|
|
FAQs on Bichirs, Family Polypteridae
Compatibility
Related Articles: Bichirs,
Related FAQs: Bichirs
1, & Bichir Identification,
Bichir Behavior,
Bichir Selection,
Bichir Systems, Bichir Feeding,
Bichir Disease,
Bichir Reproduction, & FAQs on: Ropefish 1,
Ropefish 2, &
Ropefish ID, Ropefish Behavior,
Ropefish Compatibility,
Ropefish Selection,
Ropefish Systems,
Ropefish Feeding,
Ropefish Health,
Ropefish Reproduction,
|
|
Polypterus ornatipinnis; tankmates,
diet
3/14/09
Hey WWM/Neale,
<Hello again,>
Its been awhile since I've sent any e-mails for your advice. I'd like
to say thanks for your useful tips in your replies. For a beginner like
me and my sis who had no experience in keeping Ornate Bichirs or Plecos,
a year has passed and all of them are doing fine, the Bichir reaching
nearly a foot long.
<Sounds great!>
The reason for this e-mail is for some advice regarding further info on
Ornates and Plecos. Firstly, like the large Ornate I have, I was once
again given 2 more approximately 2-3 inch Ornates together with a 20
gallon tank. Apparently the owner did not want to risk these Ornates
dying as a quite a handful of fish they kept in the past, so they handed
it over to me. I am aware the tank isn't big enough and they will
eventually outgrow it, but for now they have ample space to swim about
and I added two 6 inch PVC pipes for them to hide. The last time I
asked, you advised not to keep more than 1 Ornate together unless the
tank was really big and many have said that as well due to their habit
of biting. But some fishkeepers I've asked have said otherwise and they
can be kept together. Both seem comfortable with each other at the
moment though. Thoughts on this?
<As is often the case "your mileage may vary". Or put another way, there
may be multiple factors involved. Sex is clearly likely to be one, with
male fish often more hostile towards one another than they are towards
females, or females to other females. I'm not aware of Bichirs guarding
their eggs, but males may still be short-tempered with one another
simply because in the wild they'll be competing with one another for
access to mature females. Other issues may include competition for
hiding places, aggression at feeding time, and aggression caused by the
use of certain types of food (live food, particularly "feeder fish",
does seem to increase aggression when predatory fish species are being
maintained). So there is probably a suite of factors involved. If you
can sex your Bichirs (possible, by looking at the anal fin) you could
opt for a group of females, and then ensure the tank was big enough for
all the fish to have hiding places, and then to make sure only dead
foods were used so that their more competitive instincts weren't
encouraged. But these are all guesses; the reality is that Polypterus
ornatipinnis is a solitary fish in the wild and doesn't tend to work
well in groups under aquarium conditions.>
Secondly, just some further info on Ornates. How long do they live? I
heard 10 years but many have said they don't know.
<Surely well over 10 years. Even the small species like Polypterus
palmas will live for longer than 12 years. My guess would be that a
Bichir like an Ornate would have the potential to live 20+ years,
particularly if not kept too warm and given a balanced, not too fatty
diet.>
Are there sub-species of Ornates?
<None mentioned at Fishbase.>
Once read a magazine that recognised 4 sub-species that grows to
different lengths. And about feeding them like the last time I inquired,
I successfully fed the 2 small ones pellets. But the foot long Ornate
seems to be
rather fussy.
<Diet does change in the wild, adult fish being essentially piscivorous
compared to the insect-eating juveniles. Since they hunt by smell rather
than sight, live fish aren't required, but lancefish, mussels, squid and
the like would be viable options. Also, virtually every Bichir or every
size adores earthworms!>
Most of the time it opts to starve itself till we give it fish (some 5
days at a time!) and were not sure if it eats the pellets we feed it.
One person advised me to starve it till it accepts pellets since most do
that. Is this a good tactic?
<Can be. I'd not use pellets for Bichirs because of issues with
constipation; while acceptable now and again, I'd honestly recommend a
more varied diet than this, with a good deal of seafood and white fish,
taking care of course over the thiaminase issue.>
How long can an Ornate go without food?
<Adults likely have to do without food for a month or more during the
dry season.>
Will it remain defiant on its hunger strike till it perishes?
<Depends what you offer it.>
I certainly don't want it to die because it is picky about what it eats!
<Earthworms. Very nutritious. Do collect from an "organic" garden
though; pesticides are an obvious danger otherwise. I deliberately don't
spray my garden for precisely this reason.>
And finally, how do you tell about male and females among Ornates if
you're given a random specimen?
<Juveniles are essentially identical, but sexually mature males have a
much larger, broader anal fin (almost square in shape) compared to the
much smaller and narrower anal fin of the female (more rectangular).>
That's all for Ornates. Finally, just a few questions regarding a
certain species of Pleco: The Bristlenose/Bushy-Nose Pleco. I was
planning on getting one or two to put it with the 2 small Ornates, but
not before I sort a few things out before deciding. The profile on WWM
says it tolerates alkaline water, but can it tolerate more acidic
conditions as my tank water tends to get acidic instead of basic?
<In common with practically all Loricariidae, the Bristlenose Plec
(Ancistrus spp.) is good across 5-20 degrees dH, pH 6-8.>
And because of its small maximum size as opposed to the potentially
large Ornate Bichir, will they become compatible or will the Bichir
�bully� it around?
<An adult Ancistrus might be okay, but it could be considered edible,
and even if not swallowed, could still jam the mouth of a hungry
Polypterus ornatipinnis. So I'd actually be looking at one of the
Loricariids around the 30 cm size range, like a Gold Nugget Plec
(Baryancistrus spp.), a Sunshine Plec (Scobinancistrus aureatus), or the
excellent L001 (Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus). if you have the space,
a Royal Plec (Panaque nigrolineatus) or an Adonis (Acanthicus adonis)
would be even better.>
Also, is it as hardy as common Plecos (I have leopards, I think)?
<Yes. Common Leopard Plecs (Pterygoplichthys spp.) would be ideal
tankmates too.>
The Bristlenoses are rather expensive and I don't want them to die if I
were to purchase them. Also, how long do they live?
<Ancistrus catfish can live for as long as 10 years. The larger
Loricariidae much longer, likely several decades. I have a Royal Plec
who is 15+ years old and not even half grown.>
I apologise for the unusually lengthy e-mail. Take your time in
answering it and thank you very much.
Gene
<Happy to help. Cheers, Neale.>
Pink convicts 11/6/08
I have a 55 gallon freshwater tank with all live plants. I had a kissing Gourami
and several angel fish in there for almost 10 years. They all died over the
course of the last year. Someone gave me 8 pink convicts and they now "rule the
roost". I want to put some other fish in the tank, as they aren't really
displaying any typical aggressive behavior. My biggest one is probably about 2
inches long and the smallest is coming up on one inch. A friend who works at the
pet store said that the majority of my convicts are female and I couldn't put
anything else in with them. Another friend introduced 2 Jack Dempseys to her
tank with 9 adult convicts (60 gallon
tank) with no major issues after 6 months. Is this a good match up? My husband
has a 60 gallon tank with 2 polypalmas and an upside down swimming catfish, also
all live plants and natural rock "hidey holes". He has been eyeballing a
barracuda for a while now and was wondering if they'd get along. The polys have
lived peacefully with several different breeds of fish, but the catfish has
killed a couple of the Gouramis recently and seems to be intolerant of even the
fish he "grew up with". I don't want to spend the money on the barracuda, if it
will just get killed. Any suggestions?
<Hello Maria. Convict cichlids are very variable fish, and maximum size in
particular varies a lot, in part due to inbreeding. That will be especially true
with albino Convicts. That said, I'd expect even females to reach a length of
around 8-10 cm/3-4 inches. If they're smaller than that, they're unlikely to be
sexually mature, and hence not as aggressive as they can be. Convict
cichlids can be combined with other Central American cichlids of similar
size/disposition. Convicts tend to bully "nice" Central Americans
like Firemouth cichlids if kept in tanks as small as your 55 gallon system, but
in a 200 gallon system I've mixed them well with Firemouth cichlids, Jack
Dempseys, Midas cichlids, and Jaguar cichlids. Armored catfish (big Plecs and
large Synodontis such as Synodontis nigrita) also work well. However, you
CANNOT keep them with Polypterus species. Polypterus are too mild mannered and
get bullied by aggressive cichlids. I've seen people try this, and the poor
Polypterus gets its fins bitten off! Polypterus are gentle fish, albeit
predatory, and best kept either in their own tanks or in peaceful community
tanks with quiet species such as Silver Dollars.
Freshwater "Barracuda" are completely and utterly incompatible with Convicts.
They are typically the species called Ctenolucius hujeta, a gentle, schooling
fish that needs to be kept in a quiet tank in groups of six or more specimens.
They are tricky enough to maintain in good conditions, and keeping them with
something as aggressive as a Convict would be extremely unwise. Ctenolucius
hujeta is a predator, so don't mix it with small fish, but happily eats
invertebrates like river shrimps and earthworms, as well as frozen foods. Make
sure any specimens on sale are feeding: avoid specimens being given "feeder
fish" as these are likely exposed to parasites and bacterial infections that
will make your job of acclimating to captivity even harder. Keep Ctenolucius
hujeta in a spacious tank; it is a nervous fish prone to jumping and will not
adjust to confining tanks. Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Pink convicts 11/07/08
Thanks for getting back to me. I have my 8 convicts (2 which have been
identified as male) in the 55 gallon tank by themselves.
<Hmm... wonder how they've sexed juvenile male Convicts? Most folks would
consider that pretty tricky! Inbreeding has removed the bright colours from many
fish, and when they're small, you can't really predict which ones will turn into
big males! So while you *may* have them sexed, I'd be very cautious and open
minded.>
Will they still get aggressive even with the low male to female ratio?
<Yes.>
The 2 Polys have always been separate from the convicts and are going into a 60
gallon tank with the upside down swimming Catfish (so far) and my hubby wants to
put a barracuda in the 60 gallon tank with the Polys and the catfish.
<You don't put "a" Ctenolucius in anything. They're gregarious, schooling fish.
Single specimens are nervous as heck and have short, miserable lives. By
all means get a bunch (minimum: 3) and keep with Bichirs and Synodontis
nigriventris (this catfish is also gregarious). These three species are more or
less compatible. Just do make sure the Ctenolucius hujeta don't feel confined or
threatened.>
My question is whether or not the 'Cuda will get along with the Polys and
whether or not a 60 gallon tank is too small to add the Cuda.
<It should work. Ctenolucius hujeta isn't terribly big (less than 20 cm under
aquarium conditions) and easily reared on frozen foods. Because the catfish and
bichir feed on the bottom, you shouldn't have any problems getting bloodworms
and earthworms into the Ctenolucius hujeta.>
The Convicts are in a totally separate tank.
<Ah, very good. Cheers, Neale.>
Polypterus senegalus, sys, comp. 9/5/08
Hi all,
<Ave,>
I have a question regarding Polypterus senegalus; I've been doing my research
and am getting some mixed reports and as always I like to talk to someone in the
know!
<We'll do our best.>
I recently saw a trio of albino Polypterus senegalus in my LFS and have fallen
in love - I've been wanting some for a while now and at only 4" I would love to
have one to grow on. I intend to get a set-up for them (hopefully an African
style one with either some reedfish/dwarf spiny eel - I know they're Asian!
<There are Spiny Eels in Africa, both the rivers and the lakes, so you're not
really cheating!>
but fire eels and tyre tracks are way too big - an African butterfly, a bush
fish or three - get mixed reports about these guys in groups too - any
suggestions? - and maybe some Congo tetras).
<All should be fine; P. senegalus is relatively peaceful.>
Now the problem is this; my boyfriend has promised to make me a set-up (well
build the cabinet so I can house a couple of tanks in one unit) for the species.
Because I'm so excited and the senegalus are small, I was going to keep them in a
two foot for a few weeks - a quarantine if you will - while the new set-up is
created. I had intended a 4'x18"x18" tank for them. I also wanted 2 senegalus;
is this unwise and should I get only the one? Or will 2 be ok?
<Two youngsters will be fine in that take for some months.>
I've read of people mixing different poly species together, but not sure what
sizes etc these are being kept in.
<Polypterus are snappy about their caves, so each fish needs its hiding place.
But they're not otherwise known for being aggressive.>
Will 2 senegalus cause chaos?? What is the ideal tank size, and I'll attempt
some negotiations!
<You should be fine; if the ultimate tank is going to be fairly large, I'd
actually get three specimens: there's less chance of bullying, because no one
fish can be picked on all the time.>
Thanks
Jo
<Cheers, Neale.>
Polypterus senegalus tank mates 9/5/08
Found your website very helpful; had quite a lot of information on Bichirs that
I'd not found elsewhere.
<Cool!>
We have a 55 gallon tank at work that currently has 3 2" Clown Loaches, 2 Dwarf
Gourami, 2 2.5" Kuhli Loaches, 1 4" Senegalese Bichir, and 6 other little fish
that will eventually die or be eaten by the Bichir. Not concerned about the
little fish as we're transitioning the environment. The Kuhlis may also
eventually be food for the Bichir, which will be sad, but not a big concern.
