Opinions and some brainstorming need.

[Conner]

Not necessarily these fish but using these as examples. African Leaf Fish, Bichirs, knives, and other things similar to these.

You could do a couple senegal bichirs, a black ghost knife, and leopard ctenopoma's or african leaf fish. They should all be ok in there, I think. Most of the other bichirs get too large for that footprint, but I could be wrong about that. Might ask in the polypterid forum on tank size.

There might be some other knife fish that could be in that tank, but they're more rare and would need to be ordered online.

The leaf fish and ctenopoma's are both pretty cool fish. Definitely ambush predators, but I did train my ctenopoma onto flake and pellet foods before I rehomed it.


If you really want a challenge, and you could find them, you could try a freshwater pipefish colony. I've heard they're very difficult fish to keep, but very pretty and fun to watch.

 

[Khormid]

This is the type of stuff I'm talking about. Thanks Connor. You think its a good enough footprint for a black ghost knife?

 

[screaminleeman]

You could do freshwater flounder for the bottom dwellers easy enough.

 

[Dreamsing]

I don't know about a black ghost knife, they get to be as big as 18 inches and it's always better in my experiance to prepare for the largest size rather than the smallest. If you're wanting to have more individuals as opposed to a couple really big fish, you might go with peacock eels and african brown knives. They keep to reasonable sizes and fit the oddball description.

I'd worry about a bichar in that tank, but I've never kept one so I can't say if it would work out well or not.

 

[Conner]

I don't know about a black ghost knife, they get to be as big as 18 inches and it's always better in my experiance to prepare for the largest size rather than the smallest. If you're wanting to have more individuals as opposed to a couple really big fish, you might go with peacock eels and african brown knives. They keep to reasonable sizes and fit the oddball description.

I'd worry about a bichar in that tank, but I've never kept one so I can't say if it would work out well or not.

The ghost knife would be ok for a while. I've got one that's about 1.5-2 years old (as far as I can tell), and is about 9". He spends all day hidden, and only comes out after dark. I'd think that footprint would work for a good while, although maybe not permanently.

Brown knives and peacock eels would both fit better into the tank.

As for the bichirs, like I said, the senegals stay smaller, so they would probably last a good while, although may need to be upgraded eventually.

Personally, I think you should go for pipefish. They're fascinating, and should be a challenge.

 

[Khormid]

Yeah I've always wanted to care for a bichir really cool looking fish. Anything particular I need to know about them, i know they need access to air at the top so i shouldn't fill completely but allow a nice pocket of air. Are they pretty hardy? Probably go with the brown knifefish as it would be a smaller species and allow for it to live its full life in the tank.

 

[Conner]

Senegal bichirs are pretty hardy. I have one in a 125g tank, filled to the brim, and he doesn't have any issues. He likes earthworms, shrimp, tilapia, and pellets.

 

[Khormid]

Ok so were leaning towards. African Leaf Fish, African Brown Knifefish, Senegal Bichir; think im gonna pass on the pipefish (don't think I've ever seen any around here). What kinda of numbers and/or additions would you make to this list. Thanks again for the continued help Conner.

 

[Conner]

Ok so were leaning towards. African Leaf Fish, African Brown Knifefish, Senegal Bichir; think im gonna pass on the pipefish (don't think I've ever seen any around here). What kinda of numbers and/or additions would you make to this list. Thanks again for the continued help Conner.

The numbers depend on filtration. If you want to go light filtration with small water changes, one of each or maybe two of the leaffish would work. If you don't mind a larger filter and more often/larger waterchanges, I would say 2-3 bichirs, 1-2 knives, and 2-3 leaffish.

 

[Khormid]

Im gonna run 2 Marineland BioWheel 200s roughly 100g worth of filtration footprint and weekly water changes of 20% roughly.