70g tank -- Knife? Bichir? Eel?

[ameliaaahx]

Considering either a Black Ghost Knife, Senegal (or other variety) Bichir or Fire Eel for my new 70g tank, currently cycling.

Any opinions on which I should get, or advice on what else to stock tank with in each of these cases?

I know a lot of people will suggest cichlids as tankmates but I don't want cichlids. The only cichlids I'd be happy with would be kribs or bolivian rams.

Swaying towards BGK because I imagine I have more variety with what other tankmates I can get with this.

Any ideas, or personal experience, would be greatly appreciated. :)

[ameliaaahx]

EDIT: Forgot to mention I was also looking at Elephant nose fish. Any advice on these too would be welcomed.

[ScottishFish]

Elephant nose fish require sand as a substrate, they also prefer very subdued lighting and a peat filter.

I love BGKs, they are the quirkiest fish ever, grow to a huge size!! What about rope/reed fish as a tank mates, could keep 3/4 of them. I have both kribs and Bolivian rams, excellent fish

[ameliaaahx]

I've never seen or heard of rope/reed fish being sold in my area. The fish-keeping scene is somewhat smaller here in New Zealand and we don't have a lot of varieties that other places do.

I have always loved BGKs! Do you keep them with your kribs and rams?

[ScottishFish]

My biggest tank is 48g so I can't keep one :( as my name suggests I'm from scotland, and our fish keeping seen is drab compared to u.s, still see rope fish though

[toddnbecka]

A BGK would quickly outgrow a 70 gallon tank, and most likely eat Rams or Kribs when it got large enough. A black or brown African knife would be a much better fit. A Macana zebra knife would also work if you could find one.

[ameliaaahx]

I don't think either of those are available here unfortunately. :/ Oh well.

[Blueknight]

Hmm.. Rope fish are a lot of fun, unless the aquarium lid is not tight.

[cardiocentric]

What about an Ornate Bichir? :) I'm going to live vicariously through your large tank since I'll probably never have one that size... a friend of mine has one and she says when she comes home from work and it's feeding time he begs like a little dog. I've also heard Ornates tend to stay a little smaller than Senegal/Dinosaur Bichirs...

[toddnbecka]

Ornates are something like rattlesnakes, though not as flexible. As they grow longer they also get bulkier/bigger around.