<The Kuhlis will be eaten. I'm not comfortable about leaving fish to their fate
in this way. For a start, the Kuhli loaches are armed with sharp spines, and
these could easily choke the Bichir. Other fish can carry parasites you're not
aware of; harmless to the host at the moment, but dangerous to Bichirs. Finally,
there's plenty of experience that says that predatory fish that eat live foods,
particularly fish, become more aggressive. If you're planning on keeping your
Bichir with tankmates, then you don't want that to happen. So my unequivocal
advice is to get the small fish OUT OF THERE!!!>
The tank's fish will revolve around the 3 Clowns and the Bichir, Polypterus
Senegalus. I know the Bichir is a mostly friendly and peaceful fish so long as
it's tank mates can't be eaten.
<Mostly true, but not always.>
The Dwarf Gourami I really like and I would like to fully populate the tank with
an assortment of all their varieties. My concern is that, once the Polypterus
Senegalus is fully grown, they might be pushing it on the low end for tank mate
size. Do you think this will work, or should I look for a general population
that is a little bit bigger?
<If the Bichir has already acquired a taste for live fish because it's eaten the
smaller animals in the tank, then yes, these Colisa are at risk.>
A related question. If the Dwarf Gouramis are probably ok, but borderline,
should I get rid of the little fish I'm ok with him eating before he does?
<YES!>
Thus maybe habituating him to the shrimp pellets and blood worms I'm giving him?
<Ah, you understand perfectly. This is precisely so. Predatory fish learn what's
edible to some degree. So by controlling what's available, you "program" the
fish to behave in a certain way. You want to be rearing this Bichir on frozen
foods so that it becomes lazy and doesn't think about hunting. If it knows that
you dump easy, tasty food in front of him every night, he'll stick to that.>
Thanks,
-Paul
<Cheers, Neale.>
Ornate Bichir, mainly comp.
8/04/08
Hello WWM crew. I'm quite new to this hobby and the reason why it began
was because of a gift which was a single Ornate Bichir. We have been keeping
it for about 4 months now and it is probably the hardiest denizen in the
aquarium (about 120 litres). I've got a few questions regarding it:-1) I
read that Suckermouth catfish tend to suck on Bichirs when they get larger
and my aunt who encountered this problem said it was fine.
<Mmm, sometimes Loricariids will do this... and it can be harmful>
So far the 3 suckermouths in the aquarium have done no such thing, is it
safe to continue (they are slightly smaller than the bichir, which is about
6 inches)?
<Likely so; I'd just keep an eye on all>
2) Bichir seems to have strange bouts of "insanity" as while it remains
placid most of the time, it sometimes to swims like a
madman around the aquarium's walls, as if trying to fight its own
reflection. Is this typical behaviour or is there something wrong?
<Not unusual... and it may indeed be reacting to its own reflection as you
state. I would cover one end of the tank with dark paper (on the outside) to
discount reflection>
3) I understand that Bichirs are bottom dwellers, but I don't know what type
of fish would be compatible in this same tank.
<Most anything that will not bother the bichir, nor is slow, small enough to
be ingested by it... Your tank is not very large for too much...>
I worry because of pH, behaviour and growth rate. My sister wanted
pufferfish, but I read that they tend to nibble the bichir's pectoral fins.
<Yes...>
Any suggestions?
<Perhaps some Rainbowfish, medium sized barbs, medium sized gouramis...>
That's all that I have for now, thank you for your time. - Gene
<Welcome! Bob Fenner>
Re: Ornate Bichir, comp. and now fdg.
as well 8/5/08
Hey Bob/Whom it may concern, its me again. Thank you for your reply.
Regarding the compatibility, you mentioned 'medium' sized gouramis. I know
that the Giant one is out of the question, so would Trichogaster
trichopterus be good tankmates?
<For Polypterus ornatus, you might get about with T. trichopterus, but P.
ornatus is a big fish when fully grown, and not all T. trichopterus get as
big after years of inbreeding as once they did. T. microlepis or even T.
pectoralis would be better. But actually, I'd suggest one of the Anabas or
Ctenopoma species. Similar to gouramis, though a trifle more aggressive and
territorial. I combined C. acutirostre with P. palmas with great success for
many (~12) years. The Asian Climbing Perch Anabas testudineus is a great
animal if you track it down; very characterful.>
If so, how many do you recommend and will they be aggressive to the others?
Oh, and the last e-mail I sent I had neglected to mention that the Bichir
shares the tank with a bulky approx 3 inch long feeder fish carp that grew
too large to be consumed.
<Trichogaster are somewhat gregarious though males can be aggressive;
Ctenopoma and Anabas are somewhat more pushy, but again, the males more so
than females.>
I read in one of your articles that feeding feeder fish is a bad idea for
Bichirs,
<Bad for all pet fish. Contrary to "the wild", feeder fish are
disease-ridden and nutritionally unbalanced. There's also some good reports
that feeding live food tends to make predators more aggressive.>
so the best is probably worms (frozen)?
<Earthworms and river shrimps are loved by Bichirs. But since they hunt by
smell, not sight, almost anything that smells right will be accepted.>
But I'm afraid if I switch, my Bichir might not adapt to his new diet.
<He will. Even if you need to starve him a few days.>
Continue with feeder fish?
<Nope.>
Thanks once again for your time.
- Gene
<Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Ornate Bichir; diet, social
behaviour 8/6/08
Hello WWM crew, how is everyone doing? Thank you for you last e-mail.
<Most welcome.>
I'm not sure now if my 120 litre tank can support one Ornate Bichir together
with a Snakeskin Gourami (as mentioned in the previous e-mail), if it can I
have to track down the snakeskin because the aquariums in my area commonly
sell Trichogaster trichopterus and giant gouramis.
<Long term the P. ornatipinnis is going to need a bigger tank than 120
litres. It's maximum size in the wild is 60 cm (about 2 feet) and even in
aquaria you can reasonably expect 45-50 cm. I've seen adults and they are
big, chunky fish. But short term, both are air-breathers and should thrive
in this tank while small.>
(Is this a snakeskin Gourami? www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=snakeskingourami)
<Yes; not the prettiest Gourami, but hardy, reasonably large, and peaceful.>
If I can't get my hands on this species, get three spot gouramis?
<You can certainly get them; I just can't guarantee they won't be eaten. As
I said, P. ornatipinnis is a big fish.>
Moonlight Gourami is really hard to find as I've never seen it being sold in
any of the aquariums in my area.
<OK.>
Besides barbs, gouramis, climbing perches and rainbowfish, any other species
that you have encountered personally that goes well with Ornate Bichirs?
