Ideas on stocking a 125 with my first Bichir

[sevs and sajicas for me]

So I'm in the planning stages of stocking a 125/135 (don't have the tank yet). I've been over on the cichlid forum as this will mainly be a cichlid tank but I have been perusing the poly threads here and have to say that I'm intrigued. J jaws7777 has been a MAJOR help but suggested I start a thread for other ideas. Here is my current plan

1 Vieja heterospila (maybe 2 if I can figure out my severum situation)
1 Blood Parrot (yes hybrid, ugly, eww, I like them)
1 Chocolate Cichlid
1 Gold Severum (if I did 2 hets I wouldn't have a sev in this tank)
4 Rainbow cichlids
1 Senegal Bichir
1 Delhezi Bichir

Does anyone see any issues with this stock? As for food I have always ordered food from kensfish and he makes awesome flakes. He also has earthworm/beef heart sinking pellets and the likes. Would these sorts of pellets be a good idea for a staple? Any tips/pointers in keeping these guys with cichlids? Do I have room in this tank for 2? Or should I go with 1. Anything I am missing or not thinking of?

 

[kno4te]

Got plenty of space for 2 bichirs. Especially upper jaws. Can add some more. I have 8 in my 125g now.

Cichlids choices seem fine. Always need some plants and driftwood to keep each other safe.

I've debated about kensfish food and I've decided to keep with massivore. No problems. Just gotta clean up the mess.

Keep the tank covered and should be good.

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

You don't think I would be overstocked with more bichirs? I mean I'd love to have some more but wouldn't want to overload. For filtration I am planning on 2 Sunsun404 for about 1050 gph plus a 400-500 gph hob. I know that's overkill but I like to overfilter. I originally liked the ornate bichir the best but after seeing a lot of folks have aggression issues with theirs I thought it would be best to go with some smaller guys and more active guys. So if I did a senegal and del should I just go with more of those or are there some other relatively common species i could consider to add along with them?

As far as the kensfish food debate, what was the debate? What issue did you have?

 

[kno4te]

Don't think it's Overkill. But adding a couple more bichirs (2). Like a palmas palmas or polli. With the 2 sunsun filters that'll help. Overkill on filtration never hurts. Keeping a delhezi and senegalus will be fine and they will be active. Yes ornates can be nippy a bit. All can once they start establishing a pecking order.

Not sure as it's been a while when buying anything from kendfish. I still even have their carnivore chips in sealed bags. The main thing was there were lots of fillers in them compared to other foods.

 

[kno4te]

Add Polyaddict86 as he's the ultimate poly hoarder. As well the Senegal whisperer...@tlindsey.

 

[ShanerBock888]

Yeah I agree, you'd be fine adding a couple more polys. Overfiltering is the way to go.

As stated above, palmas polli and palmas palmas would work. You could also consider buettikoferi "gold dust," or mokelembembe. These two are a bit more timid but are beautiful.

 

[kno4te]

Gold dust, retros, and moke are nice but very reclusive. In never see mine.

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

Ahh I see. After doing a bit more research on here it seems most of you guys use the massivore pellets. Those are easier to get my hands on anyways.

Thank you for the suggestions. I know I want a senegal as it seems most folks say those guys are really active and i really like the delhezi. If I can find the others I'll definitely add 1 or 2 more. It's just finding them. The palmas palmas (marbled?) is really nice but that buettikoferi is beautiful.

Edit: Oh if it's really shy I'm not sure I want that. I've got a huge school of kuhlis in another tank that i only see when the lights are off. If I'm going to have a fish that looks as awesome as that I want to see it

 

[magpie]

I'm too much of a cichlid noob to say if your tank stock with cichlids is too much...

If you want a third upper jaw I recommend Palmas Polli. They're not as striking as the Palmas Palmas IMO but active. I have one and s/he is always swiming around, not afraid of me at all, not skittish, and a huge food hog. A real little endearing character.

With the Senegal you'll have another active poly, and then you will have your Del for the looks. And maybe you'll get an active one - they are more hit or miss.

Another option would be to get like 3 rope fish. They are also fairly active, endearing fish. They definitely like buddies, though.


And I'm going to reiterate having a secure lid. Many of use duct tape all of the open areas around the filter input/output etc.

In addition to pellets, they benefit from frozen food too like Silversides or a cheaper Tilapia option (like for people to eat) and krill. I also feed live earthworms on occasion. Massivore is big - when you first get yours you'll have to cut them up. I also soak mine slightly to soften them and make them easier for the smaller guys to eat. When I'm pellet training I soak them in a half a thawing bloodworm cube to make them more appealing. Hikari Carnivore is something I also use, which is a smaller size.

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

Thanks! you guys are awesome. Probably should have come over to the poly forums first

So I'm guessing getting a stand with a canopy probably isn't a good idea since most of the canopies are open in the back. Unless I did the glass lids as well? But that seems like a pain to deal with a canopy AND glass lids. All of my tanks now have one or the other. Not both.

Rope fish are neat so I appreciate the suggestion but bichirs seem so much cooler. Going to have to give them a shot.

Anyone have any tips on where I can find these guys? Senegals are all over so that shouldn't be an issue. But a polli and del may prove to be hard to find.

Also, does anyone have any experience keeping any of these cichlid species with polys? I know jaws keeps the het and I can't believe sevs or rainbows would be an issue with them. Anyone ever kept BP's or Chocolates with them?