Fish noob with bichir questions

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
B

brittanyE46

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 26, 2012
6
0
0
Georgia
I just started my first tank, so I'm brand new...please be gentle! I set up a small 10 gallon planted tank, and a friend was trying to get rid of a few fish so I volunteered to rehome them. I was given a black neon, a rainbow shark, and a Congo bichir. They all previously lived together and seem to be doing very well in my tank. I'm aware that Congo bichir can get to 3' in the wild, but I don't see this guy getting that big anyone soon (he is currently about 3").

My question is are there any particular fish that wouldn't do well with him? I originally wanted a betta and some cherry shrimp, but now that I have a carnivore I'm not sure what route to go. Any help is greatly appreciated and I'm very much looking forward to learning all I can from this site!
 
brittanyE46 said:
I just started my first tank, so I'm brand new...please be gentle! I set up a small 10 gallon planted tank, and a friend was trying to get rid of a few fish so I volunteered to rehome them. I was given a black neon, a rainbow shark, and a Congo bichir. They all previously lived together and seem to be doing very well in my tank. I'm aware that Congo bichir can get to 3' in the wild, but I don't see this guy getting that big anyone soon (he is currently about 3").

My question is are there any particular fish that wouldn't do well with him? I originally wanted a betta and some cherry shrimp, but now that I have a carnivore I'm not sure what route to go. Any help is greatly appreciated and I'm very much looking forward to learning all I can from this site!
Click to expand...

Honestly,none in a 10 gallon. And even if you get a bigger tank, every fish you mentioned would get eaten ;) Try and get a bigger tank or rehome him,not to be harsh but keeping him in there would be cruel ! :)
 
Yeah I want anything but to be cruel, trust me. What is his growth rate like? Because I'm probably going to do a bigger tank sooner than later, but not right away. I've grown particularly fond of him actually.
 
brittanyE46 said:
Yeah I want anything but to be cruel, trust me. What is his growth rate like? Because I'm probably going to do a bigger tank sooner than later, but not right away. I've grown particularly fond of him actually.
Click to expand...

They do grow fast when small,about 1 inch a month. I suggest you get a 55 and then in a year or so move him to a big tank ;)
 
You're certain it's a congo? I just ask because they aren't nearly as common as most polys, and the people who generally collect them aren't likely to just give them away.

The black neon will be just fine in the 10 gal, I have 5 with my senegal, they're essentially there as feeders as he grows. The neon won't be growing very big at all. As for the rainbow shark you should be good with it in there for a little while, you'll eventually have to upgrade to at least a 20g preferably a 30+g.

The congo however, is definitely going to need a bigger home soon, it may be small now but they'll grow pretty fast given the proper diet. I personally would recommend looking into getting it into a 55-75g to grow him out, you'll probably want a larger tank for him when he gets larger though (somewhere around 125-175g).

As for tank mates, it really depends, anything that will fit into it's mouth will likely disappear. The shrimp wouldn't last very long the beta would probably be fine though. I have some tiger barbs and some black neons with my senegal, the tiger barbs are too large and probably too quick for my sen. and the black neons are just kind of slowly disappearing ;)
 
That pic is definitely a senegal. Congo looks very different. Even if it's a sen, you'll want a 55 for it. It would be comfortable in a 55 for life. Tankmates would include gouramis, angels, smaller cichlids (4-5" range and peaceful), ropefish, african butterflyfish and a whole lot more.
 
Sorry for being such a noob, but apparently bichirs get mistaken identities a lot haha. I wish I could rememeber if his lower jaw or upper jaw protrudes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom