Mixing Bichir's

[fry_lover]

I was wondering what peoples views and experience was of mixing Bichir's? I understand they can become territorial if there is too many in a tank.

I currently have x2 Senegal (about 5") in a 48x12x15, but i have a 48x24x24 i might use instead.

My LFS currently has some Ornates in at about 4-5", and i was wondering about having x2 Senegal and x2 Ornate, i know the Ornates may get to 18" eventually though whereby Senegals tend to max out at 12" in aquaria.

Any views on what (if any) Bichirs could go with my x2 Senegals? Or am i already full up with Bichirs?

No other tank mates at present......

What about a Black Ghost Knifefish? Do they really get to 20"? Can they not be kept with other BGKF? The max tank i will have for this is a 48x24x24

UPDATE: One of my 3-Bichir's today looked like he had the "hicups" and was choking, about a minute later he started to lose his equilibrium and started floating, but still breathing, about 2 mins later he stopped breathing and was dead. I had this fish with the two other Bichir's only for a few days. I am pretty sure it was in a sand substrate before and i had it in very fine gravel about 1mm gravel.

All water params okay,

I just read on this forum by CFC that Bichir's are clumsy feeders and can choke on gravel, although i am not sure if this includes such fine gravel as mine?

Actually this input by CFC could be invaluble, as although lots of sites suggest a "sandy" substrate NONE have mentioned choking being the reason and i have spent about 3-4 hrs today on the internet reading about Bichirs

PS - i got these x3 Senegal Bichirs with a tank i bought the other day, the guy selling said they were some kind of "catfish" so i didnt know i was getting Bichir's, just wanted the tank and equipment really. But now i want to get into Bichir's

Whats the story with gravel, tghe ironic thing is i use sand on all my tanks, hate gravel, but this stuff is real fine and white and i didnt have much sand left, so i used the gravel to contrast with the bog wood, and now i think its killed the Bichir?Going to change it to sand just to be on safe side tomorrow.

 

[Straydum]

polypterus can be kept together, but they are territorial and may bite each other. their tough armour plating prevents much real physical damage occurring, but for a more peaceful aquarium, it's best to stick to a single specimen unless you have an enormous tank. however if you only look in terms of stocking, one ornate or saddled could be added, or 2 more senegals. your bichirs would face lesser risk being injured or eatened if their sizes matches up.

yes bichirs can choke on gravel. but on sand is quite unheard off.

 

[The-Wolf]

currently I have
1 ornate, 1 poll's, 1 laperadi and 1 armoured
in a 100G on a sand substrate

there is the occasional assertion of territory rights by the lap and the ornate
but other than a quick nip on the tail there are no problems

however this mix has had a senny (now happily living with geo7x), which they all hated
and a weeksii (now happily living with CFC) that hated everything else.

I guess what I'm saying is
some can live together, some can't

 

[MojoDex]

i keep 3 polypterus all around 10" and 1 orante thats about 17-18" in a 6x2x2 never had any problems they all have there own hidy holes and IMO the polypterus are actually quite social all hanging out together

i had a BGK for 5 years and it never got any bigger than 11" while i had it, it was around 5" when i got it, but i put that down to them being slow growing more than anything else

 

[jayjay]

I used to have a Senegal with a gravel substrate, even though it ate gravel it would spit it out again, mine mainly ate floating foods though.

 

[cane76]

if a 4x2x2 is the most you can offer i wouldnt get any ornates

 

[fry_lover]

if a 4x2x2 is the most you can offer i wouldnt get any ornates

Yes going to give Ornates a miss, i now have x4 Senegal at about 5" and will stick with them, i wanted some Palmas but couldnt get any.

i keep 3 polypterus all around 10" and 1 orante thats about 17-18" in a 6x2x2 never had any problems they all have there own hidy holes and IMO the polypterus are actually quite social all hanging out together i had a BGK for 5 years and it never got any bigger than 11" while i had it, it was around 5" when i got it, but i put that down to them being slow growing more than anything else

I decided to give the BGK a miss, potentially too in-active for me.You have a heck of a lot of tanks from your signature, well done my son, hows it going with all them?

I will stick with the x4 Senegal in the 48x12x15 and upgrade if and when required. I want one other tank mate, a mid-swimming fish in the 4-7" range thats a carnivore.