bowfin didn't last long.

[minimonsterkeeper]

After a year of searching, and the reason i got into the hobby, I finally found a decent sized bowfin, a good 12"er. Beautiful fish. I got it home and added it to my tank with 2 mono pbass, 1 16" Florida gar, and 1 10" vene pike cichlid. All looked well after the first half an hour. Then the pike cichlid would periodically take a snap at the bowfin. He wasn't harrassing the bowfin to bad, no more than he does the pbass, so i decided I'd goto the store to get a few things. I got back from the store and the bowfin was dead. He was beat to hell. It's like the pike waited until i left the room to show the bowfin what he really thought about the new tank mate.


This really bummed me out. The bowfin was a beaut too.

 

[kno4te]

Sorry to hear!

 

[krichardson]

I'd be bummed out too after finally finding one having that happen to it,sorry for the loss.

 

[xraycer]

Pike probably thought that bowfin was another pike moving in onto its turf. Next time around, completely rearrange the tank decor before introducing a new member.

 

[minimonsterkeeper]

I think the pike did think the bowfin was a pike. At first it was all over it, rubbing and vibrating his fins. I should have rearranged the tank first, usually i do but i haven't had any issues with adding any other fish so I thought it'd be ok. It sucks to lose a beautiful fish but now i know what the pike is capable of. Hopefully i can find another and do it right. He would have been an awesome addition.

 

[shookONES]

Bowfin are my kyptonite, if its any consolation. I've never had a problem raising anything from discus to rays, but am yet to successfully keep one even short term. He looked awesome so its sad to see him go

 

[minimonsterkeeper]

He was a nice one. Thanks for the comments. Hopefully i can find another and keep it successfully. I always thought bowfin were bulletproof. What was the cause for your losses?

 

[screaminleeman]

I have a convict cichlid ~ 3.5" that regularly attacks an 8" bowfin.

Sorry for your loss. Male Bowfins are more tolerant than their female counterparts.

I have successfully kept dozens of Bowfins from fry ~ 1-2" to 20+ inches.

Here are a couple of observations that I have noticed.

1. I have seen a notable preference softer subtrate in the Bowfin's reaction. It has been to the point of clearly impacting the water column of the tank/ pond that I had them in. (Muddy/ leafy bottoms, they wallow in and spend the majority of the time in. Stone/ Gravel subtrates, the swim mid water column to top and take air gulps far more frequently than Bowfins given soft subtrate.

2. Outside of Florida with a few invasive species, Amia Calva does not co-habit with Cichlids. I am with you however, and have tried myself. If the Bowfin were smaller, or the male Convict cichlid bigger, I would have no choice but to move. I can't say that any cichlids are proper tankmates for Bowfins.

3. Common names for fish are horendous. I have NEVER had any pike family fish ever attack any of my Bowfins, and have kept chain, grass & redfin pickerel with them without incident. That "pike" is a cichlid, not even remotely a distant relative of a pike.

4. Venezuela crenicichla are notorious piscovoures as well as the Gar and the P bass. The Vene & the Pbass are MUCH FASTER hunters than the ambush bowfin. I have never heard any account attempting to minimize the establishing the suitable tankmate(s) for this very agressive cichlid in the tank first or at minimum at the same time.

5. Good luck, I am truely trying to help here. You are doing "?SOMETHING?" already to be able to get your gar in that tank with three much quicker agressive piscouvoures to get any food to it whatsoever! Any Gar expert will without exception strongly advise you AGAINST keeping that gar with those cichlids.

 

[minimonsterkeeper]

I know the the vene is not a "pike" but like you said that is the common name. I have kept the gar with these cichlids for over a year now with no problem. He has put on alot of weight and eats just as good as all the other fish. I have seen several pbass, gar and bowfin community tanks on these forums, but i was taking a risk with the crenicichla. I think if the bowfin was there first i wouldn't have had any issues.

 

[krichardson]

Common names for fish are horendous. I have NEVER had any pike family fish ever attack any of my Bowfins, and have kept chain, grass & redfin pickerel with them without incident. That "pike" is a cichlid, not even remotely a distant relative of a pike..

I agree that some common fish names are horrendous,vampire tetra really grinds my gears....of course the crenicichlas are not related to true pikes,it's just a name,poorly contrived in my opinion.What do you think of "Peacock Bass"?