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55 gal for Ancient Fish, need feedback

8K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  OddballFishCoveter 
#1 ·
Hello all, a fish hobbyist that's new to these forums here.

I am soon going to acquire a 55 gallon tank, and I wish to put some of my favorite fish in it. But, I am not sure who would go well with who, and how well the fish would do at their maximum size, because I have only had smaller 10 gallon tanks previously with easier fish such as tetras and koi/goldfish. You guys are the pros, and I would sooner trust personal experience than what's written on fish store website.

Now onto the fish, I would really love some combination of: Senegal Bichir, Black Ghost Knife, Rope Fish, Clown Loach, and some type of Pleco.

Who would get along and who wouldn't? Do any of their water conditions vary too much from each other?

And while I have checked on various sites for minimum tank sizes (which for all except some plecos is 50 gal), an opinion from you guys would be most appreciated.

I have also had friends that have kept Plecos in tanks smaller than 70 gallons, and have had them live long lives (I think they were mainly Trinidad Plecos), though would guys think it safe for Plecos that get to about 1 foot to be in said 55 gallon tank with these fish?

Thanks to any who respond.
 
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#2 ·
Hello all, a fish hobbyist that's new to these forums here.

I am soon going to acquire a 55 gallon tank, and I wish to put some of my favorite fish in it. But, I am not sure who would go well with who, and how well the fish would do at their maximum size, because I have only had smaller 10 gallon tanks previously with easier fish such as tetras and koi/goldfish. You guys are the pros, and I would sooner trust personal experience than what's written on fish store website.

Now onto the fish, I would really love some combination of: Senegal Bichir, Black Ghost Knife, Rope Fish, Clown Loach, and some type of Pleco.

Who would get along and who wouldn't? Do any of their water conditions vary too much from each other?

And while I have checked on various sites for minimum tank sizes (which for all except some plecos is 50 gal), an opinion from you guys would be most appreciated.

I have also had friends that have kept Plecos in tanks smaller than 70 gallons, and have had them live long lives (I think they were mainly Trinidad Plecos), though would guys think it safe for Plecos that get to about 1 foot to be in said 55 gallon tank with these fish?

Thanks to any who respond.
Hello and welcome to TKF :-D If you have not found the fish profiles here yet on the site I would suggest that you check them out. There is a lot of information available in the profiles on size tank that they need, compatibility, water requirements and such. You can find the link at the top of the page second tab from the left. Off hand I do know that clown loaches can get very large and need to be kept in groups of at least 6 in a tank that is 6 ft or larger. Depending on the type of pleco you are interested in some of them like the common pleco also can get very large and require a tank of at least 75 gallons or larger. I am not as familiar with the other fish you have listed but most of them if not all of them will be listed in the profiles. Also I am sure others will add in their information that they know.
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the welcome.

After some more research (which included a thorough reading of your wonderful fish profiles), I have changed my list of desired species to the following:

Changed Clown Loach to Dojo Loach, due to the clown's grouping habits and size that I wouldn't be able to accommodate
Eliminated Rope Fish, though there was no profile of them here, I have determined that they may create too much 'biomass' because it is recommended to get at least two, and they get up to over 2 feet long.

A Senegal Bichir, Black Ghost Knife, and perhaps a common Pleco is still desired. I also have a thought of getting two of either the bichir or dojo loach, if capacity allows.
 
#4 ·
I'm not terribly familiar with any of those fish, but noticed in the profile of the Senegal Bichir that it is likely to eat fish with serpentine like bodies, like a dojo loach. There are other plecos you can get rather then the common pleco. Perhaps a bristlenose Pleco would be ok(maybe even 2-3?)

Heres a link to Black ghost knifefish if you haven't seen that profile yet.
 
#5 ·
Yeah the bichir I wouldn't recommend...My little guy I just picked up,can't be more than 4"-5" MAX and he's already trying to compete with my large tinfoils, cichilids ect for food. Literally attempting to eat a half medium sized shrimp,doing death rolls and flips trying to fit it in his mouth.

You may get lucky, but I have no doubt anything that has a potential to fit in this guys mouth, will end up in there haha
 
#6 ·
Thanks for the replies, everyone.