<Pretty well anything around 20 cm upwards, non-nippy, and deep bodied
enough the Bichir won't view it as food. Spanner Barbs, Tinfoil Barbs,
Silver Dollars, Distichodus, Clown Loaches, various catfish are all
possibilities... but your tank is way too small for these. You're going to
need at least 250 litres for the Bichir alone once its fully grown, and even
at ~30 cm it'll be a squeeze in a 180-litre tank.>
Thanks again for you time.
- Gene
<Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Ornate Bichir; diet, social
behaviour... now chatting re Neotrop. cichlid addn... send to BBs
8/7/08
The reply you sent was most helpful, thanks again.
<Most welcome.>
My sister saw a fish called "green terror" and took a liking to it. They
were not very big, but I think big enough for the Ornate Bichir to leave it
be. I know its a neotropical cichlid and it looks very much like the Jack
Dempsey. According to your FAQ archive, it seems this fish is fairly
aggressive? How big do they get and will they bother the Bichir?
<The Green Terror is Aequidens rivulatus. It is a beautiful fish, but as its
name suggests, extremely territorial and aggressive. Unlike most South
American cichlids, this species is aggressive all year around, not just when
spawning. So it tends to be kept with Central American cichlids. To be
honest, no, I wouldn't recommend combining it with a Bichir. Bichirs are
basically peaceful fish, and I've seen them pecked to death -- literally --
by things as seemingly harmless as Yellow Labs (Labidochromis caeruleus).
Cichlids try to drive the Bichir away from "their patch" pecking away at
their dorsal fins and lobe fins, leading to secondary infections. Bichirs
aren't fast enough to swim away from danger. If you wanted a cichlid for the
Bichir tank, look to large, non-aggressive species such as Oscars or even
better Severums or Geophagines (Eartheaters).>
Thanks once again.
<Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Ornate Bichir; diet, social behaviour
8/9/08
Hello, its me again. Once again in need of advice (sorry).
<Hello,>
Couldn't find Snakeskin Gourami or Heros species (seemed to be sold out), so was
thinking back on Oscar. But I went to the aquarium and saw a good sized silver
Arowana, not a bad price too. But was wondering to myself, silver Arowana's swim
on top and ornate bichir swim at the bottom, so would it be compatible ( read
the pH for it and Bichirs were quite similar)?
Arowanas and Bichirs can work; Osteoglossum spp. are best, Scleropages spp. can
be much more aggressive.>
Also, is 120 litres enough to keep a silver Arowana?
<Not a chance. 750 litres (200 gallons) is the recommended size. They are open
water fish that are sensitive to poor water quality and water chemistry changes,
and they also need masses of swimming room.>
What about Chitala Chitala? Are they placid enough to be placed with Ornate
Bichirs?
<Wouldn't recommend it; Chitala chitala is potentially very aggressive. Much
better off with a smaller species such as Apteronotus albifrons or Xenomystus
nigri.>
On with Tiger Oscars. I saw the aquarium selling another type called "Blood
Oscars", the only difference was visible was the red on the tigers being orange.
Is it another species?
<No; yet another artificial variety.>
I was thinking of getting an/or 2 Oscars, but still unsure. What type of pH do
they do best in, more acidic or basic?
<They prefer soft and slightly acidic, but like most South American cichlids
they're adaptable provided water quality is good. Anything up to pH 8, 20
degrees dH is acceptable.>
Do they eat the same foodstuffs as an Ornate Bichir?
<Pretty much. Wild Oscars are omnivores eating most anything from small fish to
plant material including fruits, but their staple diet are "crunchy" things like
crayfish, crabs and snails. That's why they have such strong jaws!>
How fast does it grow and live compared to the Ornate Bichir, as I don't want
one growing too fast and then bullying the other.
<Oscars grow very rapidly. Do see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebindex/oscars.htm
>
About my Ornate Bichir, I find it getting too attach with a log we added in
about 4 months ago when we got it. The Bichir tends to flap its little pectoral
fins and retreat into the log every time we approach the tank.
<Pretty normal. These are nocturnal fish in the wild, and only when completely
at ease will they swim out in the open. Providing plenty of cover (e.g., plastic
plants or floating plants) will help here.>
After I cleaned the aquarium today, it still retains its aggressive attitude if
we move its log to clean underneath (trashing, darting around quickly, splashing
water). Is this normal for the Bichir?
<Yes.>
If it isn't, how do I get it to be not so dependant on the log, or do I let it
continue?
<Paradoxically, fish tend to be more outgoing the more hiding places they have.
So concentrate on providing lots of shade and lots of caves. Eventually the fish
will feel as if he is always close to shelter, and consequently will swim about
in the open more readily.>
I also saw an aquarium selling bloodworm/or some sort of worm cubes, can I feed
the bichir these?
<Yes, they love them. But with big specimens (30 cm+) you may find he has
trouble catching them before the filter sucks them apart, so be careful. Chopped
seafood (frozen, from the supermarket: mussels, prawns, squid) provide the ideal
staple. Cut according to the size of the fish. Your Oscar will thrive on this
too.>
Sorry if there are many questions, but thanks once again Neale/whom it may
concern.
- Gene
<Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Ornate Bichir; diet, social behaviour
8/9/08
Hey again, thanks for the quick reply.
<You're welcome.>
You mentioned food from the supermarket, fish, squid etc. Assuming I'm changing
the Bichir and possibly the Oscar's diet to fish, squid and bloodworms, do I
just wash the fish and squid from the supermarket, chop them into appropriate
pieces, stick them on a stick -or use chopsticks- and leave it in the aquarium
for them to feast?
<Pretty much.>
Also, how many times a day do I feed them this way (assuming the Bichir is
around 6 inches and Oscar either smaller or similar)?
<As with any fish -- no more than they consume within 30 seconds to a minute.
Large predatory fish are best fed daily (or two, very small, meals per day).
Either way you're aiming for your fish to look healthy but not fat, so use your
eyes and nitrite test kits to check you're doing it right! A healthy fish will
be lean, with a just convex belly but certainly not like it's swallowed a ball!
If you detect nitrite in the water, you're definitely overfeeding.>
About Oscar growing fast, the Bichir seems to be growing slowly at the moment
<Normal...>
so is it likely the Oscar will outgrow the Bichir quickly and disturb it?
<Likely not.>
I'll keep the plastic plants idea in mind to make the Bichir feel more secure, I
don't think the Oscar's tendency to rearrange things would be too much of a
problem, filter might be problematic though...
<Use aquarium silicone to glue the plastic plants to a slate or piece of glass.
