senegalus and mbuna

[RLHam3]

Hey I was wondering how a 4" senegal bichir would do in a mbuna cichlid aquarium. The tank would be a 55 gallon with PFS as the substrate. There are a lot of rocks arranged around and i may try to add crushed coral if i need to, to get the pH to the target level (7.6).

He's the only fish in the tank now, but i was thinking of getting a group of 2" yellow labs fairly soon. (any more suggestions?)

I'll try to post pics soon

 

[Yoda1]

I have heard of other people with this combination.
But personally I wouldn't do it. Mbuna are best kept by themselves.

 

[JamesF]

Yellow labs are pretty docile. There shouldn't be any problems, but you may want to wait until the senegal is larger. The labs will quickly outgrow it, and they may bully it if he is too small.

 

[screaminleeman]

I had a Retropennis in with my Mbuna and they nipped at it. Nothing extreme, but I would up removing the Retro. and homing it in a growout with Florida Gar. On a side note, I saw NOTHING, but in the same week that the Bichir was in the Mbuna tank I lost two cichlids. I had not lost a fish in the Mbuna tank for many months before that and have not lost one since removing the Bichir.

Does not mean the Bichir killed the cichlids, but makes one wonder?

 

[RLHam3]

Here's the tank
And here's the bichir. I've had her(?) for about 3 months and she's around 4".

 

[JamesF]

I'd let her bulk up a bit. If you feed her good and do plenty of water changes, you should get about 1" a month for growth. In a couple of months, you should be fine with the labs.