Could use some input on the stocking for a 120g african oddball/community tank.

[Vredrick II]

I'll soon be getting a 120g tank and have been doing a lot of thinking on stocking. It's basically come down to either a species tank with a large group of Exodons (Bucktooth tetra) or more of an african oddbal tank. Regarding the latter I'd really appreciate some advice on possible stocking options.

So far I'm thinking:

Leopard Bush fish (C. acutirostre)
Senegal Bichir
African Butterfly Fish (2-3)
Congo Tetra (10-15)

I know Congo Tetras are not completely without risk but it's probably most commonly recommended ditter/schooling fish, for bichirs/bush fish, that I could find. I'd be happy to hear if any of you had any other recommendations.

Should I just keep it to one Ctenopoma or would multiple be possible? Are there any other species that might make good/better additons to the tank?

Appreciate the Help!

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

What are the dimensions of? You could probably fit a few more Polypterus if you wanted to.

 

[Vredrick II]

What are the dimensions of? You could probably fit a few more Polypterus if you wanted to.

It's a Juwel Rio 450, exact dimensions are 151 x 51 x 66 cm.

I usually tend towards lighter stocking, so I didn't wanna do too much. But for the Bichir specifically the advice on tank size/numbers I found, was all over the place. With some people saying you need at least a 6ft tank, while others wrote that even a 40g would be completely fine.

 

[tlindsey]

I'll soon be getting a 120g tank and have been doing a lot of thinking on stocking. It's basically come down to either a species tank with a large group of Exodons (Bucktooth tetra) or more of an african oddbal tank. Regarding the latter I'd really appreciate some advice on possible stocking options.

So far I'm thinking:

Leopard Bush fish (C. acutirostre)
Senegal Bichir
African Butterfly Fish (2-3)
Congo Tetra (10-15)

I know Congo Tetras are not completely without risk but it's probably most commonly recommended ditter/schooling fish, for bichirs/bush fish, that I could find. I'd be happy to hear if any of you had any other recommendations.

Should I just keep it to one Ctenopoma or would multiple be possible? Are there any other species that might make good/better additons to the tank?

Appreciate the Help!

Welcome aboard
The fish on your list possibly would be okay but it may be a challenge feeding them. I recommend the largest Congo tetras you can find. If the tetras are too small they will get eaten either by the leopard fish or the Senegal bichir.

 

[A201]

Don't forget to toss in a Jewel Cichlid. People often forget Jewels are African Riverine Cichlids.

 

[Vredrick II]

Welcome aboard
The fish on your list possibly would be okay but it may be a challenge feeding them. I recommend the largest Congo tetras you can find. If the tetras are too small they will get eaten either by the leopard fish or the Senegal bichir.

Should the Kongos already be adults when I get them? Most of the stores I was looking at describe their Kongos at 4-5cm when sold (online, don't have any fish stores near me). With the bichir typically advertised as 8-10cm.

Do you have any recommendations for a school fish that may work better, with those two?

 

[tlindsey]

Do you have any recommendations for a school fish that may work better, with those two?

The adult Congo Tetra will be fine if you can find them.

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[tlindsey]

The adult Congo Tetra will be fine if you can find them.

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You could also get small Congo Tetra first and wait until they grew to 3-4 inches then add the other fish.

 

[WannabeBigfishKeeper]

I'll soon be getting a 120g tank and have been doing a lot of thinking on stocking. It's basically come down to either a species tank with a large group of Exodons (Bucktooth tetra) or more of an african oddbal tank. Regarding the latter I'd really appreciate some advice on possible stocking options.

So far I'm thinking:

Leopard Bush fish (C. acutirostre)
Senegal Bichir
African Butterfly Fish (2-3)
Congo Tetra (10-15)

I know Congo Tetras are not completely without risk but it's probably most commonly recommended ditter/schooling fish, for bichirs/bush fish, that I could find. I'd be happy to hear if any of you had any other recommendations.

Should I just keep it to one Ctenopoma or would multiple be possible? Are there any other species that might make good/better additons to the tank?

Appreciate the Help!

Probably could add a African Brown knife fish, I have one and they are really odd characters.

 

[Vredrick II]

Don't forget to toss in a Jewel Cichlid. People often forget Jewels are African Riverine Cichlids.

Huh, they never came up in conjunction with the other species, when I was researching. But they do look absolutely stunning.

I really don't know much about cichlids. Would they work with all the other species I mentioned? Can you recommend any specific sources to learn more about them? Definitely going to look into them further, thank you.