Bury said slate or glass under the gravel. Problem solved.>
Oh yeah, my sis and I also keep some guppies (not same tank with Bichir). Though
I help to look after the guppies, she mostly tends to it. We've got about...6
pregnant ones at the moment and 5 males, both kept separately. Do mother guppies
eat their own babies?
<Not deliberately, but in a small tank with insufficient floating plants for the
babies to hide, yes, it happens.>
And do we keep each mother in her own spot so we can remove them after they give
birth?
<I'd tend to leave the female alone for a week or two to fatten up before
placing her back in the main aquarium. But don't put the female in a breeding
trap or breeding net! Fish hate them. Much better to use floating plants. Same
effect, less stress.>
My sis is also curious with guppy compatibility. Is guppy compatible with small
puffer fishes or tetras?
<No and no. Fancy guppies are useless at swimming and everything seems to nip
them. Pufferfish would be a complete no-no, and I can't think off-hand of a
tetra I'd trust 100% with Guppies.>
What other fish can you recommend that can be kept with guppies?
<Just Guppies. They are so inbred now they are neither nor easy to keep. Best
kept alone. If you must mix them with something, go with harmless Corydoras
species.>
Is it possible that a 3 inch feeder fish grown too big goldfish/carp will bother
them if kept together?
<Juvenile Carp generally tend to ignore livebearer fry; I have a tank with Limia
nigrofasciata fry and a few juvenile (3-4 cm) Carassius carassius and they get
along reasonably well. The Carp lose out at feeding time a bit though. Mixing
livebearer fry with anything bigger is not a good idea though.>
Once again, thank you for your time.
- Gene
<Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Ornate Bichir; diet,
social behaviour 8/14//08
Hello, its me again, how's it going?
<Well, it's going, anyway.>
Finally decided to get an Oscar -or 2- to keep with the Bichir. The only
problems with getting 2 of them is a) Since many have said it is almost
impossible to tell the gender of an Oscar, we are afraid if we get 2 males
they will engage fights and b) If they spawn we don't have an extra 2 tanks
for the Oscar and the fry themselves. I heard
that -word of mouth- Oscars can be told apart from dark blotches of colour
on their pectoral fins?
<Never heard of this, and certainly wouldn't rely on it! But its your tank,
your money...>
Feeding feeder fish is a no-no, but is feeder shrimp safer?
<Should be. Earthworms are my favourite choices for settling in new fish.
All fish love them, and the soil inside them is rich with minerals as well
as fibre. No risk of disease if collected from an organic garden.>
On guppies, is there anything to keep in mind about conditions and such for
pregnant guppies? We have 6 of them in around a 1 gallon tank and one of
them looks really bloated up. We are afraid to keep it back in the 30 litre
tank of 5 males as the males might eat the fry after they give birth.
<Add lots and lots of floating plants. Makes a huge difference with all
livebearers. Guppies are notorious for eating newborn fry.>
Also about conditions of the water. pH is important to keep track right?
<Yes; whatever the pH is, it should at least be stable. pH 6-8 is fine for
Oscars, but what they don't want is variation. That's why I tell people to
concentrate on the carbonate hardness, not the pH. Provided the water has
adequate carbonate hardness and isn't overstocked, the pH should be stable
automatically.>
The 120 litre tanks seems to get acidic very quickly for some reason but
fish are always doing well (for some unknown reason). Though we don't like
to take chances, why does it get acidic so quickly while the 30 litre tank
gets basic quickly?
<Do see here:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwh2oquality.htm
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwsoftness.htm
In particular understand the several factors that cause ALL aquaria to
become acidic over time; the best you can do is resist this by slowing it
down/minimising the sources of acidity.>
Thanks.
- Gene
<Cheers, Neale.>
Dwarf Puffer/Polypterus
Compatibility 2/3/08
What a wonderful site you have! I learned so much from browsing! Y'all are
doing a wonderful thing!
<Thanks.>
I'm not new with aquariums but I am expanding my knowledge base and experience.
Do you think a single dwarf puffer would get along in a thickly planted
cave-filled 55-gallon tank with one of the smaller species of Polypterus?
<Absolutely not. Dwarf Puffers -- if by that you mean Carinotetraodon
travancoricus -- are persistent fin-nippers. Bichirs are easily targeted by
fin-nippers because they are slow, clumsy, and rather docile. The other day I
came across a retailer with some Polypterus senegalus with various Mbuna
cichlids, and the poor bichirs had their fins bitten down to the bone. On the
other hand, an adult Bichir might simply view a small puffer as food, with
unfortunately consequences for both. Don't do it!>
I plan to have ghost shrimp, Asian clams, the ubiquitous snail, and not much
else. If the puffer will eat pieces of the Polypterus, then I'll just have to
give him his own tank and put somebody else with the Polypterus.
<Indeed.>
And can the puffer eat Asian clams or are their shells too hard?
<Puffers might not eat the clams outright, but they will attack the siphons,
which would equally certainly assure the death of the clam. Besides, Asian clams
-- Corbicula fluminea -- are extremely difficult to maintain in anything other
than an aquarium set up to their specific needs. They AREN'T scavengers and the
THEY WILL NOT survive just by taking "stuff" out of the water. They need feeding
every day with some sort of filter feeder food of the type used for corals and
the like. In 99.999999% of the cases where people buy these clams, they're dead
in a few months. Sure, they die slowly, but die they do.>
Not that I drink too much or anything, but people who drink too much alcohol and
want to cut back might find that the aquarium addiction is SOOOOOOO fun ... my
beer goes flat because I'm talking to all my creatures.
<Indeed?>
Thank you for any advice you can offer. Take care --
Randi in Ohio
<Cheers, Neale.>
Gray Bichir (Senegal Bichir)
– 11/19/2007
I have a 5 inch Gray Bichir all by himself in a fairly large tank.
<When considering tank mates, it would be good to know the specific tank size.>
Would it be possible to mix some exotic fish in with him?
<Yes, most Senegal Bichirs accept large tankmates, only exceptionally there are
specimens that take chunks out of fish of a similar size.>
I was thinking maybe a black ghost knife fish?
<Could work, but success cannot be guaranteed. Something more robust would be
preferable.>
Or maybe even a needle fish?
<Likely food.>
I really want something exotic and unboring.
<I guess by unboring you mean you want a fish with an unusual shape, an oddball
so to say. Larger cichlids would be compatible. Although they do not have a
spectacular shape, they are more active and often have brighter colours than
most of the fish generally called oddballs. Another Gray Bichir would likely
work, too. A more unusual shape would be represented by a large spiny eel, a
tire track or fire eel. Given the specimens have an appropriate size, they are
robust enough to compete with this smaller Bichir species. They will grow much
larger than the Bichir, but cannot seriously hurt him. Be sure to thoroughly
research any possible tank mates and provide enough space. We are talking about
more than 100 gallons for an adult large spiny eel in the long run. See
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/polypterids.htm
and the linked files above, especially the one on compatibility. Cheers, Marco.>
My gray Bichir, comp.
