Stocking ideas?

[Dsoars]

Just picked up a new tank that’s 8’ L, 30” W, 16” H. I’m gonna be moving all my fish in my 160g into it (albino Senegal, delhezi, buettikoferi, polli, mokelembembe bichirs, 2 ropefish, half banded spiny eel), and am considering getting a big top dweller. Would the footprint of this tank be suitable for an arowana long term? If not then maybe a Florida gar? I also want to add a leopard leaf fish or two. Any suggestions for fish that would be compatible with all of the above, reaches a good size, but could stay in the tank for life?

 

[abominus]

Your tank size is not appropriate for an arowana which can grow up 3 to 4 feet and are fast growers. Although florida gar can also get up 32 inches. It takes them at least 3 to 4 years or even more to grow them at that size. You can keep it for a few years but then need to rehome it. You can add a short body florida gar which won't need rehoming. By the way hornet cichlid or buttokoferi can get very aggressive and big. A 4 inch killed my 5 inch Oscar.

 

[Dsoars]

Your tank size is not appropriate for an arowana which can grow up 3 to 4 feet and are fast growers. Although florida gar can also get up 32 inches. It takes them at least 3 to 4 years or even more to grow them at that size. You can keep it for a few years but then need to rehome it. You can add a short body florida gar which won't need rehoming. By the way hornet cichlid or buttokoferi can get very aggressive and big. A 4 inch killed my 5 inch Oscar.

A buettikoferi bichir could kill an Oscar? I think another name for them is gold dust bichirs. What’s a hornet cichlid?

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

A buettikoferi bichir could kill an Oscar? I think another name for them is gold dust bichirs. What’s a hornet cichlid?

You already sound like you have a well-stocked tank, but if you want a top dweller, you could get Hujeta gars (only a foot long but need a school), needlenose gars (only a foot long but also need a school), and/or a shortbody gar.

 

[abominus]

A buettikoferi bichir could kill an Oscar? I think another name for them is gold dust bichirs. What’s a hornet cichlid?

oh sorry. when you wrote buettikoferi i thought of it as a buttikoferi cichlid or hornet cichlid which are very agressive

 

[abominus]

this is a hornet cichlid.

 

[abominus]

hornet cichlid

 

[Dsoars]

You already sound like you have a well-stocked tank, but if you want a top dweller, you could get Hujeta gars (only a foot long but need a school), needlenose gars (only a foot long but also need a school), and/or a shortbody gar.

Not a fan of the short body varieties of fish so I think I’ll look into the others you mentioned. I was looking at pink tail Chalceus but the tank is in the entry way to my house and I’ve heard they spook real bad

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Not a fan of the short body varieties of fish so I think I’ll look into the others you mentioned. I was looking at pink tail Chalceus but the tank is in the entry way to my house and I’ve heard they spook real bad

I've personally owned a Hujeta gar, it was my first fish. I think you would like those, they are fun fish. But mine only took live food, so if you don't have a live food source available I would be careful about getting a Hujeta (or any gar for that matter).

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

I forgot to mention, that Hujetas are not true gars; they are gar-like characins. I believe needlenose gars are actual gars, someone else more knowledgeable on gars can help in that department.