I will say the fish I'm most set on getting is the Bichir, and that the other fish are what I would be willing to change out of my options. If those fish other than the Bichir wouldn't be safe with them, then I wouldn't give a second thought of trying to fit them together. :)

I have another thought of getting differently colored Bichir, such as the normal variety, albino, and platinum; if you guys think that a better option.
 
#7 ·
I've found because the rope fish(which I believe you noted you were eliminating) is a great choice. The bio-load isn't massive because they are lengthy but not thick as a bichir will be. From my brief readings, I believe they are similiar in terms of classification.
I have one right now, I don't keep him/her in a group and he's a happy healthy guy. If you google rope fish, you'll find a picture of a rope fish hanging out with several bichirs actually...

If your sticking with a 55 for awhile ,I 'd research bichir's a little more deeply in terms of maturity length,size ect and then decide esp since your opting to choose a variety of bichirs. I'm not sure what type of filtration ect you plan on using either.

I do know that a tank full of bichirs along the bottom is a sight to be seen.Beautiful choice of potential fish stock.

The bio-load of a few bichirs maybe larger though, so I'm not sure what else you could put in a 55 comfortably for life that won't be a tasty snack.
 
#8 ·
A 55 gallon is what I'll have for quite a while, though hopefully after college and such I'll be able to afford a 200-300 gallon tank, which I've been dreaming of for a long time; perhaps even two tanks of that size to try to go for a saltwater setup.

Anyways, if Rope Fish like the company of Bichir, then perhaps I'll give them more thought. And as for the size of mature Senegal Bichir (which is usually 1 foot from what my research tells me), do you think they would be comfortable at their potential maximum size in my tank?

I love big fish, but if you think they wouldn't be happy at their mature size in there, I suppose I may have to choose a different stock of fish, which I would be sad about. D:

Right now I have this setup in mind:

1 Rope Fish
2 Senegal Bichir (one of normal variety and an albino)
1 Pleco that gets to a larger size or a Black Ghost Knife, unless that's stretching it a bit.
 
#9 · (Edited)
I only have the one bichir..I'm new to keeping them as well , he's in a 130 gal with a few other of my fish.I'm contimplating purchasing 2 more as they are on sale at my LFS .

I can't remember the dimensions of a 55, I have one..I believe it's 4 feet by something rather...
I'm growing out a black ghost knife in there, but, I have plans in the next 2 months to move him into the 130 and then 180..possibly a larger tank even still.

I'm a true believer in having the tank before the fish, unless you know for certian in the near future you will have the size tank that fish needs for maturity. Ghost knifes don't grow like a RTC ,but they do grow..the last thing you want is for he/she to be stunted. A BGK could live in a 55 for awhile, but awhile isn't a set term so..

I'm almost going to guarantee a pleco is a huge bio-load anyway you look at it.. Unless your going with some of the smaller species.

A bichir or 2 should be fine in a 55 for awhile...not for life though,but..a pretty good while.

You could try an African brown knife, pictus cats are a fantastic option to..best in a little group. Mind you..your going to want to look into getting fish that aren't bottom dwellers haha..

I'm lucky in the sense that all my other fish are wayy to large for the bichir to bother..

Heres a pic of the little guy



 
#10 ·
Smaller Plecos are an option, so long as you don't think the Bichir would make a meal out of them. Someone suggested a Bristlenose or two, which I think may work out.

I suppose getting a much larger tank later on would have to be a set thing to accommodate the Bichir and other fish later on. I would probably be able to get one in about 6 to 8 years, minimum, if that isn't an unreasonable stretch of time.

Catfish could work... a Striped Raphael perhaps... a Brown Knife could also be an option as well
 
#12 ·
One of the things that I would suggest is if looking to be able to upgrade a tank and on a budget, keep an eye out on craigslist, or similar type sites. Good deals can be found on larger tanks, and may make upgrading something that is more feasiable to do. As said by OP I also agree in making sure that you have the tank size needed to accomadate a fish over its lifetime. Things can happen, and money that you may expect to be available later down the road may not be there.
 
#13 ·
Well... even if that is true, could I get at least one Bichir? As I said, the other fish are optional, and unless he'd be lonely by himself.
 
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