11/19/07
Hello WWM,
I bought a gray Bichir about a month ago.
<Polypterus senegalus, also known as the Senegal Bichir.>
He is doing great growing and eating great. I was wondering what would be a good
companion for him (he is aggressive towards his food so I suspect he is
aggressive)
<This particular Bichir isn't at all aggressive. He hunts by smell, and to
localise the food rocks his head from side to side. Because his jaws are quite
simple, he can't chew, so to swallow food he has to "worry" it a bit to break it
into small chunks. So a lot of what looks like aggression is more likely just
plain eating.>
A worker at my LFS said he would be good with catfish and cichlids.
<Indeed. This is a good species that mixes with anything of comparable size that
will leave it alone.>
Would a san Rafael catfish do ok?
<Not sure what this is. Do you mean the Raphael Catfish, Platydoras costatus? If
so, yes, they'd get on fine. But Platydoras costatus is a *sociable* animal and
should be kept in groups, not singly or in pairs. When kept alone it is
incredibly shy, and you won't EVER see it. It's also unhappy, which is not
nice.>
Or maybe a upside down catfish with some floating plants.
<A school of Synodontis nigriventris would be ideal. Besides being the right
size, they're also from Africa, so make sense "geographically". A trio would
provide lots of fun without overloading the tank. Floating plants like Indian
fern and lily pads make all the difference with these fish, encouraging them to
swim about during the day.>
Or maybe just a Pleco?
<Again, another good choice.>
Another thing for you that have gray Bichirs (dinosaur eel as they sell them at
pet stores) I found a great new "toy" for them. what I did is I made a
decoration just by stacking rocks in a pile and I put an ornament type thing on
top. I thought he would just lay on it or avoid it. To my surprise I found him
wiggling through the cracks and having a great time.
<Absolutely! Fish need to interact with their environment, and in many cases
giving them things to explore helps them settle in. Bichirs are basically
nocturnal or at least crepuscular fish, and the more hidey holes they have, the
more outgoing they will be. Trapped in a bright, open tank they tend to sulk.>
Thanks
<A great fish. Enjoy! Neale.>
|
My dinosaur eel (Bichir), ID, gen.
11/12/07
Hi I bought a "Dinosaur eel" from my local pet store and it is doing great
eats readily etc.... but I wondering if it can match up with any other fish
because he seems a bit aggressive and I want to have more variety in that tank.
Whenever I feed him blood worms he grabs onto them and thrashes around crazily
until its all down. Also I was wondering if a small convict cichlid (1.5 inch)
could go with him. Or any other fish that could make a pair. Also it is only a
baby, (4 inches) and I realize it will get much bigger. I was also wondering if
I should feed it anything else besides high quality flakes, brine shrimp, and
bloodworms. Maybe some feeder guppies? thank you.
<I'm curious precisely what fish you have. Dinosaur Eels are typically
Polypterus species, also known as Bichirs (a word for which the correct
pronunciation has been lost in the mists of time). The most common species in
the trade is Polypterus senegalus, a uniform grey-pink fish with a whitish
underbelly. It gets to about 30 cm in length. The other common species is
normally called Polypterus palmas by hobbyists but may in fact be any one of a
handful of similar species. It's mottled grey above with a yellowy-white
underbelly. Again, maximum size is around 30 cm. The only other fish I can
imagine this is would be Erpetoichthys calabaricus, the Ropefish or Reedfish.
This is a very eel-like animal with a green body and orangey underbelly. Maximum
size in aquaria seems to be around 60 cm, but wild fish approach one metre in
length. Unlike the Polypterus species already mentioned, this is a "schooling"
fish of sorts, and rarely does well kept singly. Keep in groups of three or more
specimens. By contrast, Polypterus species tend to be snappy, and in some case
outright hostile towards one another. All three of these fish are good community
fish when kept with animals too large to eat. Cichlids, catfish and medium sized
barbs and tetras will work well. Anything too small (guppy-sized) will be eaten.
Erpetoichthys calabaricus is very peaceful and shouldn't be kept with anything
aggressive, or it becomes shy. There are some other species of Polypterus in the
trade, include some very mean and aggressive ones that are normally kept alone
(e.g., Polypterus Bichir and Polypterus ornatipinnis). But those species are
relatively uncommon. Fishbase is a good site to visit if you are having problems
identifying Bichirs. Do a search for "Polypterus" and look them over. The
Polypteridae is a small family, so this won't take long. All three species
mentioned here feed primarily on invertebrates, particularly insect larvae.
Bloodworms and mosquito larvae make excellent staples. None needs feeder fish,
and for all the usual reasons you shouldn't use feeder fish unless you are
breeding them yourself. If you want to give them live foods, then the correct
food items for these fish are earthworms, mealworms, river shrimps, Gammarus,
and the like. But since they hunt by smell, live food is redundant. Anything
that smells right will be eaten. These fish adore frozen prawns and other
seafood, chopped into smallish chunks. As usual with nocturnal hunters, only put
small amounts in the tank each night; too much food makes it difficult for these
practically blind fish to locate the food because the smell will be everywhere.
A 15 cm Polypterus only needs a two or three chunks of prawn about the size of
your fingernail, or a single cube of bloodworms. Hope this helps, Neale.>
My dinosaur eel... Polypterid gen.
– 11/14/2007 Marco's go
Hello,
<Hi.>
I am an experienced fish keeper with 4 tanks of my own. And in one tank
I have a "dinosaur eel" and that is what the store I bought it from said
it was. The problem is I can not find a Latin name for the little guy
and need to find out more.
<Have a look here:
http://www.fishbase.org/identification/specieslist.cfm?famcode=31&areacode=&spines=&fins=
Each picture will lead you to a description and more pictures. Should be
possible to find the scientific name and give us something to work with.
Dinosaur eel is just a general name that may be used for any of the
Bichir species and others. Also read
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/polypterids.htm and
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/BrackishSubWebIndex/taxonomy.htm >
Right now he is only 4 inches and I know he will get to about 12 inches.
<How do you know if you do not know the species?>
He is in a small little 5 gallon eclipse and is as happy as a clam.
<Tank too small… produces lots of nitrogenous waste and will be
poisoning itself.>
When it comes time to upgrade the little fellow I am going to purchase a
15 gallon.
