Unusual aquatic pets?

[Bona Fide]

Hi all

I'll hopefully be buying my first house pretty soon and am excited about setting up an aquarium. I had a variety of fish when I was younger and also had some rainbow crabs.

I've become more interested in aggressive fish recently (having only ever kept quite peaceful community fish). I'm very tempted to go with some bucktooth tetras, but I wanted to get some ideas for unusual aquatic creatures. There's the obvious choices like axolotl, crayfish, aquatic frogs, etc. I'll probably be getting a ~55 USG tank (I'm in the UK).

Thanks

 

[tlindsey]

Hi all

I'll hopefully be buying my first house pretty soon and am excited about setting up an aquarium. I had a variety of fish when I was younger and also had some rainbow crabs.

I've become more interested in aggressive fish recently (having only ever kept quite peaceful community fish). I'm very tempted to go with some bucktooth tetras, but I wanted to get some ideas for unusual aquatic creatures. There's the obvious choices like axolotl, crayfish, aquatic frogs, etc. I'll probably be getting a ~55 USG tank (I'm in the UK).

Thanks

Welcome aboard

Yes a group of Exodons aka Bucktooth Tetra would be interesting. They are pretty hardy. The first and one of the most important parts of the proper fish keeping hobby is under standing the Nitrifying Cycle of a aquarium. That is a must to keep any fish alive successfully.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Senegal bichir? They are “unusual” depending on what you define as unusual.
Not sure if how much experience you have but if you have a decent amount then perhaps ropefish tickles your fancy.
Both are fish that are snake like.

 

[twentyleagues]

Just be aware that both ropefish and polys need lids on the tank and ropes need them escape proof. Ropes dont jump so much as climb any hole or opening will be exploited. I believe while they are both hardy and pretty easy to care for they need an experianced keeper to make sure no accidents happen. I love mine! 10 polys and 11 ropefish...lol
I really like exodons! In a 55g 10 would be perfect.

 

[fishhead0103666]

I can confirm what twentyleagues said about them needing lids, one of my bichirs jumped out for no reason (as far as I’m aware of). If you get either one then make sure there are no gaps, don’t underestimate their ability to get out.

 

[Bona Fide]

Thanks for those. Any other suggestions welcome!

 

[twentyleagues]

Sirens. Would need to be one of the smaller species. There are greater and lesser but I dont think that always refers to size. Lfs had a greater nothern siren that topped out at about 12" and was 8ish at the time super cute. Some get massive though. They are like axolotls with no hind legs.

 

[DRUKENMUNKY]

A cool oddball that i once had in a former exodon tank was my avocado puffers ( modestus ). I had 12 of these guys along with about 40 to 50 exodons in a 200 gallon back in the day . Was probably one of favorite tanks ever

 

[Oompa Loompa]

For a 55, I'm gonna vote exodons. Or, a large group of dwarf puffers. Either would be a fun display.
If you want to go salt, I'm voting octopus or cuttlefish. A group of dwarf cuttlefish would do well in a 55, or a smaller species of octopus. Pretty much the ultimate in "unusual" IMO.

 

[Uglyknob]

For a 55, I'm gonna vote exodons. Or, a large group of dwarf puffers. Either would be a fun display.
If you want to go salt, I'm voting octopus or cuttlefish. A group of dwarf cuttlefish would do well in a 55, or a smaller species of octopus. Pretty much the ultimate in "unusual" IMO.

I recently researched that, because they (octopus) are fascinating to me. However, you get, at most, a couple of years out of them and they are a pain in the butt to get, feed, and escape proof. Would love to do it though, I could watch an octopus move around for an hour and not get bored.