I'm New (I have questions too!)

Thank you all so very much for the information. Brody, I will definatly be careful with the Ropefish/Senegal Bichir combonation. This is pretty much why I wanted the smallest Bichir available. Considering that it will not get anymore than 12" in aquaria seemed like it would do well. I understand that it is skinny, but from others that I've talked to they havent seemed to have much problems at all with a Senegal & Ropefish. I do have a question that I would like to pose to anyone who knows something about Bichirs & Ropefish. What type of feeder fish would you recommend using for the Bichir & Ropefish? I've heard anything from Goldfish to Guppies. I do intend on using carnivore pellets as well too, especially the sinking ones.
SillyPutty, I've DEFINATLY looked into Gouramies and I have to say I am very interested in having them in the tank with the Senegal & Ropefish. I will indeed, Patoloco, add them in first AFTER set up & cycling. I will indeed need to soon find a site on exactly how to cycle a tank, and by the way, I have gotten the e-mail back from my LFS about a 75 gallon tank, and it definatly looks like I will getting one considering they said that they are only $137. What I've done last night is go to various sites, mainly Dr. Foster & Smith, and looked into filters, lighting, heaters, substrates, ornaments, plants & hiding places for these fish. Brody, are you sure that it was a Senegal Bichir that ate your cousins 8" Gar? That Gar seems like an awefully large meal for something that is longer than wide. Patoloco, I do indeed understand that each and every fish deserves the same amount of respect and I am not one to judge a fish only on price tag. I will indeed give my fish that upmost care possible. I will still be looking into other fish that could go in my tank that wouldn't be a threat to my Bichir & Ropefish, also not become fish food themselves. I really want this tank to become a success!
Thank you all for all of your understanding, patience, and knowledge that you've shared with me.

Shane,
 
Shane,

:) I just want to drop a line and tell you how appreciative I am, and I'm sure most of us are, that you are doing so much research before setting up the tank and getting your fish. It is really wonderful that you are trying so hard to do it right. :thm:

Size, behavior, diet, and cycling are so important when setting up a tank. Thank you for caring. :)
:dive:
I hope you post pictures once your tank is setup, and I look forward to seeing you around the forums. :dive2:
:hi:

Beeker
 
Beeker said:
Shane,

:) I just want to drop a line and tell you how appreciative I am, and I'm sure most of us are, that you are doing so much research before setting up the tank and getting your fish. It is really wonderful that you are trying so hard to do it right. :thm:

Size, behavior, diet, and cycling are so important when setting up a tank. Thank you for caring. :)
:dive:
I hope you post pictures once your tank is setup, and I look forward to seeing you around the forums. :dive2:
:hi:

Beeker
Click to expand...

Beeker,

:D
Thank you so much for the positive input. It does mean alot to me that so many people think that I am starting off the right way. I definatly want these fish to be the happiest they can be, and live the longest that they can.
I definatly keep size, behavior, diet, and cycling in mind before I do anything. I care because they'll be a part of my life. It's definatly something I always want to do, and it has been something I've always wanted to do.
I will indeed post pictures up when I setup everything. I will also definatly stick around here on the forums asking & answering questions when I can.

Thank you again, Everyone

Shane, ;)
 
Q.What type of feeder fish would you recommend using for the Bichir & Ropefish? I've heard anything from Goldfish to Guppies.
A. Goldfish are horrid as feeders
Feeder goldfish
DO NOT USE FEEDER GOLDFISH they are oily not very nutritious and constant feed of them causes faty deposits on the liver they also contain very high levels of Thiaminase a destroying hormone.
another issue with goldfish is the presence of a 'spine' in the anterior of the dorsal fin, this can prove problematic if the fish swallows the feeder the wrong way or further issues in the digestive system. goldfish are just not a good feeder (not that feeders in general are that great). if you have to feed feeders, as mentioned above, go with guppies or rosies. i prefer rosies since they seem to be a little less susceptible to ich and the like...although its good to quarantine feeders if you can.
Feeder goldfish farms utilize copper meds in suspension form to combat diseases in the feeders associated with overcrowding. These copper meds are retained by the feeders for long periods after they leave the farms. Most lfs invariably retain all or part of the feeders shipping water when the feeders are loaded into their bins/tanks. And copper does not dissapate from a closed system.
If you do use feeders I highly recomend a quarantine period to help prevent disease transmission.-Anne
 
beblondie said:
Q.What type of feeder fish would you recommend using for the Bichir & Ropefish? I've heard anything from Goldfish to Guppies.
A. Goldfish are horrid as feeders
Feeder goldfish
DO NOT USE FEEDER GOLDFISH they are oily not very nutritious and constant feed of them causes faty deposits on the liver they also contain very high levels of Thiaminase a destroying hormone.
another issue with goldfish is the presence of a 'spine' in the anterior of the dorsal fin, this can prove problematic if the fish swallows the feeder the wrong way or further issues in the digestive system. goldfish are just not a good feeder (not that feeders in general are that great). if you have to feed feeders, as mentioned above, go with guppies or rosies. i prefer rosies since they seem to be a little less susceptible to ich and the like...although its good to quarantine feeders if you can.
Feeder goldfish farms utilize copper meds in suspension form to combat diseases in the feeders associated with overcrowding. These copper meds are retained by the feeders for long periods after they leave the farms. Most lfs invariably retain all or part of the feeders shipping water when the feeders are loaded into their bins/tanks. And copper does not dissapate from a closed system.
If you do use feeders I highly recomend a quarantine period to help prevent disease transmission.-Anne
Click to expand...

Oh wow, Thank you so much for the headsup Anne! :clap: I will definatly look into using Rosies as well. I will indeed get a quarantine tank to keep them all in as well.
Thanks again!

Shane,
 
Alright everyone, I've finally decided how I what I would like my tankmates to be!
I've decided to go with Patoloco & SillyPutty's idea with Gourami's. I will have about 3 of them to start along with 1 Cichlid. I would also like a Pleco there as well. As far as to what type of Pleco, I don't know. Then later, after awile letting the tank mature, and have all of the fish grow to a size that I would no longer have to worry about the Senegal & Ropefish I will place them in only then. Yes, I well indeed cycle and set up my tank before ANY of this takes place.
If anyone knows, for a 75G tank, about how many Gourami's could I have in my tank, and not have them become uncomfortable?
Thank you everyone!

Shane, :read:
 
I kept abput 8 gouramies in my 70 gl tank along with the rope fish back then, and it was plenty of room for them. You could start with less than that until your set up is mature. According to your plans, you could stick to probably four or 6 of them, keeping always more females than males. They will have plenty of room for them and will not be a significant load for your filtration system.

Go ahead with your plans, and let's us know as you progress.
 
Alright Patoloco,
I will definatly do that. My plans seem to make out as that they will work, but so far thats only going to be in theory seeing how I wont get most of the stuff for a while (couple of months since I'm saving up). I just wanted to get an early start. 4-6, and more females than males, alright I will definatly go with that. Thank you for your help!

Shane, :dive2:
 
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