How would a Bichir tank work out? I was thinking about a Delhizi, Retropinnus, and Palmas Bichir. I admit i dont know anything about them except from what i have read on Liveaquaria. These are the smaller species right? Are there any good Websites or Books on Bichirs? I also wanted to add a Frontosa but do Bichirs do OK in african water?
Bichir Tank
- Thread starter Fishy411
- Start date
Dwarfs
Fish Connoisseur
You would need a very large tank (Possibly 6', or more) Bichirs like neutral pH, my two senegals thrive in this water. I wouldn't recommend adding any fish with greatly varied water conditions from the bichirs' in that tank
astroboy
Fishaholic
A 4 foot tank would work fine, a 3 footer would work, but the bigger the better. Try to get one thats shallower and has a big footprint.
Senegals, delhezis, any palmas species, and retropinnis stay around 12-14inches max size
I wouldn't put them in african water though.
Senegals, delhezis, any palmas species, and retropinnis stay around 12-14inches max size
I wouldn't put them in african water though.
ok. Its probly gonna be a 75 gallon tank maybe a 100. Its gonna have a sand bottom. Does anyone have any thoughts on a good swimming tankmate? What is the best food to feed Bichirs? I was thinking maybe some shrimp, bloodworms and other meaty foods
Dwarfs
Fish Connoisseur
medium sized NW cichlids work pretty well IMEFishy411 said:
A geophagus would be a good tank mate, they are pretty peaceful and will keep the sand clean and stirred up Ctenapoma acutirostre would also make great tankmates, they get to 8", and will eat most foods, despite their resemblance to leaf fish.I've heard of people feeding large bichirs frozen fish, not sure on what type though
My senegals are about 6" each and eat frozen foods, cichlid sticks, freeze dried krill, crickets, mealworms, and shrimp pellets ok so I would have a 75 gallon tank.
-Retropinnis Bichir
-Delhizi Bichir
-Palmas Bichir
- (Would a Mystus eat a smaller Bichir?)
-Geophagus Brasilliensis
- possibly severum
Sand bottomed. Heavy filtration. Eheim Canister and Emperor or Biowheel. lots o fbogwood and maybe an upgraded wattage for live plants. This tank is gonna be Awesome.
Are silversides OK fro fw fish?
-Retropinnis Bichir
-Delhizi Bichir
-Palmas Bichir
- (Would a Mystus eat a smaller Bichir?)
-Geophagus Brasilliensis
- possibly severum
Sand bottomed. Heavy filtration. Eheim Canister and Emperor or Biowheel. lots o fbogwood and maybe an upgraded wattage for live plants. This tank is gonna be Awesome.
Are silversides OK fro fw fish?
Dwarfs
Fish Connoisseur
A severum would demolish any plants you put in there Mine likes to eat java ferns and anubias, supposedly unedible to most fish 
Could you get a larger eartheater? Brasiliensensis ony get t about 5-6", and I think that might be a tad too small for a bichir tank. Saetonoperca jurupari and other aetenopercas get larger and are farely common. Surinam geos get larger as well
The problem would be that you would most likely get a very small G. brasiliensis, and slightly larger bichirs. Then the bichirs would outgrow the Geo and that's where the problem would be
Mine likes to eat java ferns and anubias, supposedly unedible to most fish Could you get a larger eartheater? Brasiliensensis ony get t about 5-6", and I think that might be a tad too small for a bichir tank. Saetonoperca jurupari and other aetenopercas get larger and are farely common. Surinam geos get larger as well
The problem would be that you would most likely get a very small G. brasiliensis, and slightly larger bichirs. Then the bichirs would outgrow the Geo and that's where the problem would be
astroboy
Fishaholic
Any peaceful mid/top level fish that can't be eaten will do nice.
I love the classic bichir/arowana combo (not suitable in your case).
As for your tank setup, it sounds pretty good. And silversides are fine for bichirs (but their guts foul the water fast). IME, bichirs shy away from bright lights and seek shade anywhere they can. Try adding floating plants to dim the lights and provide a hidout for juves.
I love the classic bichir/arowana combo (not suitable in your case).
As for your tank setup, it sounds pretty good. And silversides are fine for bichirs (but their guts foul the water fast). IME, bichirs shy away from bright lights and seek shade anywhere they can. Try adding floating plants to dim the lights and provide a hidout for juves.
Male G.brassilliensis can get to around 10 inches and are quite aggressive when compared to other Geophagus and Satanoperca species.
What species of Mystus? The Mystus family is large and diverse with species ranging from peacefull tiny 3 inchers to some of the most aggressive species in the world.
What species of Mystus? The Mystus family is large and diverse with species ranging from peacefull tiny 3 inchers to some of the most aggressive species in the world.
leucophasis. swims upside down and can have a little bit of silver or can be all black. I think they get to 12" pretty quick and bichirs grow pretty quick too. The only reason i picked a Brasilliensis is that is the only GEO species available to me. I can try to wait for my LFS to maybe get some more in though.CFC said:
Paul_MTS
MAD
I wouldn't recomend going for a heavily plantes tank as to sdustain that your going to need more lighting where as the bichirs prefer it a bit dull really.
my sevrums don't touch my plants and i have 5 of them at the moment. althugh there's only java fern in there at the moemtn I'm going to get some vallis in there aswell.
Lance fish, prawns and other chunky foods will be preferred for the bichirs.
Also most of the geophagus species need to be ketp in small groups or around 3.
my sevrums don't touch my plants and i have 5 of them at the moment. althugh there's only java fern in there at the moemtn I'm going to get some vallis in there aswell.
Lance fish, prawns and other chunky foods will be preferred for the bichirs.
Also most of the geophagus species need to be ketp in small groups or around 3.
I was thinking more low light plants but now i think ti would be better to just have a couple if any. Thx for everyones helpPaul_MTS said:
Which species out of Palmas, Retropinnus, delhizi is easiest to get to breed adn if they did would the babies survive? I was thinking maybe getting rid of one of the bichirs to try and have a breeding pair
As far as im aware none of the species you have listed have been successfully bred in the home aquarium, the ony species which have had documented successful matings in the home aquarium are P.senegalus and P.ornatipinnus.
Mystus leucophasis can be highly aggressive and should only be kept with much larger fish which can handle its aggressive outbursts.
Mystus leucophasis can be highly aggressive and should only be kept with much larger fish which can handle its aggressive outbursts.
Oddball
Fishaholic
Call me stooopid but birchirs are African, and P.ornatapinnis can be found in one of the three lakes (tanganiyaka i think). Also in accordance to their natural habitats, the local pH can swing from acid to alkaline based on the chage in the seasons!
Such a change occurs in the reqion where P.senegaulus is found and is the precursor to the spawning season!
Such a change occurs in the reqion where P.senegaulus is found and is the precursor to the spawning season!
The three species mentioned (delhizi, retropinnus and palmas) are all West African and are better suited to water with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
P.endlicheri is also found in lake Tanganyika but both P.endlicheri and P.ornatipinnis need a tank larger than 75 gallons being two of the largest bichir species.
P.endlicheri is also found in lake Tanganyika but both P.endlicheri and P.ornatipinnis need a tank larger than 75 gallons being two of the largest bichir species.
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