Disrupted stock

[MetalRavioli]

Keyholes are a bland-looking fish compared to most cichlids. I would suggest the LC to be bigger than the others because they do grow very slowly. Furthermore, the Senegal should be smaller than the keyhole cichlids. It’s a good rule to have fish 2x as tall or as wide as a bichirs mouth.

Keyholes are definitely bigger than the senegals mouth currently. Went in recently and the guys are almost the size of the Ctenopoma currently, who’d I’d say is around 2 inches at the moment.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Hello friends!

So, as I’ve said in my 90-gallon tank thread, I’m currently in the process of cycling a 90 gallon tank. (It’s almost complete I believe) I planned on stocking this tank with a Senegal bichir, a Leopard ctenopoma, a bristlenose Plecostomus, and 5 keyhole cichlids. I ordered the ctenopoma and keyhole cichlids through my LFS, and all was well. However, instead of 5 keyholes, the store received 8. They’re currently on hold until my tank is cycled, but I don’t want to leave the extra 3 behind, because I know keyholes like to be in groups.

Would adding 3 more keyhole cichlids be okay for the stock? I don’t want to overstock the tank, and also don’t want to stock the tank to the brim. I’m trying to keep the stock on the lower side, but would be okay with the extra guys if they’d be okay in the tank.

(P.S. How big do keyholes get again? I’ve heard they get to 4 inches from some sources, but from others I’ve heard they get from 2-3.)

You would be totally fine adding 3 more keyholes

 

[Joshuakahan]

The Masked Shadow does make a great point. Senegal bichirs grow to around 1 feet long which is big enough to eat keyhole cichlids. I find keyhole cichlids to stay in the 2.5 inch mark which is in the range of food for Senegal bichirs.

It’s extremely rare for a CB Senegal to get a foot, maybe a WC . But CBS will usually top out around 8-10”

 

[Rocksor]

The cb senegal would have to have a very wide and large mouth to consume a fully grown keyhole. I've seen some 10"+ ones and the mouths weren't big enough.

 

[MetalRavioli]

You would be totally fine adding 3 more keyholes

Excellent! This seems to be the consensus stockwise.

The cb senegal would have to have a very wide and large mouth to consume a fully grown keyhole. I've seen some 10"+ ones and the mouths weren't big enough.

I agree, senegals mouths are on the smaller side of the bichir-range.