species name(both common and scientific): ID Shark, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus
total time of cohabitation: Roughly 6 months
size of fish cohabed: 2 20"ish ID sharks, with bowfins ranging from roughly 20-26"
pros: ID shark didn't bother the bowfins, would often hang out in the same areas
cons: Bowfins would frequently shred the fins of the ID's, One of the ID's got it's lower jaw ripped off by a bowfin after only 2 days, leading to death. If the ID freaked out it would cause a chain reaction sending all the fish into a panic.
special things to note: The bowfins were fine with the first ID shark for months, the second was killed in a matter of days, with the first still left relatively untouched. Very unpredictable in their aggression.
overall score: 2/10
species name(both common and scientific): Alligator Gar, Atractosteus spatula
total time of cohabitation: 10 months and counting
size of fish cohabed: 18-34" alligator gars with 20-26" bowfin
pros: Very little aggression between the fish. They usually swim with and lie with each other.
cons: Bowfin tend to be the more aggressive feeders, often stealing food from the alligator gars, or chasing gars with food down. Aggression usually only involves some minor fin nipping. If something spooks one of the fish it tends to start a chain reaction of all the fish freaking out.
special things to note: The overall setup is heavily stocked, as I have found this lessens the aggression between/from the gator gars. This likely has an effect on the bowfin as well.
overall score: 7/10
species name(both common and scientific): Longnose Gar, Lepisosteus osseus
total time of cohabitation: 3 months and counting
size of fish cohabed: 27 3/4", and 28 1/4" longnoses with bowfin ranging from 20-26"
pros: Very little aggression between the fish. They usually swim with and lie with each other.
cons: Some fin nipping from the bowfins. If something spooks one of the fish it tends to start a chain reaction of all the fish freaking out.
special things to note: There is not as much competition for food as the longnoses stick to mainly pellets whereas the bowfins prefer meaty food items. The overall setup is heavily stocked, as I have found this lessens the aggression between the other tankmates.
overall score: 8/10
species name(both common and scientific): Florida Gar, Lepisosteus platyrhincus
total time of cohabitation: maybe an hour
size of fish cohabed: 18" Florida Gar with 20-26" bowfin
pros: Was ignored by most of the bowfin, after being inspected initially by the individual fish.
cons: Within about 15 minutes of being added to the setup one of the bowfin tried to bite the florida on it's head
special things to note: After that first bite attempt I removed the florida, as I didn't want to risk it. The bowfins have been fine in the past with gator gars of the same size. I feel that there would be a better chance of the combo working if the gar was larger in size than the bowfin. This is a combo I might try again with different sized fish.
overall score: 5/10
species name(both common and scientific): Bowfin, Amia calva
total time of cohabitation: Up to 10 months depending on when they were added to the comm. Still being housed together.
size of fish cohabed: 20 - 26" 1 male and 4 females
pros: Usually ignore each other, and occasionally hang out together, lay on top of each other.
cons: Minor fin nipping was relatively common. There was also some major aggression where the largest female was beaten up, as well as a smaller female and my male being killed. If one fish panics it can set off a chain reaction. As well very aggressive feeders that try to steal food from each other.
special things to note: Bowfin were fine together for months, aggression started leading to deaths. After additional cover was added aggression had subsided, allowing the reintroduction of the previously beaten up bowfin. Since her reintroduction there has been only very minor fin nipping, which could also be from tankmates. They seem to be very unpredictable with there aggression towards each other, and have the equipment to do a lot of damage. Tank is heavily stocked as I have found this helps to reduce aggression.
overall score: 5/10
