Dinosaur Eel Anyone?

[Braddah]

Hey I have a Dinosaur eel that i bought at Petco.... well upon futher investigation I have the only one in exsistance! I cant find any info on this fish. Right now it is about 6" and has thes spikes that go a little more than halfway up its back. it doent have scales and has quite an appitite for red rasboras....can anyone give me some info on him? please email 2 mc_soap@hotmail. com Thankyou

 

[val]

Maybe it's a spiny eel or a tire track eel?

Valerie

 

[Braddah]

Thanks Val.... If only it were so easy!! Ive looked at many web sites and Im am convinced beyond a resonable doubt that it is not a spiny or tire track....It has a round head..not the pointy face of a spiny eel.....sooooo frustrating... neone else have some hints???

 

[val]

If it has a round head, maybe you don't have an eel at all. You might have a lungfish. If you do, you'd better have a really big tank.

Valerie

 

[Braddah]

nope guess again.....i have to get a picture of this thing online

 

[elgecko]

A picture would make it much easier. My guess is dragon eel / violet goby

http/sunflower.bio.indiana.edu/~sholtzma/fish.html

 

[impur]

I would venture to bet you have either a senegal bichir or a ropefish. Here are pics:


Senegal Bichir
Polypterus senegalus senegalus

Ropefish
Erpetoichthys calabaricus

My money is on the bichir.

 

[Braddah]

Well I cant figure out how to put a picture on this thing but thank you so much it is the Bachir.....I will have to figure out this so i can get some pictures up....

 

[dolphin]

Hi Braddah

To post a picture, there are two ways.

1. UPLOADING.
The picture must be a jpg, no larger that 100kb. Go to the Members aquarium section, or none aquarium section. Start a new topic, or reply to a previous topic.
Below the text box you will see a browse button, Click on this, select your picture.
And post the message.

2. Picture on a URL somewhere else.
When posting a message. click the IMG buttom, above the text box. Enter the url of the picture and the close the window. Post the message.

HTH

 

[impur]

How big is your tank? This fish will get to about 20"

 

[CFC]

How big is your tank? This fish will get to about 20"

Sorry Impur but P.senegalus will only reach 13" max,it is one of the smallest bichirs,it can easily be housed in a 40gallon tank (but prefferably bigger).

Braddah,what do you have the fish housed with?All bichirs are nocturnal predators and will pick off any fish they can fit in their mouths at night while the fish sleep,oh and they eat like snakes so can eat quite large prey.I have 3 bichirs and have seen a 3" P.delhizi (armoured bichir) swallow a 2" lance fish (silver side).
They are relatively easy to keep and will eat a wide variety of foods,my get fed earthworms,bloodworm,fish,carnivor pellets and live ghost shrimp.Make sure the tank is well covered as they are natural escape artists,some floating plants are a good idea too to stop the bichir from jumping and damaging its self against the hood.

 

[impur]

Sorry Impur but P.senegalus will only reach 13" max,it is one of the smallest bichirs,it can easily be housed in a 40gallon tank (but prefferably bigger).

All the things i have read about them suggest 50.5 cm which is roughly 20" isn't it? Well my conversion could be off, or my info. I haven't kept one before so since you have them i'll trust ya

 

[CFC]

Of all the bichir species the only two that i know of that reach that size are P.ornatipinnis and P.conginers (spelling?),all others will remain below 15".The P.ornatipinnis maxes out at around 20" and the P.conginers gets to a whopping great 35".

 

[impur]

Ornates kick ass. I want one when i get my 190 gal tank

 

[CFC]

I have one that is about 13" long,not sure about the kicking ass though mine is very shy and will only come out from under her piece of bogwood when the lights go out,i even have to put my hand in the tank and feed her fish because she is so slow at getting to the food the other fish in the tank would steal it otherwise.Bichirs are very active as juveniles but become more and more secretive as they grow,great fish though and amazing to watch feed,if you can see them .
Why wait till you get a 190g? A 75 is more than adequate to keep one in,their not the most active of fish and are not particularly fast swimmers (comical is what springs to mind),go on treat yourself and get one.