I will be setting up my 55Gal soon and trying to think of what to put in it. I'm kinda itching for some 'strange' fish. What of these would work in there together? And any other suggestions for tank mates for them? It will have a silica sand substrate considering I have about 150lbs of it. The temp will probably be about 80F my fish room tends to be warm. Probably some wood & rock and a few plants.
Here's the list.
African Butterfly Fish. Or A Bichir. Or knife fish of some sort. Or eel of some sort. Or multiples there of.
If there's any other 'oddballs' you would like to suggest that would work in a 55gal show please let me know.
I also have a steady supply of tadpoles for live food.

sorry, i cant think of anything off the top of my head. sounds cool though. also, im not sure a 55 would house bichirs for too long... they get pretty big. anyhow good luck with this.

Do some cichlids

No I'm not that fond of cichlids. I may consider discus or some of the other oddballs though.
I do have a LFS that will let me do trade ins or give me store credit if they get too big too fast. I would like to try and avoid that though.
Mind you this list was made from looking at pictures not info. I'm just after weird fish. It would also be a plus if they are predators, My BF wants a fish that will eat small fish.

sounds like it will be a great tank and i cant wait to see some pics of it.

I need help with the stock planning before there will be pics
Black Ghost Knife Fish =19.7 inch. 78F. PH 6.6
Peacock Eel=9.8 inch. 82F. PH 6.7
Fire Eel= 18inch. 78F. PH7
Ornate Bichir=23inch. 78F. 7.8PH
Cuvier's Bichir= 16inch. 82F. 8.2 PH
African Butterfly Fish= 3.9 inch. 78F. 6.5PH

I'm thinking I really want the butterfly fish There really cool looking.
If you have any other strange looking fish to suggest please do along with pros and cons.
If there's a purple colored cichlid I may consider it.

I would recomend the African Butterfly Fish= 3.9 inch. 78F. 6.5PH b/c it looks like everything else gets longer then your tank LOL.

Well I kinda put those as examples of the strangeness I'm after. I will def get the butterfly's, Just not sure how many would work in the tank. 4ft long x 1ft wide x ?deep, Its the standard 55 show style.
Ok so planning on the butterfly's what other oddballs could I put in there?

I will also do a photo journal of this tank. I already had to fix the center support with a strip cut out of a license plate and some JB quick... So it should be interesting. At least I don't have to build a stand for this one

KMX if you can find cichlids that are vibrant purple and blue I may get them later.

it may be hard to do oddball in such limited space. if it fits into a small tank.... then everyone could have it.

True. Ok how about fish that aren't the normal fish shape?
Like whiptail cats, kuhli loaches, discus, angel, eel..... to name a few examples

Discus would be nice. Or some exotic Angels.

I've heard that angels are really picky with water and what not, and that their easy to kill. I don't know a thing about discus. Care to enlighten me?