BGK tankmates

[Humpy]

Hey i am getting a new 150g tank so I am doing some moving around of the my fish. My 2 Oscars and the Convict will go into the 150. I will be putting my BGk and 3 upside down catfish into the 80g. Now i was wondering what would be a good tankmate for a BGK?

[flamingo]

I wouldn't keep BGK's with upside down catfish, and 80 gallons is too small.

Ultimately, you'll need a 150 gallon like you have now, with almost same sized fish or close that aren't aggressive.

[swordtailbreedr]

Flamingo is correct sorry

[Humpy]

wuts wrong with bgk and upside catfish? They get along just fine

[Danh]

How big is your bgk? I am sure he's not 18", so he will be fine in an 80g for a while. I had one in a 55g... then my xinguII pike grew too quickly and ate him. I didn't think he would have been able to, but he did. Get a school of red hooks so you have something out during the day. They will eventually need to move to the 150 also though.

[Fishfirst]

The reason BGK and the syno's would not work "long term" is becaue of the size the BGK gets. However, as long as he's under 9-10 inches now and the synos are 3-4" he'll be fine with them... syno's are spiney, so eating them wouldn't work out too well. Good tankmates... well that depends... what size tank are you planning on getting when these tankmates get large like the BGK... or are you planning temporary ones.

If you go with the first choice and get an appropriate sized tank for the big fish you could get bala sharks, angelfish, large gouramis such as pink kissing gourami, Plecostomus, bichirs, spiney eels, tinfoil barbs, and possibly annostomus spp. or leporinus spp, silver dollars, ect.

If you go with the second choice you have a lot of choices... short term a lot of things can go with the BGK... anything thats not aggressive but big enough not to get swallowed.

[redpaulhus]

I wouldn't put anything too pricey with a BGK -- I had a sweet one of about 10" who liked to pop the eyes out of the platies he was housed with (especially if I hadn't given him blackworms or redworms recently).

[Humpy]

I'd say my Bgk is about 6" now. He is in a 33g planted tank right now. There is blue tetra, black neon tetra, cherry barbs, ottos, 3 upside down catfish and a gourami in there as well. None of my fish have died and i have had no problems. The BGK and catfish squirmish every no and then because they both seem to like the same spots.

[Ravynnm]

I'll get yelled at for overstocking, but I plan for a bigger tank in about a year, so here goes. I have a BGK, Slicer, who shares a 55 with 4 clown loaches, 6 cory elegans (I may have spelled that wrong), 3 angels, two bristle nosed plecs, and some bolivan rams. I know Slicer can get huge, as can the loaches, but I've had them for a year, and though they've definately grown, they are no where near their maximum size. Loaches range from 4 -5 inches, Slicer is about 7". The angels on the other hand, purchased at the same time, are fully grown. The BN plecos max at 5" or so, and keep the tank clear of algae. The cories also remain relatively small, 2 of them I've had for over 4 years. I'd think SA but not small. Yeah, I know the loaches aren't SA, but next to BGK they are the coolest fish going.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is yes, BGK (and loaches) can get huge, but they're not fast growers. I'm planning for the long term, but everyone is content, healthy, and happy right now, so I have some time, as do you.

[eon17]

ravy angels get the size of diner plates r urs really that big?

[Ravynnm]

Eon,

The largest is about 7" top of top fine to bottom of lower fin, maybe 8".

Ravy