Regarding Senegal Bichirs & Cichlid Tank Mates

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In my quest to figure out what to put with two Senegal bichirs I'm starting to drift away from mixed cichlid species and thinking of going with a only one type of cichlid and maybe some silver dollars. So out of these which would be the best matches for the bichirs

-Jewel Cichlids
-Black convicts
-Firemouth cichlids

Also if any of these will work I would like to have two, would two females, two males, or a pair be best? If I go with a breeding pair would they hurt the bichirs or silver dollars when they have eggs/fry? (I know they will become more territorial/aggressive during breeding)


I'm becoming kinda frustrated trying to figure out this set up :crazy:
 
if you have a pair this will destory everything else in the tank when they pair up. esp in a tank that small.
 
I'm really at a loss as to what I want to do with the 75 gallon now. The only sure thing are the Senegal bichirs. Seems like the more I read into the cichlids the more conflicting information and opinions I find. The breeding isn't at the top of my list at all and I'm still thinking about a male only tank but still not sure on that either. :WHOA: Some things I've read said they can be kept together others say no. I know a lot comes down to the individual fish as well...
 
Jewels can work well in small groups. You could also try kribs or buffaloheads. All three cichlids are West African so are from similar areas. You can also at some other oddball fish. African butterfly if you want something on the surface, some of the climbing perch species work well. I have spotted climbing perch with my bichirs. Have had them together for about 12 years now. Silver dollars will work as long as you don't want plants.
Fire mouths are quite peaceful IME. Never had any issues with them bothering anything.
 
I think the firemouths seem interesting and like a go. Will check into the African butterfly as I know I can get one locally. Will also look into some of the others you mentioned and see if they are sold locally.

Thanks again everyone for the information, I'm picking up a lot of tid-bits
 
never trust a convict pair! they will truly wreak havoc!
i had my little silver dollars(3 of em) to give life to my lone senegal.
now i have a lapradei too. everything's working fine with my polyps and characins.
btw, i'm from manila.
 
I think a group of 5 or 6 rose line barbs would be pretty sick


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I did a quick search of them and it said their max size is 4.5 inches, be worried the Senegal bichirs would eat them when older. They are pretty though, will have to do more research on them :)


never trust a convict pair! they will truly wreak havoc!
i had my little silver dollars(3 of em) to give life to my lone senegal.
now i have a lapradei too. everything's working fine with my polyps and characins.
btw, i'm from manila.

I've been debating on the silver dollars, not too colorful but they do seem pretty neat. They are still in the running of what I'm considering. Will have to look into the lapradei as I'm not familiar with them.

Thanks for the input and suggestions!
 
I did a quick search of them and it said their max size is 4.5 inches, be worried the Senegal bichirs would eat them when older. They are pretty though, will have to do more research on them :)

Their max size is around 6 inches (seen them at that size) and they fetch a hefty price once they're there, but good luck with whatever you decide to get!




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