Bowfin tankmates?

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Tramonte172

Gambusia
MFK Member
Jun 12, 2010
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My fish room
I have a 13" bowfin alone in a 75 gal. I want to move him into a standard 180. He has lived alone since I got him at 6" in august. The 180 will have some driftwood but not likely much more decor. The tank is not heated but stays around 74 f. I am looking for suggestions of tankmates that will likely be compatable with him.

Thanks
 
kind of hard to recommend tankmates; bowfins are unpredictable, at least mine was. love to bite the heads off of his tankmates
 
mrwinkle;5003343; said:
kind of hard to recommend tankmates; bowfins are unpredictable, at least mine was. love to bite the heads off of his tankmates
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I'm kind of worried about that but I am not going to give up my bowfin. I may have to try something cheap to start with in case he decides to eat it. There are 2 feeders that have been in there for a month that he does not seem interested in.
 
yeah ive been debating if it would be alight to put mine in with my 9 inch RTC. The bowfin is around 13 inch. just dont know. with those teeth i just might have to get rid of him. the RTC comes first.
 
So far I have had a kissing Gourami, Shubunkin GF, a pleco (chocolate albino), and a P Afer Knife.

The knife is the only one I really worry about, but he's like a fish ninja and big-as long as the bowfin, just stays very camouflaged and is quick...

All fish that stay with my bow are bigger(gourami is smallest at ~5"). So far my bow has been mild mannered, but I finally figured out what it'll eat, so there is little outward aggression to other fish. he is reaching the 11" mark, I have heard of the *switch* that turns on at 12", where they turn from Dr Jeckle to Mr Hyde!
 
My only suggestion would be a gar of equal or greater size.

They have very, very tough scales and probably wouldn't even notice if a bowfin nipped at it.
 
Wiggles92;5008524; said:
Try a school of small native fish such as minnows or sunfish. You can catch a bunch of them at a local stream, lake, or river (provided that you have a fishing license), so it's not like they'll cost you anything or that they'll be bad for the bowfin should it decide to eat them.
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Good point
 
I have a 7" bullhead with my 12" bowfin, so far there are no aggression between these two. Also there's a 9" golden shiner with them.
 
I have my 13" bow in with a 5 inch pacu and 6 inch flowerhorn. the flower is always attacking the bowfin. i Honestly dont understand that thing. Does it not realize it could eat him. But the bow doesnt even care just sits there.
 
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