should i try senegal bichrs again or something else?

allaboutfish

so i had 2 senegal bichrs in my 120 with
1-blood parrot
1-kirin parrot
3-congo tetras
1-Blue Gourami
1-Bristlenose Pleco
and they both died. i think it was one of three reasons 1.they couldnt get enough to eat being 3in-4in. 2.the tank was too tall for them. 3.they escaped through the tiny holes. this time i was planning on getting larger ones, and plugging up the holes (what should i use?). i was also thinking of just getting one this time instead of 2 and making this my final stock list
2-blood parrots
1-kirin parrot
6-congo tetras
1-blue gourami
1-bristlenose pleco (maybe 2?)
1-senegal bichr
i was also thinking of maybe doing something different this time like pictus cats, rope fish, or maybe clown loaches if the tank is big enough.
so what are yalls opinions on what i should do?

jaysee

They did not starve to death and the tank is not too tall. If they were not eating it was because of a problem, not because they were unable to get enough to eat. Sometimes fish die and we know the cause, but many times we do not. I know you want to pin their deaths on something, but you are barking up the wrong trees.

It seems like you've been having a lot of problems with your tanks lately - I wouldn't get more fish until you get a better handle on the ones you already have.

allaboutfish

what do you mean a better handle? ive done everything i learned with my tanks. water changes weekly, double the filteration. the only problem i have right now are the Goldfish dieing which doesnt relate to this at all.

allaboutfish

also does this mean i shouldnt try the senegals again? maybe make a grow out tank and get them pretty big before i put them in? i really like the eel-like fish but i dont want to get more if they die. maybe they were stressed around the bigger fish? they didnt come out nearly as much as they did in quarentine.

jaysee

I don't know, just seems like you've had one problem after another. It's certainly possible that I've got the wrong impression.

Bichirs are one of the toughest fish out there. They are not prone to diseases, but that doesn't mean they can't get sick and die. I don't think they need to be grown out first.

How long did you quarantine for?

allaboutfish

i cant remember. it was more than weeks though.

allaboutfish

i was thinking of doing one of these. would these work?
2-blood parrots
1-kirin parrot
8-congo tetras
1-blue gourami
1-large albino senegal bichr
or
1-blood parrot
1-kirin parrot
6-congo tetras
1-blue gourami
3-rope fish

allaboutfish

i was also thinking of a Polypterus Delhezi

allaboutfish

So? I want to put in an order tomorrow at my lfs
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Sanguinefox

Instead of buying more fish right now, stick with what you have and see if you can go more than a month without problems. Also Bichirs are not exactly compatable with some of the fish you've got in there.

Firstly if you want a pleco you can't have a bichir. It's a known issue where plecos will munch on a bichir's slime coat. You also plan to have tetras? It's one thing if you are like me and your have full grown Senegalus Bichirs that have shown you they don't want to eat live fish, but you want to get unknowns where you won't know their temperament and try them with fish that at full growth may end up being a snack.

Don't do it. Until you get down for a good length of time running your tanks with zero issues don't get more fish.