loach tank size and compatability

[Prometheus]

im getting a bichir tank together, itll be a few senegals and a delhezi. im researching possible tank mates. got any suggestions, the final tank will be a 75 gallon. thanks

 

[Bderick67]

Go with a school of 6 or 7 clown loaches. They are very entertaining, slow growers so they'll be fine in a 75g for quite awhile. Once they do get too big for the 75g they are quite easy to sell.

 

[Lupin]

im getting a bichir tank together, itll be a few senegals and a delhezi. im researching possible tank mates. got any suggestions, the final tank will be a 75 gallon. thanks

The floor space is too inadequate to allow any loaches especially as you plan to get sens and dels.

 

[beblondie]

Tankmates
Below is a partial list of possible tankmates for the small to midsized bichirs species.Parameters I used are based on size, temperment and availabilty . And i believe is a good starting point for you to do further research before purchasing -Anne
CATFISH
Dusky Pimelodid-Pimelodus blochii
Giraffe Catfish-Auchenoglanis occidentalis
Dwarf giraffe Catfish-Parauchenoglanis macrostoma
Giant Whiptail Catfish-Sturisoma aureum
Synodontis alberti
Synodontis angelicus
Synodontis pleurops
Synodontis decorus
Synodontis eupterus
Synodontis notatus
Synodontis brichardi
Synodontis nigrita
Synodontis flavitaeniata
Synodontis soloni
Liver Catfish-Heteropneustes fossilis
Black Lancer-Bagrichthys hypselopterus
PLECOS
Bristlenose-Ancistrus dolichopterus
CHARACINS
Silver dollar-Metynnis argenteus
Distichodus notospilus-Distichodus notospilus
Congo tetra-Phenacogrammus interruptus
Black-Barred Myleus-Myleus schomburgki
Filament tetra-Bryconaethiop microstoma
EELS
Peacock Eel- Macrognathus aculeatus
CICHLIDS *(see note)
Dicus-Symphysodon discus
Angelfish-Pterophyllum ssp.
Two-Spot Cichlid-Cichlasoma bimaculatum
Tilapia joka-Tilapia joka
Severum-Cichlasoma severum
Kribensis- Pelvicachromis pulcher
Sparkling Earth Eater-Satanoperca acuticeps
Blue acara-Aequidens pulchrus
Balzani's Earth Eater-Gymnogeophagus balzanii
Blood Parrot Cichlid-Hybrid no scientifc name
Blue-Eye Cichlid-Cichlasoma spilurum
Festivum-Mesonauta festivus
African Peacock Cichlid-Aulonocara nyassae
Balzani's Earth Eater-Gymnogeophagus balzanii
Bandit Cichlid-Aequidens geayi
Blockhead Cichlid-Steatocranus casuarius
Callolepis Cichlid-Cichlasoma callolepis
Freiberg's Peacock Cichlid-Aulonocara jacobfreibergi
Keyhole Cichlid-Cleithracara maronii
Port Acara-Aequidens portalegrensis
Uaru- Uaru amphicanthiodes
LABYRINTH FISHES
Ctenopoma .acutirostre-Ctenopoma acutirostre
Ctenopoma oxyrhynchus-Ctenopoma oxyrhynchus
Ctenopoma kingsleyae-Ctenopoma kingsleyae
CYPRINIDS
Variegated Shark-Labeo variegatus
Bala Shark-Balantiocheilos melanopterus
Red-Finned Cigar Shark-Leptobarbus hoevenii
Red-linned torpedo barb-Puntius denisonii
Tinfoil Barb-Barbodes schwanefeldii
Chinese Algae Eater-Gyrinocheilus aymonieri
Clown Loach-Botia macracantha
MISC.
African mudfish-Phractolaemus ansorgei
Black Ghost Knifefish -Apteronotus albifrons
Elephantnose-Gnathonemus petersii
African butterfly-Pantondon bucholzi
African Knifefish-Xenomystus nigri
(*note :to avoid agression do not have breeding pairs )

 

[ewurm]

Why is this in loaches? I'll move it to polypterus.

 

[Steve_2]

I hope you don't mind me asking a question on your thread Prometheus, but I was also wondering about clown loaches and polys. I was wondering if CL can be kept with the larger species of polypterus? I have an ornate, a lap and an endli that are 4, 5 and 9" and I would like to add 3 CL that are about 6" now.

What do you guys think?

 

[Cohazard]

I think clown loaches and polypterus are a great mix, but not if you're growing out young ones together since we all know loaches grow super slow compared to bichirs.

It's best to start off with loaches as large as possible, and introduce bichirs at a medium size.

If only juvies are available (which is true for just about everywhere) then grow them out in seperate tanks, that's what I'm doing.

 

[ewurm]

I keep small polypterus with the loaches, just make sure the polys can't eat them

 

[Steve_2]

The ones I could get right now are 4.5 to 5". But they are slow growers. I bet by the time my polys are 18", the loaches would be no more than an inch bigger.