Could I Do A Small Bicir

[Binge]

I have a 55 gallon tank that will in a couple moths be open for new inhabitants. I know very little about bicirs except teh cookie cutteer info every site has size per breed, diet , temp ect. I am curious if one of the 12ish inch max sized bichir would be okay in a 55 gallon tank with a sand substrate and whether or not it would get along with gouramis rather then making them snacks.

once the baby lobsters get big enough to hit the local fish store the tank is a
55 gallon
sand substrate
hopefuly live planted(low light plants) with lava rock
Buying the filter tomarrow looking to get one recomended for a 75 or 90 gallon tank ( even have a coupon)

If you guy say its a go Im gonna go reasearch crazy on them as they are awesome to look at. A recomended spieces would also be great as trying to research them I get lost in the endless list of scientific names so if I had one or two to focus on it would make it way simpler. I have like 2 months to think about this so its no rush

 

[england]

Have you looked at senegal birchir? there nice and small, placid and easy to locate, there are other specimens, but finding is more dificult, look for gasmask, he has the most amazing collection ever and knoledge,
You could also look into reed fish, a nice group of these look good,

 

[england]

Polypterus delhezi
Polypterus senegalus senegalus

These are most common round my old local fish shops in uk.

Have a look at gasmasks collection below
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/353861-another-prehistoric-monster/

also you have chilipeppers collection
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/359467-my-small-collection-of-polypterus/

 

[Binge]

Yeah his collection is what made me want one so badly.

The local pet stores have what they are calling a "dinosaur bicir" they are about 2 inches long and pure white. The lil sign on em says they max at 12inches. not sure the scientific name on em to look up other specs but in all fairness I have not searched for em yet as I just saw those ones today.

Do you think one that size would be okay with gouramis? Or would He much em.

After looking at those. I think the ones the store has is a senagalus senagalus

 

[always4lora]

Yeah his collection is what made me want one so badly.

The local pet stores have what they are calling a "dinosaur bicir" they are about 2 inches long and pure white. The lil sign on em says they max at 12inches. not sure the scientific name on em to look up other specs but in all fairness I have not searched for em yet as I just saw those ones today.

Do you think one that size would be okay with gouramis? Or would He much em.

After looking at those. I think the ones the store has is a senagalus senagalus

yeh senegal are the common ones you'll get fairly cheap. They will only eat smaller gourami's or fry.

 

[gasmask]

Yay more Bichir keepers!

Yes, a 55 gal will be fine for a pair of Senegalus or Delhezi.
A little bigger would be better as they reach full size (years away) but not too bad.

There are a host of other "smaller" Bichirs you could keep, they are all lower jaw though:

Palmas Complex:
This includes Palmas Polli, Palmas Buettikoferi, and Palmas Palmas. (the last one being very hard to find)

Then you have the "Retros":
Retropinnis (previously known as "Zaire Green")
Mokelembeke (previously known as "Retropinnis")


IMO of all the smaller Bichirs, Mokelembeke is by far the most stunning to look at.
But they can be a little pricey, and often mislabled by LFS.

Moke: (Not my pic, it from a friend on another forum, this is a gorgeous piece)

 

[Binge]

He is gorgeous has similar coloring to a baby alligator ( grew up in florida and love gators lol). I will try my luck with 2 of the small ones the pet store has. If I succeed with them we are considering a 100+ gallon tank next year so i can have my pair of oscars. Maybe I can put a pretty one in there .

I am realy excited about the bicirs though and the little ones my pet shop has are on sale for 2 bucks and change right now. Since a local mom and pop shop wants my elctric blues soon as they are born I dont need the new 55 to hold em in so I can get my bicirs and some gouramis soon. Would the Bicir have a problem with orange claw crabs? they max out at an inch and a half I have not looked up if they are carniverous yet but I do not think they are. Cant seem to find if gouramis will eat the crabs yet either...