
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behind my iMac.... Southampton UK.
hey finally found my bowfin, all just wondered if it would be ok to put him in with aro's, poly, dats mixed cichlids, pbass, tsn and plecs? advise on any safe combo or whether its worth the risk... obviously i wouldn't risk any fish that would fit in his mouth.... got a while till i collect and a spare tank if any thing gopes wrong or i decide he gets a solo... thanks for your help!
 
i don't think it will work seeing that bowfins are not tropical fish and your putting it with tropical fish the only way it will work is if drop the temp in your tank to 65 70 degrees
 
reefman;1038661; said:
i don't think it will work seeing that bowfins are not tropical fish and your putting it with tropical fish the only way it will work is if drop the temp in your tank to 65 70 degrees
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The only way to make it work is to do a dance around a candle on a full moon chanting :"Bowfin please no kill..or other fish please no kill bowfin"....

Not a good mix...Bowfin are better by themselves than with other fish and should be treated as species only in a typical setting. Either one thing or another eventually occurs when mixing these fish. They really are not a community fish by any means.
 
i am well aware of what temperate range bowfin occur and i no the risks, but i am all so sure that it has successfully been done before? given alot of space, 6'x4' and later a 8'x5' is there no way it mite work out? i have spare tanks... thats no probs and surely if no inmates can fit in each others mouths its asy to sedperate at first signs of trouble... not that i havn't noted your opinion and advise....
 
reefman;1038661; said:
i don't think it will work seeing that bowfins are not tropical fish and your putting it with tropical fish the only way it will work is if drop the temp in your tank to 65 70 degrees
Click to expand...

...

I've kept bowfin at 80*, considering they can stand the water in florida when its 100* outside right now. bowfin arn't that agressive imho. i've kept them with oscars, crappie, and Some random chichlids.
 
ermgravy;1038837; said:
i am well aware of what temperate range bowfin occur and i no the risks, but i am all so sure that it has successfully been done before? given alot of space, 6'x4' and later a 8'x5' is there no way it mite work out? i have spare tanks... thats no probs and surely if no inmates can fit in each others mouths its asy to sedperate at first signs of trouble... not that i havn't noted your opinion and advise....
Click to expand...

Bowfin tend to be temporarily successful tankmates in anything but large ponds or very large tanks (think Public aquarium size).. Sure it works for a bit but then something will get killed..I have had it both ways. I have had a bowfin kill everything in the tank and I have had of all things a bullhead kill a bowfin. They really do not do well in communities. If you really want to keep one and enjoy them it is advised to keep it alone. You will get the best out of this fish like this without the hassle and worry.
 
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