Species suggestions

[Robk]

Hi all,

I have just joined this forum after browsng as a guest for the last couple of weeks.

I have a 264 litre tank (Width/ Length: 120 cm - Depth : 40 cm - Height: 50 cm) which currently houses:
1 7'' Senegal bichir
1 6'' Ghost knife
1 4'' Tiger plec

I would like to ad another species but im looking for input on this. There is a good possbility of upgrading to a bigger tank in the future as and when needed.

Im open to any ideas, but heres a list of a few fish im interested in:
Polypterus spp
Tiger fish
Snake heads
Oscars

Thanks in advance for any help,

Rob

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How much do you know about "cycling" and how water quality works to start off with? You must familiarise yourself with how the water quality in your tank works before even considering more fish as this early stage in the tanks development.

I'm no expert on the fish you listed that you want to add to the tank, although i can say for sure that oscars grow too large for the tank, and with " Polypterus sp" you have to be more specific as there are many types of bichirs.

Channidae is a family of freshwater perciform fish commonly known as snakeheads, and is native to Africa and Asia. There are two genera, Channa in Asia, and parachanna in Africa, consisting of 30 species. Most snakeheads grow to 2-3ft long, so will be too large for your tank regardless of how agressive these fish are (which in general, is very agressive).

With the "tiger fish", do you mean something like a siamese tigerfish? I.e.;

http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/dat_microlepis.htm


?

Also your tank is closer to these gallons/litres;

Dimensions 120 x 40 x 50cm/47" x 16" x 20 Surface area 0.48 sqm/5.17 sq ft/ inches sq in Volume 240 l./53 gal. (63.4 US gal.) Probable volume 216 l./48 gal. (57 US gal.)

 

[Robk]

How much do you know about "cycling" and how water quality works to start off with? You must familiarise yourself with how the water quality in your tank works before even considering more fish as this early stage in the tanks development

Firstly, thankyou for the reply. I have a good understanding of the nitrogen cycle, both within a tank and in the general environment. I do not have an exact date for when the tank was initially cycled to hand but it is around 3 months ago (i have a record). The fish I have in there currently were introduced one at a time as not to create an inbalance.

I'm no expert on the fish you listed that you want to add to the tank, although i can say for sure that oscars grow too large for the tank, and with " Polypterus sp" you have to be more specific as there are many types of bichirs.

I have 'worked' with oscars before, so i am aware of the large adult size, but what i dont know is how long does it take for them to achieve this size? As for Polypterus, i am just stating that i am interested in this genus as a whole.

With the "tiger fish", do you mean something like a siamese tigerfish? I.e.;

Yes i meant Datnioides, i should have made that clearer.

I think my inital post was not clear enough, so apologes for that. Im contemplating the addition of another species and i would like a bit of basic advice e.g. Oscars will need ''*'' gallons when adult, and this will take ''*'' months, very rewardng fsh to keep....

Cheers

Rob

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Oscars should generally be kept in a species tank as they can be quite agressive, and will kill and /or eat any fish small enough to fit in their mouth. They can be kept with fish of like size, but you should exercise caution when doing this as aggression issues can occur.

Oscars require a 75gallon long tank minimum for one oscar if the oscar is to be kept permanently in the tank, although the bigger the tank the better, UGF (undergravel filtration) and planting is not advised as oscars are diggers.

Oscars grow to about 12-14inches long when looked after properly, a tank of your size would be adequate for a growing oscar for quite a long time depending on the size and number of oscar/s you keep.

I wouldn't advise tigerfish for your tank, as far as i am aware they grow too large and agressive to be kept in standard community tanks.

Good tank mates for oscars usually go along the lines of Jack Dempsey, Convicts (one or more of the same sex, as a breeding pair will become VERY aggressive), Tinfoil Barbs, Silver Dollars, Spotted Silver Dollars, Bala Sharks, Common Plecostomus, Clown Loaches, Pictus Catfish, and African Brown Knife etc (note that a lot of these fish needs tanks larger than 75gallons long).

 

[guppy]

You might try one of the colorful synodontis cats such as the cuckoo

 

[rjmtx]

Check out the Polypterus forum on here for Bichir ideas. Also read beblondie's primers. There are a few of the "upper jaw" bichir species you could keep in there. Personally, I'd go with P. delhezi. Anyway, check out that forum. Some of the smaller Geophagus species would do OK. I'd stay away from big CA/SA cichlid (like oscars) for that size tank... Can be done, but it's cramped and will limit what else you can put in there (which will pretty much be nothing).