Tank Mates for Bichirs and Polleni

[joel.uejio]

Hi folks, I just completed a big downsizing effort so I'm now down to one 75g tank with 3 senegal bichirs and a 6" female Paratilapia polleni. I think I have some capacity, though, so wondering if anyone has suggestions on possible fish to add...?

The senegals are 6-9" and pretty calm. The polleni is mostly calm, but hates any other dark fish. I had to re-home an ABK and Leaf fish b/c the polleni kept going after them. Filtration is from an AC110 and XP3. Tank is planted with driftwood and sand substrate.

Thanks!

 

[probassfisher010]

The senegals usually only bother fish smaller then 3 inches, and eachother. Ive never had a Polleni but Ive heard they are pretty calm, unless breeding. I would suggest a smaller/calmer central american cichlid with it. Ive also read that these fish can handle themselves if needed, so pretty much any cichlid that doesn't get too big should work

 

[screaminleeman]

Sounds mighty overstocked already IMO. Polleni and EXTREMELY passive insofar as Tilapia go. They are WAY less agressive than the large spot (Blekeri) tilapia, a lower total platform of agression as compared to their Nile Tilapia cousins.

Not even in the realm of the Butti! They are SO peaceful, that I keep my 8" Polleni with an 8" Lemmon Oscar, 13" Tiger Oscar, 15" Red Oscar, 12" Venezuela Pike cichlid, a 8"+ Blue Channel catfish, two 8+" Yellow Bullhead catfish & two 12"+ Ornate Bichirs.

The only minor agression involving the Polleni is an occasional spat with the Lemmon!

The same fish could NOT be housed with a MUCH smaller Cuban or Butti cichlid, as they were WAY too brutal and would have killed the fish two to three times their size.

They are very pretty, but not tilapia agression at all.

Polleni with larger SA/CA.

The Polleni growth rate is half (or less) that of the farmed Blue Tilapia, or the Nile Tilapia that I have kept, and at least 50% less than the Butti's I have kept.

That should be kept in mind with the housing with SA/CA cichlids with MUCH faster growth rates like Oscars and Jaguars!

 

[JML1997]

8 African buttefly fish..

 

[joel.uejio]

Thanks all for the comments. I think butterfly fish would get picked on...might look at a CA/SA cichlid, or might just keep tank as-is. Here are some pics, BTW:

 

[WckedMidas]

i have always had made ollenis and mad bleekeris who like to fight everyone.