Bichir

[pacuboy]

Would a albino bichir be allright in a 55?? He or she will live will 12 black tetras around 3-5 inches, 2 kissing gourimis around 7 inches , 4 redhooks around 9 inches,2 fourlines about 4 inches. And coming Saturday 3 5 inch black bared silverdollars. My lfs has 2 bichirs 1 albino and 1 regular polygon. If I do get one which one should I get??? Here are some questions about bichirs. Can the bichir live with these fish listed above. Any info would be great.

 

[CFC]

I think your tank has pleanty in already for a 55 gallon and would not advise adding any more fish.

 

[JonathanT]

I think your tank has pleanty in already for a 55 gallon and would not advise adding any more fish.

Not to mention the fact that most bichirs would eat pretty much everything in that tank once they grow up

-Jonathan

 

[CFC]

Not quite, the only possible targets are the tetras but at 3" a senegal bichir isnt likely to take these, it "could" happen but its not likely. All the other fish are tall bodied and fairly large so wouldnt make easy meals for even the largest of bichirs.

 

[Ranger]

Not quite, the only possible targets are the tetras but at 3" a senegal bichir isnt likely to take these, it "could" happen but its not likely. All the other fish are tall bodied and fairly large so wouldnt make easy meals for even the largest of bichirs.

I currently have a senegal bichir, and have never observed the following behavior, but I have been told by LFS's that sometimes bichirs will attack things and then rip them into bite size pieces... It seems possible to me, but highly unlikely. Do bichirs have teeth? I agree with the above posts regarding ur current tank stocking, it seems like its on the high end already and while a Juv. Bichir might be ok, it would grow to large and probably overload ur tank.

 

[pacuboy]

Not quite, the only possible targets are the tetras but at 3" a senegal bichir isnt likely to take these, it "could" happen but its not likely. All the other fish are tall bodied and fairly large so wouldnt make easy meals for even the largest of bichirs.

I currently have a senegal bichir, and have never observed the following behavior, but I have been told by LFS's that sometimes bichirs will attack things and then rip them into bite size pieces... It seems possible to me, but highly unlikely. Do bichirs have teeth? I agree with the above posts regarding ur current tank stocking, it seems like its on the high end already and while a Juv. Bichir might be ok, it would grow to large and probably overload ur tank.

I am going to get rid of the tetras cause they are to skittish. So it will just be the silverdollars,2 kissing gourmims,and the four lines. Will I still have enough room to get one of this bichirs?? And which one to chose?? Alex.

 

[beblondie]

Do bichirs have teeth?Oh yes they have teeth lots of them their bite force is not great

 

[Ranger]

I am going to get rid of the tetras cause they are to skittish. So it will just be the silverdollars,2 kissing gourmims,and the four lines. Will I still have enough room to get one of this bichirs?? And which one to chose?? Alex.

I'd think that with the removal of all the tetra's youd have enough room for the bichir. Hmm, not familiar with the common name of Polygon bichir... but I would guess that the name suggests that it has some kindof of patterns on it which leads me to believe it would either be a Polypterus Delhezi(Armored Bichir) or Polypterus Ornatipinnis (Ornate Bichir). The Ornate bichir gets quite large I believe... (around 20 inch?) but the Armored Bichir is a bit more medium sized, growing to... 12-14 inch?
Don't know the species of ur albino off the top of my head.


EDIT: As to which one you should get... its mainly up to you, I don't like albino things so I would go with your "polygon" bichir.

Do bichirs have teeth?Oh yes they have teeth lots of them their bite force is not great

Where do you learn all this stuff about Bichirs? I know a little just from keeping them, but ur knowledge on them greatly exceeds mine, lol. I've never been able to see teeth on my bichir, but he is still kindof small.

 

[beblondie]

Where do you learn all this stuff about Bichirs? I know a little just from keeping them, but ur knowledge on them greatly exceeds mine, lol. I've never been able to see teeth on my bichir, but he is still kindof small.
[/quote]

Several years of research a ton of academic papers and i lead a bichir forum on another board-Anne

 

[JonathanT]

Not quite, the only possible targets are the tetras but at 3" a senegal bichir isnt likely to take these, it "could" happen but its not likely. All the other fish are tall bodied and fairly large so wouldnt make easy meals for even the largest of bichirs.

I looked at the 12 tetras as being most of the tank...you're right the others are likely too big for even the big mutha bichirs.

Once the thing grows up a bit it would probably make short work of those tetras...I may not know much about bichirs but I'm pretty sure that much is certain.

-Jonathan

 

[Wonderboy]

Dear pacuboy,

I think you meant to say polypterus rather than "regular polygon", and I think that is doesn't hurt any individual to research plenty before a purchase. Seeing as that your 55 gallon tank right now has just over 100 inches of fish, and that you also have 15 more inches of fish coming Saturday, I strongly suggest that you leave any of your bichir choices out of your fish tank. Even if you are getting rid of all of those tetras, you will still have about 68 inches in that tank! With this being calculated, I can now state without any hesitation, that you should not add any single type of fish to your tank. How about supplying us here at TFF with some pictures of your setups? I read somewhere that you also have a 120 gallon with pacus and stuff, too. I'd like to see your tanks (or at least hear about them); they sound very busy. So, finally, my answer to your question (Can the bichir live with all those fish?) is no it cannot, and I am surprised that you can live with all those fish in that tank.

Sincerely,
Wonderboy

 

[pacuboy]

Dear pacuboy,

I think you meant to say polypterus rather than "regular polygon", and I think that is doesn't hurt any individual to research plenty before a purchase. Seeing as that your 55 gallon tank right now has just over 100 inches of fish, and that you also have 15 more inches of fish coming Saturday, I strongly suggest that you leave any of your bichir choices out of your fish tank. Even if you are getting rid of all of those tetras, you will still have about 68 inches in that tank! With this being calculated, I can now state without any hesitation, that you should not add any single type of fish to your tank. How about supplying us here at TFF with some pictures of your setups? I read somewhere that you also have a 120 gallon with pacus and stuff, too. I'd like to see your tanks (or at least hear about them); they sound very busy. So, finally, my answer to your question (Can the bichir live with all those fish?) is no it cannot, and I am surprised that you can live with all those fish in that tank.

Sincerely,
Wonderboy

I don't have a 120. What's your user name of af?? Sorry no cam. I guess I will not get one of these bichirs. Thanks,alex.

 

[Wonderboy]

I don't have a 120. What's your user name of af?? Sorry no cam. I guess I will not get one of these bichirs. Thanks,alex.

Um...
Click here, and tell me you don't have a 120...

And what does the question "What's your user name of af?" supposed to mean?

 

[stang1]

I don't have a 120. What's your user name of af?? Sorry no cam. I guess I will not get one of these bichirs. Thanks,alex.

Um...
Click here, and tell me you don't have a 120...

And what does the question "What's your user name of af?" supposed to mean?

This was cleared up a few days ago. Pacuboy admitted that he didn't have a 120g tank and didn't have all the fish he stated.
Give the poor lad a break, we all make mistakes and hopefully he has learnt from his.

 

[pacuboy]

I don't have a 120. What's your user name of af?? Sorry no cam. I guess I will not get one of these bichirs. Thanks,alex.

Um...
Click here, and tell me you don't have a 120...

And what does the question "What's your user name of af?" supposed to mean?

This was cleared up a few days ago. Pacuboy admitted that he didn't have a 120g tank and didn't have all the fish he stated.
Give the poor lad a break, we all make mistakes and hopefully he has learnt from his.

Thanks,stang1. And Wonder boy what I mean what is your user name or Aquatic fourms??


Alex.