Bichir, in a community tank… very challenging…

[Magnum Man]

Mine is now 10-11, maybe 12 inches long, , kind of hard to tell, as it’s always half under something… by design, sliver dollars were supposed to be the main tank mates, because they “appear” too big for the Bichir to eat… but my eyes and his eyes aren’t seeing things the same… so far it’s left the big silver dollars alone, but I had an 8-9 inch common pleco, that has disappeared ( there must have been a crocodile death roll I missed out on, on that one )… and I just pulled what was left of the 2nd 6 inch earth eater out of one of the hang on tank filter inlets, when I dumped another 20 rosy minnows in tonight… my last 4 silver dollars, between 4-5 inches are still hanging in there… these sure are cute when they are little but this one is surprising even me, on what its capable of devouring… the head on a common pleco, of that size, must have been near 2 inches wide… this may end up as a specimen tank

 

[AJ356]

Are you going to move the other fish for their safety or move the bichir?

 

[Magnum Man]

I’ll probably end up moving the silver dollars, though they have been in with the Bichir since the beginning

 

[GaryE]

I'm guessing the beginning is ending...

 

[Magnum Man]

I’ll have to fix my mess, I just wanted to post this, as there are several people starting with Bichirs

Even though they are methodical, appearing slow, and don’t see very well, they are particularly voracious… I can’t imagine anything eating a 8-9 inch pleco… they should be compared to Pac Man frogs, that will attempt to eat anything, in front of them, even another frog the same size… I would suspect Bichirs would eat each other, just because their shape is conducive to do so…

 

[GaryE]

I have known a number of people who started out with small bichirs with other fish, and ended up with large bichirs and sad memories. They are really "hot" now, and a lot of people love them. They don't linger in stores or wholesalers - the demand right now is huge. 20 years ago, they were a cursed fish when they arrived, and no one would buy them. Tastes change and predatory fish are in, as fits our times.

You know, @Magnum Man , that you are going to need a second fish "room". I know you don't need my opinion on what you keep, but hey, I like what you're doing. The questions you ask are too challenging - you are a really observant and curious person. Those are expensive character traits when they are combined with fishkeeping. I can only imagine what fish you'd end up with if you had more space - you really go in for the unexpected ones. From the outside looking in, it's fun what you post.

It's just when those unexpected fish unexpectedly eat each other that it gets complicated. I never imagined bichirs could eat fish that large.