<Still too small… for any Bichir.>
And since he only roams around the bottom I was wondering if there are
any compatible fish for the little guy.
<Depends on the species and personality of the fish. Cichlids and
catfish of adequate size can work, but you will need a larger tank
first.>
I know he is aggressive because when I feed him his favourite foods
(blood worms) he goes crazy and attacks it and thrashes around. If you
don’t know what this "dinosaur eel" is I don't blame you.
<I’m glad to hear that.>
I can give you some description. It is a Bichir and has a white under
belly and a fanned out tail. Its head also looks kind of like a lizard.
the back colour is sort of whitish brownish.
<Please have a look at the site linked to above and properly identify
your eel. If it is mottled white and brown compare it to pictures of
Polypterus ornatipinnis.>
Thanks for your support and I love your site it has helped me a lot.
<Good to hear. Thanks, Dinosaur Marco.> |
Compatible Ornate Bichir and African bumblebee cichlid
4/21/07
We have a Ornate Bichir (dinosaur eel) in one tank and we are thinking of
getting rid of that tank. I have a African bumblebee cichlid in a really large
tank all by himself.
<Not sure what an "African bumblebee cichlid" is. Do you mean Pseudotropheus
crabro,
http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=2359 ? Always a good
idea to use Latin names, saves confusion.>
I was wondering if they can be in the same tank??? I think we are just tired of
having two tanks.
<If the cichlid is Pseudotropheus crabro (maximum length ~9 cm), and given that
the bichir is Polypterus ornatipinnis (maximum length 60 cm) then absolutely
not. The bichir is a piscivore, and sooner or later will view the much smaller
cichlid as a snack. Bichirs hunt at night, when cichlids are (generally) at
their most vulnerable. If the cichlid is something else entirely, then provided
it is ~30 cm or so on length, i.e., big enough not to be viewed as prey, then
non-territorial cichlids and bichirs can be kept together without problems.>
Thank you
Lisa Brooks
<Cheers, Neale>
Feasibility of housing a pair of Polypterus palmas in a 75 gallon
1/27/07
Hello WWM crew,
<Travis>
I will soon be buying a 75 gallon aquarium that I plan to set up as a West
African planted tank. There will be a lot of driftwood, Bolbitis and Anubias to
provide multiple hiding places, and three African Tiger Lotus plants will be
allowed to float their leaves on the surface to provide cover and shade.
<Sounds very nice>
I wish to keep two Polypterus palmas in this set-up. But, I have read on your
fabulous site, which I have referred to many times over the past three or more
years since I discovered it, certain things that make me cautious about doing
this. You have said Polypterus palmas requires an absolute minimum of a 20
gallon, 30” long, aquarium;
<About right>
furthermore, that Polypterus palmas is perhaps the only Polypterus that can be
maintained in groups. Yet you have also said for other Polypterus species, that
a 55 gallon is too small for two,
<Mmm, not for palmas IMO/E>
and a Polypterus should best be kept in a tank that is at least four times its
maximum length.
<Yes>
Interestingly, one of those old, seemingly outdated, aquarium books one finds in
the library said Polypterus palmas is “best kept in pairs.” So what do you
think?
<Have seen this species kept in groups... doesn't seem antagonistic to its own
kind... and a 75 should be fine>
Am I asking for trouble if I put a pair of Polypterus palmas into my future
aquarium?
Thank you for your help.
Travis
<Not at all in my opinion... And I'd add some lively upper water level
characoids here... likely Alestes or Phenacogrammus...
Do send along a pic please of your set-up once it's all up and going. Bob
Fenner>
Bichir compatibility question 10/6/06
Hello WWM crew
I am interested in getting a Bichir and I am wondering about any
compatibility issues i might have with my established tank. I am currently
running a 75 gallon tank with 2 Geophagus, 3 Clown Loaches, 1 Pleco and 1
Flying Fox. The Flying Fox (3" or so) is the only one I'm concerned about
the Bichir eventually consuming, but I am also wondering about general
compatibility. I'm really interested in these little buggers, but would hate
to have anything go wrong.
Thank you.
David
<Mmm, a Polypterus (of not too-big initial size) should go fine with the
listed species... neither harming the others... You may have a feeding issue
at first... due to the Bichir not being "all that sharp"... but with placing
foods right in front... BobF>
Mixing Bichirs With Other Things 8/28/06
Can Bichirs and rope live together? The Bichir is about 7" long and one of
my Ropefish is about the same in length but the other one is about 5" in
length. and is it a good idea to keep African dwarf frogs in there also?
Thank you for your time.
< They are both closely related and have similar requirements. As long as
they are fairly close to each other in size and are fed often then they
should get along fine. The frog on the other hand will be quickly eaten by
either one of them the first chance they get.-Chuck>
Mixing Bichirs With Flounders 8/30/06
Sorry to bother you again. What about flounders? Is it ok to mix the Bichir
with the flounder? It's small but not that small.
<If the Bichir gets hungry enough he may attempt to eat it but the flounder is
pretty fast and it may be difficult for the Bichir to get too him. The flounder
likes cool temperatures and lots of live food, a very interesting fish.-Chuck>
Ornate Bichirs
Hi,
I've been planning to keep an ornate Bichir have a forty gallon tank do you
thing that would suit one. Do you know if you can keep water dogs or mud
puppies with them.
Thanks, Mike
>
I wouldn't mix amphibians with the Bichir... they're quite messy and too
much competition for bottom space...
Bob Fenner
Polypterus ornatipinnis
Dr. Fenner:
Hi. I've had 2 Bichirs together for almost a year in a 30 gal tank.
The biggest one used to attack the small one for a while but both survived. I
also have a horn Plecos and a Gourami. Three days ago I bought a 40 gal long
tank so my Bichirs could have more space since they are getting huge. The big
Bichir is about 8" long and since I moved them to the new tank the smallest has
been attacking him to the point of bleeding. I'm very frustrated. Could you give
me any advice if there is something I could do or if I should separate them????
Juliana
<I would definitely separate these two... they are territorial in the wild and
in captivity when kept in too small a system (a forty is small)... and they do
get larger... Bob Fenner>
Re: Polypterus ornatipinnis
Thank you for answering my email. I'm in the process of setting up the
second tank.
Juliana
<Ah, good to read/hear. Have seen some great Polypterids around the world in
Public Aquariums... some that they've had for decades... and even saw a Bichir
on a cemetery wall in an ancient Pharaonic setting in Egypt years back... one of
my favorite groups of fishes. Bob Fenner>
Compatibility
I've had a Bichir 4 about a year now, he's about 10" long and have recently
purchased a Amphiuma for the same tank. he's nearing 2' and seems aggressive to
everything but the Bichir. (he ate a gar already) should I be worried or might
they leave each other alone?
