I just got a new 29 gallon tank for my birthday and I placed my senegalus bichir in it and added 3 small kenyi cichlids. I hear these guys are mouth breeders. Are they easy to breed? Should I be worried that they will outgrow the tank? I believe they grow to 5 inches.
Kenyi Cichlids
- Thread starter Zim
- Start date
Hello,
Though I am not all that familiar with your bichir...I do know
that these two types of fish really dont mix.
The most obvious reason IMO is that bichir's diet and
environment for housing are quite different.
The bichir's eat mostly protien in the forms of meat and other fish
and Mbunas such as your kenyi are vegetarians, and eat mostly
algae and sprilina flakes along with veggies.
As for housing, bichir's are used to a softer water with lots
of plants and drift woods for comfort, Mbunas on the other
hand like the water very hard with a rocky terrain for hidey
holes.
So, again these are only points of concern, you can house
any fish you want together in what ever sized tank you like.
But, if you are interested about the long term, your tank
whichever fish you decide to keep, is too small for either,
esp. the bichir, they require lots of space to roam and get pretty large on their own. Kenyis though not a large fish, are very
active and quite aggressive and like to chase each other around.
I have kept African cichlids for quite awhile now, and have had
my share of good and bad as with anyone keeping fish, but I
decided to go with a species only tank when looking to breed and
keep kenyis aka Ps./Met. lombardoi, they are just down right nasty when housed together with any other Mbuna.
Good luck with your fish, ciao for now, FG.
Though I am not all that familiar with your bichir...I do know
that these two types of fish really dont mix.
The most obvious reason IMO is that bichir's diet and
environment for housing are quite different.
The bichir's eat mostly protien in the forms of meat and other fish
and Mbunas such as your kenyi are vegetarians, and eat mostly
algae and sprilina flakes along with veggies.
As for housing, bichir's are used to a softer water with lots
of plants and drift woods for comfort, Mbunas on the other
hand like the water very hard with a rocky terrain for hidey
holes.
So, again these are only points of concern, you can house
any fish you want together in what ever sized tank you like.
But, if you are interested about the long term, your tank
whichever fish you decide to keep, is too small for either,
esp. the bichir, they require lots of space to roam and get pretty large on their own. Kenyis though not a large fish, are very
active and quite aggressive and like to chase each other around.
I have kept African cichlids for quite awhile now, and have had
my share of good and bad as with anyone keeping fish, but I
decided to go with a species only tank when looking to breed and
keep kenyis aka Ps./Met. lombardoi, they are just down right nasty when housed together with any other Mbuna.
Good luck with your fish, ciao for now, FG.
I was told by members of this forum that cichlids are the best bet for bichir tank mates. Perhaps I was told wrong or selected the wrong cichlids?
There are many cichlids to choose from, just not one with a completely different diet and water pH and hardness. Try some Central/South American Cichlids. Most of these are more tolerant of soft, neutral waters.
Three kenyi in a small tank?
The moment had come
I swallowed my gum
We knew there'd be blood on the sand pretty soon
The crowd held its breath
Hoping that death
Would brighten an otherwise dull afternoon. - Tom Lehrer, In Old Mexico
The moment had come
I swallowed my gum
We knew there'd be blood on the sand pretty soon
The crowd held its breath
Hoping that death
Would brighten an otherwise dull afternoon. - Tom Lehrer, In Old Mexico
Sorry, Zim, you rec'd some incomplete advice about cichlids. Many of us would say that 3 kennyis, with or without tankmates, won't work in 29 gallon tank. Kennyis are quite aggressive and territorial and would fight amongst themselves (and maybe with tankmates). Some people may have been able to make such an arrangement work, but they are the minority.
I'd take the kennyis back and look for some more suitable tankmates.
HTH,
Jim
I'd take the kennyis back and look for some more suitable tankmates.
HTH,
Jim