how many senegal in a 55g?

[RoseFishWatcher]

Well, the title basically says it all. I might be able to get a 55g tank, and if I do I plan on putting senegal in it. From what I understand, adult senegal can be kept in a 55 with no need to upgrade (please correct me if this is wrong).

If I get the tank, it will have a large common pleco in it (over a foot long). I have no plans to put any fish other than senegal in it.

So how many senegal can live happily in this tank when they reach adult size?

I ask because it would be almost impossible for me to upgrade to a bigger tank in the forseeable future.

Thanks in advance.

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Since I litterally registered minutes ago so I could ask this question, I will tell you a little about myself. I have never kept any kind of bichir or other large fish. Currently largest tank is 20g. Biggest fish is a BN pleco, favorite is my Syno Petricola.

 

[beblondie]

No an addult senegal can happily live out its life in a 55 gallon tank.Common plecos do not always make good tankmates as they sometimes develop a taste for slimecoat and can do an amazing amount of damage to a bichir.How many senegals? 2 probably would be good
-Anne

 

[Jeox]

With a common plec. Probibly not even one.

Commons get HUGE.

 

[RoseFishWatcher]

No an addult senegal can happily live out its life in a 55 gallon tank.Common plecos do not always make good tankmates as they sometimes develop a taste for slimecoat and can do an amazing amount of damage to a bichir.How many senegals? 2 probably would be good
-Anne

Why do you say no adult senegal can live happily in a 55 then say 2 would be good? In what way is two good if they won't be happy in the biggest tank I can give them?

 

[Mem]

Another point to keep in mind is that your common pleco of about 12inches can reach 24 inches.

 

[beblondie]

an addult senegal can happily live out its life in a 55 gallon tank.Common plecos do not always make good tankmates as they sometimes develop a taste for slimecoat and can do an amazing amount of damage to a bichir.How many senegals? 2 probably would be good
-Anne
I musta been multitasking lol

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[RoseFishWatcher]

Thank you! Hopefully I'll be able to get that tank. If so, I'll see what I can do about the pleco. Maybe I can find him a better home.

 

[RoseFishWatcher]

Another few questions:

Assuming I can find a better home for the pleco, and thus end up with an empty 55g tank instead of one with a large common plec, does that change the number of senegal I could keep?

Also, if I am able to get some, I expect to start with smallish bichirs. I have a 10g tank I could grow them out in, but I don't know what size to grow them to before moving them to the 55g.

Thanks again for all the info, I really hope I can get this tank

 

[Fishman1318]

I started my senegal out in a 10 gal first. I got him at about 3 in. I soon then got a 55 gal and put him in there. He's only about the 4 in mark now and he's perfectly fine. If all you have in bichirs in a tank I dont see why any tank wont be fine to start in. And I've seen in some sites that small bichirs shouldnt be kept in a tank that has a water height more than 1 foot but in my 55 its about 2 ft or more to the top and he gets to it just fine.