Suggestions for fish with personality

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Ponera

Candiru
MFK Member
Nov 2, 2012
341
23
48
Calgary, Alberta
So we just lost our senegal bichir to an issue with his lung. My girlfriend is really sad about it.

We have a 45 gallon bowfront with a brand new fluval 70. We don't have substrate, but could easily add some. We are probably upgrading to a 90-150 gallon tank in the new year, but we haven't yet done this so we don't wanna get something that will get huge incase we suddenly can't get a new tank.

Currently we have two pictus cats (we might trade one in), a bronze cory, 4 cone snails and 3 nerite snails. With the bichir, we were able to keep the ammonia, nitrates and nitrites really low (if not at zero) with pretty minimal water changes (max 20% once per week).

What are some examples of really friendly fish with personality, similar to sengal bichirs? The number one criteria is the fish has to be friendly and do some silly things. My girlfriend loved when the bichir would greet her every morning by coming up to the glass and saying hello.
 
Amphilophus? Maybe grow out a fahaka puffer? I know both of these suggestions will eventually outgrow the 45 but they will provide you with plenty of time to do so.

As for fish that can be kept in a 45? I feel like a lot of Acara species are overlooked. Rainbow cichlids and centrarchus are very fun and personable as well.
 
I wouldnt say those would give you a lot of time before needing an upgrade from 45, imo. If you got a baby amphilophus you'd have probably 4-6 months tops. It would also kill all of OPs other fish.
How about an angelfish? They are cichlids and are pretty personable. Will come and beg for food etc. If this is a 45 tall, it would be a good size for one or a pair. Could grow out a few juveniles to get a pair.
 
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For the tank size, I’d say red wolf fish but they are the exact opposite of friendly.

I’d get a pair of one of the medium sized cichlids like electric blue acara, convict, rainbow, etc. and beef up the Cory number.
 
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We went to the fish store today and she just can't quit the bichirs. She loved ropefish before we met, but those are uncommon here and I'm not about to get 6 and plant a tank for them. So we got a pair of teeny tiny babies and plan on dumping the two pictus in my dads 90 gallon tank when the bichirs get a bit bigger. Then we will add more corys. For some reason bichirs are really chill with them. We do plan on getting a 90+ gallon and the post covid used market is pretty good here for tanks!

I was thinking if we could get a 150, we could do Frontosa or, if I get the money and patience, some Cavlus. Thoughts on the Frontosa? I'd be open to Kribensis as well or maybe Geophagus or Mikrogeophagus.

She also really likes fat catfish. We considered a bumblebee, a raphael (we have no substrate so I said no on that) or a sun cat. We decided the pictus were already too big of dick heads to each other and to chill on the buying for at least a month.

We are kinda limited in what we get here in Calgary!
 
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Not sure if raphaels need substrate - give them a nice cave to hide in and they’ll be happy.
I’d also pass on any of the dwarf cichlids with a bichir - they’d be a pretty easy meal.
 
Ponera said:
We went to the fish store today and she just can't quit the bichirs. She loved ropefish before we met, but those are uncommon here and I'm not about to get 6 and plant a tank for them. So we got a pair of teeny tiny babies and plan on dumping the two pictus in my dads 90 gallon tank when the bichirs get a bit bigger. Then we will add more corys. For some reason bichirs are really chill with them. We do plan on getting a 90+ gallon and the post covid used market is pretty good here for tanks! 90 gallon tank...I have a beautiful Herichthys carpintis in mine. Intelligent and highly interactive. Even plays with our Australian Shepherd.

I was thinking if we could get a 150, we could do Frontosa or, if I get the money and patience, some Cavlus. Thoughts on the Frontosa? I'd be open to Kribensis as well or maybe Geophagus or Mikrogeophagus. Frontosa get big and a 150 is only 18 inches wide; doesn't leave them much room to move around in. I would be thinking 210 gallons and bigger for Fronts.

She also really likes fat catfish. We considered a bumblebee, a raphael (we have no substrate so I said no on that) or a sun cat. We decided the pictus were already too big of dick heads to each other and to chill on the buying for at least a month.

We are kinda limited in what we get here in Calgary!
Click to expand...
 
Ponera said:
as thinking if we could get a 150, we could do Frontosa or, if I get the money and patience, some Cavlus. Thoughts on the Frontosa?
Click to expand...

Frontosas and calvus are both interesting cichlids to observe, but neither are particularly “friendly” or interactive IME.

For an interactive fish for a 45 I’d go with a schoutedeni puffer.
 
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Would advise against keeping pictus cats with bichirs, I had one attempt to eat one once, and the pictus have spines that get caught in the throat, killing both fish.
 
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