I have a 46 gallon tank that is still cycling and was wondering what fish would work in it
So far I had in mind
1x African Butterfly
2x Leaf Fish
1x Bush Fish
2x Tri-Band Sumo Loach (I have somebody that will take one of them once they get to big
I have some decor at the bottom of the tank and a little area of dwarf hairgrass and I have some Hornwort floating around the top
Is this tank overstocked and will all the fish get along
I think there are some issues there, but I would like first to know the specific species. Common names can be confusing, and two of those mentioned are easier to ID.
The African Butterfly Fish, Pantodon buchholzi, is one I have kept for many years, and many years ago now. This species is best in a pair, male and female. You can read more in our profile, click the shaded name.
The bush fish presumably is Ctenopoma acutirostre, it too is in our profiles. This will need a larger space.
A caution on potentially-large fish: never acquire a fish that will outgrow the present tank, unless you have the larger tank now. Circumstances change. And someone who may say they will take the fish later, may not. And the fish suffers if not kept in suitable surroundings all its life.
And, welcome to Tropical Fish Keeping forum.:cheers:
I haven't kept any of those fish, BUT I just ordered 2 of the Sumo loaches, and I am pretty sure they don't get very big, i.e., 4 inches. What I'm calling a Sumo loach is a Schistura species loach; IDK if they're all called "tri-band" or not. Based on what I've read, they won't do any picking on others...whether they'll be harassed by those other fish I can't say.
Still don't have the scientific name for the "sumo" loach, but assuming it may be Schistura balteata, I would point out that it requires a different habitat from Pantodon. Here is a link to some reliable info on Loaches Online: Schistura balteata — Loaches Online
The Pantodon needs very quiet water, like a swamp or pond; so would leaf fish. Lack of any noticeable current is important. The loach as with many of its kind needs water flow. And sometimes lower temperatures, again related to water flow; quiet waters are usually warmer.
I got my sumo loaches today, and there was no Latin name on there. I am attaching a picture of it though just for general interest. Isn't his eye freaky looking? It looks like a badly drawn human eye.
I agree. I ordered 2, they sent me 3, and now I'm wishing I had ordered more! They walk around the tank always, like they own it! They don't pick on anyone, but they will step on the cories as if they're little stepping stones. So cool! I love them!
Hey Guys , I was curious about the leaf fish . The ''lfs'' here has some but they look like the ''bush'' fish in the pics on our profile , guess thats what byron was meanin bout needin the scientific name for huh . Do you have a pic or diffrent name for the leaf fish ? The store told us he was very very aggresive when we asked about him , my wife thought it was way cool and wanted one for our community tank but didnt get him after the associate said he would kill everything in our tank :-( . But now after research I think the clerk was ..lets say confused ... to be nice but atleast he didnt just say yeah hes great get 5 like most do . And the butterfly is awsome !! very cool . It says they cant handle small fish as tank mates or top dwellin fish I think that would rule him out with my guppys or would it? I know he'd eat the fry but he looked small would a guppy be big enough to be okay with him ? just asking hes so cool .
Hey Guys , I was curious about the leaf fish . The ''lfs'' here has some but they look like the ''bush'' fish in the pics on our profile , guess thats what byron was meanin bout needin the scientific name for huh . Do you have a pic or diffrent name for the leaf fish ? The store told us he was very very aggresive when we asked about him , my wife thought it was way cool and wanted one for our community tank but didnt get him after the associate said he would kill everything in our tank :-( . But now after research I think the clerk was ..lets say confused ... to be nice but atleast he didnt just say yeah hes great get 5 like most do . And the butterfly is awsome !! very cool . It says they cant handle small fish as tank mates or top dwellin fish I think that would rule him out with my guppys or would it? I know he'd eat the fry but he looked small would a guppy be big enough to be okay with him ? just asking hes so cool .
There are several common names for Ctenopoma acutirostre which is probably the most commonly-seen species in this group of fish. Leaf fish and bush fish are two common names. Our member jeaninel has this fish, and contributed to the profile. These fish have very specific requirements, as it notes in the profile.
As for the Pantadon buchholzi, I had this fish many years ago, and no, you cannot have any small fish or those that approach the surface; this is an avid predator. In a biotope-type tank some substrate fish are OK. I had my pair on their own in a 15g (2-foot length) and they lived for years.
Buying any fish in a store that you have not thoroughly researcxhed is a real risk; more times than I care to remember I have had to take fish back, or in some cases destroy them when no other option was available, just because they did not fit in.
they do look alike a lot but the difference is that leaf fish a lot thinner and when bush fish age they grow larger around.
Leaf fish won't attack any fish that is bigger than it's mouth. Even though the leaf fish is quite thin and isn't very it's mouth is actually very big. So anything that is under 2.5 inches probably can't live with it and anything like eels that is skinny it will try to eat too.
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