<I would be/am concerned... the Amphiuma (an amphibian to those out there
browsing) will indeed at least try to eat the Bichir... if it has eaten a Gar
(family Lepisosteidae)... I'd move them to separate quarters. Bob Fenner>
Adding to Bichir Tank
Bob,
Now that I have the Bichirs in their own tank, is there any other fish that
would be compatible with them?
<Umm, yes... other African fishes from the same regions. Please see fishbase.org
are the species you already have, and WetWebMedia.com re freshwater fish groups.
Bob Fenner>
Dave Siecinski
Please help Yoshi (a Bichir)
Hello, my name is Erin. I have been active in the fish hobby for awhile,
with two 30 gallon tanks, one 10 gallon quarantine tank, a five gallon, and 12
Betta bowls. I would like to address in issue that has arisen.
<Wow!>
I have had a fire eel, Astral, a Polypterus delhezi, Yoshi, in a 30 gallon tank
for around 3 months. They seem to be accepting each other just fine and share
the same hang out spots for nocturnal fish. Astral is about 6-7 inches in
length, and Yoshi is yet a baby at only 5 inches. Both take in a several ghost
shrimp a day without hesitation, and Yoshi loves his beef heart cubes. I just
got in my ornate Bichir and was shocked to see him already close to 9 inches and
quite girthy. I have another 30 gallon set up with African cichlids, but the
tank with Astral and Yoshi is the one with the eclipse hood. Have you ever
known an ornate Bichir to prey upon an Armoured Bichir of smaller size? I would
hate to lose Yoshi in such a way, he is a great fish. Thanks for listening, and
I hope to hear back from you. Erin.
<Unfortunately, the ornate Bichirs are reputed to go after others of their
species so a mix isn’t advisable. Ronni>
Packin' In The Polypterids - 08/24/2005
Hi
<Hello.>
I've just acquired the two fish above,
<Polypterus ornatipinnis and P. lapradei>
both are approximately 9" and healthy looking specimens. They are in a 48 x 15 x
18 tank
<I assume this is in inches? This is FAR too small a tank for multiple
Polypterus, even small, without severe territoriality/aggression....>
with a few catfish and a school of 8 convict cichlids as well as 2 small (4-5")
senegalus.
<Four Polypterids.... in 55 gallons.... Not a great plan.
All the fish are healthy, greedy eaters, apart from the two new Polys. I've not
seen them eat yet after being in the tank for almost a week,
<Were these two quarantined prior to introduction?>
the senegalus are greedy eaters, constantly looking like a bag of marbles and I
was assured the ornate and lap where greedy too.
<Likely they are being prevented food by the existing P. senegalus, despite the
difference in size.... Possibly fighting/getting stressed after dark....>
I've tried offering lance fish, live earth worms, blood worm, prawns and catfish
pellets, I've offered food in the day and at night when the lights are out as
they are nocturnal fish, but I've still not seen them eat.
<There is serious conflict here; these animals very likely will not coexist with
any semblance of peace.... One or all may end up killed as they age/grow.>
Any suggestions on what to do?
<Remove the two newcomers, and when the two P. senegalus (still quite small)
begin to grow and show aggression toward each other, remove one. The only
Polypterus species I've heard regular accounts of peaceful groups is P.
palmas.... and even still, ALL Polypterids get too large in the long run for a
55g tank. Much to think about, here, I fear.... I do hate being the bearer of
bad news. Please read here for more: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/polypterids.htm
.>
Kind regards, Ashley Etchell
<Wishing you and your fishes well, -Sabrina>
Polypterus predation 1/31/06
I just stumbled across your site today. Very informative! I have dabbled
in aquaria for many years, had a fledgling maintenance business (more like a
hobby playing with other people's money as I knew nothing of business at the
time and learned a great deal about aquaria and business at my expense).
I have often thought of having a good sized aquarium (2-300 gal) well planted,
and stocked with feeder white clouds and Neons in large quantities. I wasn't
sure if the Polypterid would be able to easily capture these small quick fish or
not. I guess it's the evil side of me that likes the idea of the normal
response of "Gee, look at the pretty fish" followed by "What the heck is that
thing?" as the Polypterid eats one of their pretty little fish. That and I
just love the primitive look of the Polypterids and lungfish. Any suggestions
(that don't include psychiatric help)? I noticed don't recommend UG filters for
Polypterids. What is the reasoning behind that? I have typically used UG's
with penguin powerheads and have had good results. Would that create too much
current for them to surface and breathe?
>> Dear Allen, These fish eat at night when the barbs and tetras sleep. so they
will have no problem eating them at all. Except you will not see it eat most of
the time. Other than that it will work fine. Lungfish especially also eat some
snails in nature, so you may want to consider that as well. UG filters are not
ideal because these fish may uncover part of them, and that would make them
useless, I would recommend a strong powerfilter instead.
Good Luck, Oliver
Ornate Bichir 1/31/06
Hi Robert,
I'm a big fan, your website has served me very well and kept all the fish I've
ever had alive and well. I'm going to purchase an Ornate Bichir to put in my 55
gal. I plan on putting it into my QT tank for at least a month before adding him
to the larger tank. The 55 gal has been up and running for several months now,
it's planted and uses a Fluval 304 and a Penguin 350 BIO-wheel for filtration.
All I have in it right now is a Pictus Catfish about 5 in. The guy at the fish
store told me I cannot put anything else in a tank with an Ornate Bichir
including other Bichir/eels and catfish. In your professional opinion do think
that an Ornate Bichir and a Pictus Cat will get along or should I find the
Pictus a new home?
Thanks a million,
>> Hello Phil,
There are hundreds of species of fish you could keep with an ornate Bichir. They
are not aggressive fish, so the only think you have to keep in mind is that they
are predators. They will swallow any fish that fits in their mouth, including
your pictus cat if he is too small. Good Luck, Oliver
Mixing Crayfish And Bichirs 4/09/06
Hi, thx in advance for answering my question. I have a 40 gallon tank with
(1) 4 ½” Australian blue crayfish, (2) gold Gouramis, (2) pearl Gouramis, (1)
Bala shark, (1) Pleco. I would like to make a Bichir the final addition to my
tank, but of obvious reasons there may be a clash between my crayfish and the
Bichir. Do you have any thoughts on how this setup will work? Sincerely Chad
< The crayfish will try to eat the Bichir at first depending on the size of
each. As the Bichir gets bigger there will come a time when the crayfish will
molt and the soft new shell will leave the crayfish vulnerable to attack by the
Bichir.-Chuck>
|
|
