Suggest me a fish

[Gibbiceps]

Hi, this is my first post, so hello all.
I have a 6 foot tank with a mix of community and two cichlids; one ebjd and one convict. I have a a leopard ctenopoma, tinfoil barb, rainbow shark, some bottom dwellers and more. Anyway, since my mother had to give up her tank, I had to adopt her goldfish which has been living surprisingly happily in my tropical tank for a year. He may be a little burden, but he's a great character and is a joy to hand feed.
So, my tinfoil barb is stressing him (and others) a lot (and yes I do apologize for getting a lonesome barb, I am aware they're schooling fish) so I am looking to give the barb away to a good home or pet shop.

I've just been pondering what to replace him with? Just a slow moving, non-hyperactive fish that grows pretty big and is noticeable will do (I prefer fish that grow bigger).

I originally thought of a blood parrot cichlid but then realized the risk of breeding with the convict. I'm a fan of Oscars and big cichlids but I can't imagine them being any better tankmates for the goldfish. I also don't like bala sharks or silver dollars, so could anyone suggest me something? Thank you

 

[Montelboom]

By six foot tank, do you mean a 120 gallon tank or a 180? Do you know the dimensions of it? Also what kind of other bottom dwellers do you have?

 

[Gibbiceps]

Hi, it's 171 gallons and I have a gibbiceps plec (forgot to mention) and a featherfin syno

 

[MrBlueDream]

I would add some bichirs and some red severums. Bichir will add nice prehistoric look, while the severums are colorful yet graceful.

 

[Gibbiceps]

I would add some bichirs and some red severums. Bichir will add nice prehistoric look, while the severums are colorful yet graceful.

I've always wanted bichirs but I was always scared they'd attempt to eat the other tank mates or nip. I take it senegals would be the best to go for, if I ever were to get a bichir? And Red severums seem perfect!

 

[ehh]

171 gallons? Well that's new.

 

[Montelboom]

I think that some bichirs could work. Anything else you're interested in?

 

[MrBlueDream]

I've always wanted bichirs but I was always scared they'd attempt to eat the other tank mates or nip. I take it senegals would be the best to go for, if I ever were to get a bichir? And Red severums seem perfect!

I have 2 14" delhezi bichirs that won't eat my 1" cherry barbs, I'm sure they'd try if they coil catch them...
I also have a handful of small geophagus, red heads, they seem ok, no nipped fins.
Yoyo loach, about 2", safe from the bichirs also.

It may be also how I feed, lots of shrimp pellets, keep them slow and fat hehe.



Severums are about 6"

 

[DMD123]

Watch out for the pleco with the bichirs. Plecos can develop a taste for the slime coats on bichir. That said, it can be done depending on the fish. I have a rhino pleco with a weeksii and delhezi bichir and the only issue can be a little territorial issue at times. The pleco has its favorite driftwood and will chase off the bichir. But watch the fish carefully if you add the bichir

 

[Woefulrelic]

Small school of fesitivum, 3+. I have mesonauta Guyanae and they have a slow loose schooling formation which combined with their curiosity gives you a slow active school while keeping the cichlid mentality. They can usually put up with bigger cichlids, although a con could probably tear up their trailers.