bichir info

I have an empty 29g and am looking at possible occupants. One fish I have been thinking about is a Senegal bichir. These guys usually only get 12" max in the home aquarium. Most things Ive read suggest larger tanks of 40g + for these guys. I dont really believe that it is necessary for this particular type. So any thoughts, would a standard 29g work out for this type of bichir?

I tried the bichir twice.. once with a 7-8 inch in my 75gal.... he was extremely shy and really slow (uncompetitive) to get to any food. Did good for a few days then the 4th day my fish must have stressed him to near death ( possibly my pictus catfish ).. and the hospital tank was not enough for recovery.

Tried again with a 3" one in a tetra tank and he could not even compete with the cory catfish to get any food. Really awesome fish to watch though. They can even live out of water for a few hours.

This guy would end up with the tank to himself.

Poly's are awesome, but Paintguy is correct. They dont come out much, unless interacting. I have 2 Dehezi Polys and they are awesome. They swim to the top to eat. I also have an Ornate in my grow out tank. Not nearly as aggressive when it comes to feeding time. In fact I have never seen it eat. Also I haven't seen it in 2 days. I better go searching.

Anyway, I dont think just that would be what you want. IMO, you should buy a 7 to 10" Poly and stick it in your 210. You need some bottom fish. Or how about a poly and a nice Pike.

Id go with a Crenicichla sp. Tapajos Red, or if you want smaller Crenicichla lepidota Heckel or Crenicichla lucius for the Pike, both only reach around the 8" mark. And a Polypterus ornatapinnis, it maxes out around 18". But usually takes a couple years to reach that.

OOOOPS Got off track.

The 29 gal. I think a pair of smaller fish would look great. Say a pair of Sajica or Acara or Rainbow Cichlids, with a cool looking catfish or 2. An exotic pleco that stays around the 5" mark. And maybe a dwarf Pike that only reaches about 4".

I have never had bichir and always thought they were kind of cool but I guess they would be as boring as my puffer idea. The dwarf pike and maybe a bristle nose pleco would work out fine with me.

BORING!!!!!! The Pike wants a neighbor, so give it one.

I guess if I wanted a fish that looked like a giant turd I should just collect poop from my cichlid tank and keep it in the 29g.

DMD123 wrote:I guess if I wanted a fish that looked like a giant turd I should just collect poop from my cichlid tank and keep it in the 29g.

What fish looks like a giant turd?

Bichir look like turds.

Yes it kinda does. Thats why I said a Ornate, or Delhezi, or Buttikoferri (gold dust). They look awesome. IMO

our poly is very active and a competitor for food with our two green spotteds and 5 kribs lol actually he is kinda mean lol we got him from sumner he is about 6 inches