Lonely fish?

[BichirMohawk]

I have a 55 gallon with 2 small delhezi bichirs and a small leopard bush fish (leopard ctenopoma). The bichirs are always hiding and don't interact with the leopard bush fish really. Do you think the leopard bush fish would get lonely? Thinking of getting another leopard bush fish for company but not sure if they would be aggressive/territorial with each other when full grown.

 

[tlindsey]

I have a 55 gallon with 2 small delhezi bichirs and a small leopard bush fish (leopard ctenopoma). The bichirs are always hiding and don't interact with the leopard bush fish really. Do you think the leopard bush fish would get lonely? Thinking of getting another leopard bush fish for company but not sure if they would be aggressive/territorial with each other when full grown.

I had 2 at one time and didn't notice any aggressive behavior towards one another.

 

[kno4te]

Can get another bush fish. Like tlindsey mentioned shouldn’t be aggressive.

 

[magpie]

How old is your current cteno? I have read about some issues between them but also have read of them being fine together. I'd try it for sure.

What else do you have in the tank? I like your taste.

 

[BichirMohawk]

How old is your current cteno? I have read about some issues between them but also have read of them being fine together. I'd try it for sure.

What else do you have in the tank? I like your taste.

The cteno was 2 inches when bought, kept for 3 monthes so far, now around 3 inches. It's just the cteno and 2 bichirs.

Thanks for the input guys, I will try for another one.

 

[litigator666]

I have 4 bushfish on my tank and I don't see aggression with each other. They are approx 4+yrs old and 5 inches.

 

[twentyleagues]

My lfs has a bunch of cteno babies in right now about 1.5 across the board. They have probably 12 or 15 of them and while watching them I noticed a couple being agressive and inquired and was told there are a few in every batch. So just be careful and choose wisely. The one was removed to a tank close by because they hadn't noticed just how agressive he actually was, bitting and holding on to the others.

 

[BichirMohawk]

My lfs has a bunch of cteno babies in right now about 1.5 across the board. They have probably 12 or 15 of them and while watching them I noticed a couple being agressive and inquired and was told there are a few in every batch. So just be careful and choose wisely. The one was removed to a tank close by because they hadn't noticed just how agressive he actually was, bitting and holding on to the others.

thanks for the input, do you know how big the tank was?

 

[twentyleagues]

thanks for the input, do you know how big the tank was?

Not exactly but small. Typical selling tank probably 18x18x18.

 

[Mighty Wizard]

I don't think your fish is lonely exactly, Ctenopoma are solitary in nature, and several sources describe them as territorial. It does however seem that many people who keep them together find success. Most territorial fish also don't become territorial until adulthood. If you plan to keep two or more together, I suggest making sure the tank is adequately furnished, with many hides and sight barriers, preferably with a good portion of plants.

A general rule for shy predatory fish, is that they become more active directly depending on the amount of safe places to skitter off to, so if your Bichirs are hiding a lot then this will help with that as well.