please help me build my first predator tank

GermanDude

Candiru
MFK Member
Dec 30, 2014
201
85
46
Berlin
Lucky you!
Looks like a snakehead, maybe Channa punctata?
A predator for sure, not like the mystus catfish.
But I don't know if they would get along with the bichirs.
I would not bet on it.
 

gmwJOY

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 1, 2019
63
1
8
Indian > west bengal > kolkata
i am not sure if you are from german, you seems like indian, by the way after posting this i did some research
and found that here in our area its very easy to catch 3 types of snakehead
channa murrel , channa punctata , one more i don't know the name sorry
drainage, ponds etc
and yes pangasius pangas
 

TheReefer

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Apr 13, 2019
602
423
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Pennsylvania
Ok, I'll list 10 stocking ideas
1. Senegal bichir, african butterfly fish and leopard bush fish (they love live food)
2. gulper catfish (will eat food 3/4 of it's own side)
3. Green terror/jack dempsey (personable and will eat live food, but also likes vegetable matter)
4. Pike cichlids in the 6-10 inch range (saxatilis or sveni for example)
5. Exodon (mini piranhas)
6. puffer fish (ambush ones like the congo puffer would be the best bet as they don't need hard shelled foods)
7. Axolotls (love nightcrawlers, will eat small fish though this shouldn't be their main diet)
8. Smaller knife fish species like the african knife fish
9. Hujeta gar
10. Burmese clouded archerfish (love to shoot down crickets from branches above)
 

gmwJOY

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 1, 2019
63
1
8
Indian > west bengal > kolkata
thanks for the list, but the problem is almost all the fish you mentioned is not available any time here
i can find
senegal bichir
green terror
i am not sure about gulper cat, but i saw so many types of cat in market, as well as red tail cat
i don't know the difference between smaller african knife, but yes i saw some knife with black round marks
i saw some puffer in marker, not sure which one gonna stay small
problem is some of the seller dont know about fish they selling in that market
and local pet store are seems not interested, in big fish, or exotic fish ,all they are interested in goldfish , molly, platy, like this common fish,
but there is a store who sell arowana red tail cat , cichlid varieties... ghost knife etc
 

TheReefer

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Apr 13, 2019
602
423
72
43
Pennsylvania
thanks for the list, but the problem is almost all the fish you mentioned is not available any time here
i can find
senegal bichir
green terror
i am not sure about gulper cat, but i saw so many types of cat in market, as well as red tail cat
i don't know the difference between smaller african knife, but yes i saw some knife with black round marks
i saw some puffer in marker, not sure which one gonna stay small
problem is some of the seller dont know about fish they selling in that market
and local pet store are seems not interested, in big fish, or exotic fish ,all they are interested in goldfish , molly, platy, like this common fish,
but there is a store who sell arowana red tail cat , cichlid varieties... ghost knife etc
thanks for the list, but the problem is almost all the fish you mentioned is not available any time here
i can find
senegal bichir
green terror
i am not sure about gulper cat, but i saw so many types of cat in market, as well as red tail cat
i don't know the difference between smaller african knife, but yes i saw some knife with black round marks
i saw some puffer in marker, not sure which one gonna stay small
problem is some of the seller dont know about fish they selling in that market
and local pet store are seems not interested, in big fish, or exotic fish ,all they are interested in goldfish , molly, platy, like this common fish,
but there is a store who sell arowana red tail cat , cichlid varieties... ghost knife etc
thanks for the list, but the problem is almost all the fish you mentioned is not available any time here
i can find
senegal bichir
green terror
i am not sure about gulper cat, but i saw so many types of cat in market, as well as red tail cat
i don't know the difference between smaller african knife, but yes i saw some knife with black round marks
i saw some puffer in marker, not sure which one gonna stay small
problem is some of the seller dont know about fish they selling in that market
and local pet store are seems not interested, in big fish, or exotic fish ,all they are interested in goldfish , molly, platy, like this common fish,
but there is a store who sell arowana red tail cat , cichlid varieties... ghost knife etc
ghost knife? You mean the black ghost knife fish because that could work
 

duanes

MFK Moderators
Staff member
Moderator
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Jun 7, 2007
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Isla Taboga Panama via Milwaukee
I get the impression that many aquarists who want predators, expect them to be hyper animated, aggressive and dramatic acting fish.
But in most cases, especially in small tanks, (under a few hundred gallons) most predators just sit and sulk, and wait to be fed, and eat whatever is offered in a split second or two, then go back to sulking.
In nature a predator might have a territory to patrol of an acre or more, but in a tank of a few square feet, what's to patrol? What's to do?
In small tanks, small predators will at least get to move around somewhat, and patrol, create aquaristic interest, and although they might not create that immediate imposing, image, at least they will be able to move around, and not atrophy from lack of exercise.
 
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