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hey, so i've got a 30 gal right now with an oscar, bristlenose pleco, and 2 upsie-down cats. I've got a really nice penn-plax canister filter and all the other required aquarium stuff. Soon the oscar is gonna get 2 big for the aquarium. when i move him out i'm probably gonna give away the upside-down catfish too. any ways i was thinking of getting 3 of the 4 following kinds of fish: African Butterfly, leopard gourami(spotted climbing perch), senegal bichir(wouldn't be permanently in the 30), or a mature sword tail pair. I'm pretty sure i want the bichir, but i don't know what else to get. will these fish work together?

PS- by the way the reason i chose swordtail is because they are attractive, active, and when they mate, the fry can be eaten by everyone else in the tank.

bichirs can really only be kept with one another!

if you were to get them you would need to only get one or a pair. this might be a task to find a pair of male and femal, but it is possible... also if they make a bit of hanky-panky those fry could make you a bit of money! but as far as i know bichirs need sand or a very fine&smooth substrate as well as caves. I dotn know about there compatability with plants though and other decorations. I think rocks driftwood and some rocks and DW positioned to make caves... slate is also a good rock to get for cave making!

but as far as i know the bichirs would be alot of fun and are a cool looking fish! always wanted a pair!!!!!

also if it isnt too far a stretch you could probably do a great community set up in a 30g! if that suits your fancy...

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

AFAIK, bichirs are largely unaggressive to most fish they can't eat and are a usual suspect among the predatory fish crowd, who often keep them with other predatory fish that can handle themselves. I've also seen large numbers of bichirs kept in single aquariums, at least six in some larger aquariums, and all the bichirs just chill out next to each other and don't seem to be any worse for wear from any possible aggression. Not saying it doesn't happen, but it doesn't appear the bichirs are damaged at all if it does occur. I haven't kept bichirs myself, but if it weren't for the supposed propensity of plecs to sometimes chew their skin off I would have by now. I have, on the other hand, kept a ropefish (before I had plecs), and it was a perfectly peaceful community fish.

As long as the senegal bichir isn't permanent in the 30 gallon IMO your African predatory set-up should be fine.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Birchirs dont belong in anything under 55 gallons. Until you've kept one, you'll know why. Those snakes like to swim
African butterfly fish would work, however watch your flow, they are from slow moving rivers and streams of africa.

haha, don't worry, i understand how to take care of bigger fish. This oscar is the 5th i've owned. i would consider them pretty large and slightly aggressive too. lol.

but my tank does have a kinda strong current from the filter so i think i'm gonna go with a pair of sword tails, the leopard gourami, and a baby senegal a month or so after the other fish have been established in the tank.

You are gone want atleast two female swords to the one male. Preferably three. With only one the male is going to harrass the female non stop.