new 55 gallon...what to get?

[Stump]

Yes, Ornates do get quite big. If this is your be-all-end-all tank with no upgrades in mind for the future, don't get one. Don't get a Black Ghost Knife either. They'll easily reach a foot+. You could do it as a temporary setup, but will almost certainly NEED to buy a bigger tank for it. Only on rare occasions do people get a BGK that doesn't grow over a foot.

I actually am guilty of buying one in a momentary lapse of control. I bought him when he was 2 1/2" for $23 including tax, and put him in my 29 gallon. This must have been May-June. I now have him in a 40g breeder, which gives him a turning space of 18", and 3' to swim around in. He's about 5-6" now. So, it can be done. You can put a BGK in a considerably smaller tank than most recommend, and have them happy. He's always had the same personality, and has never shown ONE sign of weakness. I know I will eventually have to either move out, and get a bigger tank, or find someone on here with an appropriate home for him who is willing to trade or buy, but for right now, I do what I can.



Personally, in your situation, I'd go with the African Brown Knifefish.


Now, as far as Senegals, they are certainly not a small fish, but have been kept in 55g tanks successfully many times. Very interesting fish.



Hope this helps. Don't mind the rambling.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

Senegals and Palmas Bichirs are the only acceptable ones for a 55 gallon in my opinion.

 

[ClownKnife28]

1 Senegal Bichir (1 foot)
1 African Knifefish (8-12 Inches)
1 Ctenopoma acutirostre (6-8 Inches)
1 Angelfish (6 inches long and 12 inches tall- Make sure its a little larger than the Ctenopoma acutirostre so it doesn't get eaten when both are small. Don't get it too much larger or it may kill the CA. CAs are predatory. When both are adults, it should be fine, I think.)
1 Pink Kisser (12 Inches)
1 Pictus Catfish (8-10 inches and VERY active!)- Make sure the bichir is a little larger so that it doesn't get eaten by the catfish. I'd say a 5 inch bichir with a 3 inch catfish is safe.

My 2 cents for a 55 final stocking!

 

[ClownKnife28]

Senegals and Palmas Bichirs are the only acceptable ones for a 55 gallon in my opinion.

I'd get the senegal since its the most active bichir. The other species tend to just sit around a lot.

 

[PiMpPiStOl]

1 Senegal Bichir (1 foot)
1 African Knifefish (8-12 Inches)
1 Ctenopoma acutirostre (6-8 Inches)
1 Angelfish (6 inches long and 12 inches tall- Make sure its a little larger than the Ctenopoma acutirostre so it doesn't get eaten when both are small. Don't get it too much larger or it may kill the CA. CAs are predatory. When both are adults, it should be fine, I think.)
1 Pink Kisser (12 Inches)
1 Pictus Catfish (8-10 inches and VERY active!)- Make sure the bichir is a little larger so that it doesn't get eaten by the catfish. I'd say a 5 inch bichir with a 3 inch catfish is safe.

My 2 cents for a 55 final stocking!

im liking it...minus the kisser. never liked those much.

what kind of set up do you recommend?? i dotn have anything for the 55 yet, and im planing to build around the fish. so whatever fish i get, ill get stuff for them. like, what kind of filter, light, decorations, food...all that good stuff

 

[artemis1]

1 Senegal Bichir (1 foot)
1 African Knifefish (8-12 Inches)
1 Ctenopoma acutirostre (6-8 Inches)
1 Angelfish (6 inches long and 12 inches tall- Make sure its a little larger than the Ctenopoma acutirostre so it doesn't get eaten when both are small. Don't get it too much larger or it may kill the CA. CAs are predatory. When both are adults, it should be fine, I think.)
1 Pink Kisser (12 Inches)
1 Pictus Catfish (8-10 inches and VERY active!)- Make sure the bichir is a little larger so that it doesn't get eaten by the catfish. I'd say a 5 inch bichir with a 3 inch catfish is safe.

My 2 cents for a 55 final stocking!

That is way overstocked.

Very rarely do black ghost knives get 12'' inches, and past that is unheard off, besides one or two large specimens.

Personally, i would go with a pair of JDs. Or one single large oscar. You'd have to go low on decor. Oscars are NOT boring fish. No other fish has as much personality as an oscar, i don't care what anyone else says. Just double filtration, these guys are messy.

Cheers,
art

 

[PiMpPiStOl]

That is way overstocked.

Very rarely do black ghost knives get 12'' inches, and past that is unheard off, besides one or two large specimens.

Personally, i would go with a pair of JDs. Or one single large oscar. You'd have to go low on decor. Oscars are NOT boring fish. No other fish has as much personality as an oscar, i don't care what anyone else says. Just double filtration, these guys are messy.

Cheers,
art

theyre not BORING really...i dunno. its just my likings ya know? i like the cooler looking fish really. like, oscars. theyre a normal fish type. its kinda like guitars. Fenders and Les Pauls are like...the most popular bodies probably. most designs and stuff are of one of the 2 guitars. i like stuff like BC Riches, and Explorers, and all the different shapes. you see what i mean?

i like the different kinda stuff...

and if its overstocked, what should i get rid of on the list?

 

[Pyramid_Party]

for filtration - go for (2) AC 110s

 

[tcarswell]

or an ac110 and a fluval 304 or 404

 

[ClownKnife28]

That is way overstocked.

Very rarely do black ghost knives get 12'' inches, and past that is unheard off, besides one or two large specimens.

Personally, i would go with a pair of JDs. Or one single large oscar. You'd have to go low on decor. Oscars are NOT boring fish. No other fish has as much personality as an oscar, i don't care what anyone else says. Just double filtration, these guys are messy.

Cheers,
art

I have to disagree with you. I don't think its overstocked. If he doesn't like pink kissers, then take it off. 1 senegal bichir, 1 african knifefish, 1 angel fish, 1 pictus cat and 1 ctenopoma acutirostre is not overstocked for a 55. First off, some of the fish are nocturnal while others are diurnal. Angelfish are diurnal, slow moving fish and don't take that much space because of this. Senegal bichirs are mostly active at night. On top of that while they are more active than other bichir species, they are nowhere near as active as silver dollars (which could fit in this tank, but I took them out since they would eat the plants the CA requires) or bala sharks (which get too large for anything under a 6 foot 125 gallon, IMHO). The CA fish will get active once its acclimated to the tank, but will get 6-8 inches in a 4 foot tank. The knifefish rests during the day and becomes active at dusk. The pictus cat will provide lots of motion in the tank while doing a good job of eating leftovers from meals that accumulate at the bottom of the tank. These fish have contrasting colors and shapes which makes the overall tank interesting to look at. To help with the tank space element, some will have the tank during the day, the others will have it at night.

I would put some driftwood in the tank, some moss and maybe some anacharis (spelling may be off on this) and java fern or whatever plants appeals to the tank's owner.

I would not get a 55 for just one oscar or two JD's or any one or two fish. That's just me and I think the thread's author and I are similar in this. I think what he is asking for is a set up of contrasting fish that would get along with each other and look nice together.