Polybirchir?

[Tiger Tiger]

Hi

Not sure if i got the spelling right on this but its a polyperiptiris and i think its the Palma?

Its a spiny type eel.Grows to about a foot.
Anyone tell me more about this Guy

Thanks

 

[The-Wolf]

polypterus palmas
this is a good place to start
http/www.polypterus.info/

loves meaty foods, like cockle,mussel, prawn, shrimp etc
will take small fish, so if it fits in the mouth it is not safe.

 

[nmonks]

Kept a Polypterus palmas polli for about ten years. Nice fish, very pretty. Basically inoffensive, and best kept with other gentle species. Obviously it will eat neons and guppies, but perfectly safe with Congo tetra sized fishes. Eats anything meaty, but prawns and bloodworms seem a favourite.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Tiger Tiger]

That sounds OK then but the Tigers love Prawns and he ain't goin to get there before these boys.
But will see how we can get them to him.
Livefoods maybe the way. Plenty of Bloodworm should do it.

Will it take Frozen bloodworm etc etc.

Tank needs to mature a bit more before it enters . but i am hooked.

 

[nmonks]

Which Datnioides are you going to mix the bichir with? Obviously not a brackish water one, right?

I'd also tend to avoid any really aggressive fish. The smaller bichirs are pretty mild. Mine shared with Ctenopoma acutirostre, and that seemed a good combination in terms of size and temperament.

Cheers, Neale

 

[Tiger Tiger]

Hi

There are no pure Brackish ones. They are all capable of living in Freshwater.
But i have a Siamese and a New Guinea tiger.

But size wise they are both around 7 inches at present. The one i am picking up is around the same size....Maybe a inch bigger.

Should be OK .

 

[nmonks]

I'd beg to differ. Datnioides campbelli and D. polota (=quadrifasciatus) are certainly more common in brackish water than fresh, and one has to assume that's the best water for them. Given the price-tag of Datnioides campbelli, I personally wouldn't recommend keeping them in anything else.

Datnioides microlepis, Datnioides pulcher, and Datnioides undecimradiatus are indeed strictly freshwater fish in the wild, though they will all tolerate brackish water conditions, up to a point anyway.

Cheers, Neale

There are no pure Brackish ones. They are all capable of living in Freshwater. But i have a Siamese and a New Guinea tiger.

 

[Tiger Tiger]

What i was saying is all are capable of living in freshwater. If you wish to keep them in Brackish then they will live there too.
I go or have been to many shops who say 'Tiger Perch' only in Brackish water Sir!
But they are wrong.
I see your point on campbelli, And yes you are right they are very expensive now due to restrictions and i would feel a little nervous of freshwater for them but they could live in it but its a hit or miss affair if its colours where to shine through and at that price i would want them too.
But then its the same with the rest, I was given my Micropelis by T1 as it was rather bland in his tank but in mine its turned out stunning.

Don't tell him that though

 

[cane76]

so what fish do you have in the 70g tank now?

 

[Tiger Tiger]

At this present time just the two tigers. The others i transported back to my other tank after one of the tigers attacked one of my silver shark of around 5 inches.
The new guinea is known to be a little more aggressive than the others and this one is no acception it is definately the alpha of the two even though its about an inch or two smaller

I decided it was just not mature enough yet. The polypterus is on hold at a different location for another 3 weeks. I just wanted more information on the fish.

In the end the plan is.......

2 tigers
1 polypterus
5 clown loaches.

I am probably not covering mid-range but i want to give the tigers top and middle.
I think this gives ample of room for my selection. The silver sharks i took back as obviously they are not mature enough. The striped dorid is in the mid tank and is quite happy as the only bottom dweller.

I was thinking of a cat but will see how things develop from above in maybe a years time.

 

[Tiger Tiger]

nmonks...I appreciate your opinion and it shows you have good knowledge of them as if you read we both agree. But this is always an on going discussion amongst tiger keepers. I think the campbelli is like i said i would put in brackish water you are right.
But it is amazing how many shops say Brackish only for all of them. I do not think they have done enough research into them and its a shame as i expect they have lost sales and put people off buying them as to mention Brackish to a newcomer would scare them off.

Still more tigers for me...After all they are not easy to find

 

[nmonks]

Yes, I agree, not all tigers are brackish, and it's wrong for fish stores to say so. The brackish water species may perhaps do well in freshwater, provided the aquarist keeps up with things like water quality. But it is useful to have them with salt-tolerant fishes, nonetheless. If the tigerfish gets sick, raising the salinity may help, especially for things like whitespot and fungus. A D. campbelli will go to 50% seawater easily, but freshwater fishes will not...

Yours look happy and healthy, so good luck!

Cheers, Neale

 

[Tiger Tiger]

thankyou