Re: ornate bichir may be dying..... sel.   9//15/07
Last question for you (for now =) ) do you know where I can find an ornate bichir? My local fish store carries them but do not look healthy and are VERY expensive, over $200.00. Any help would be great, thank you
<Greetings. Unless you're in the UK, I can't really help here. Within the UK, Ornate bichirs aren't terribly rare, and sell for around £15-50 ($30-100) depending on their size. So to me at least, the price being asked by your retailer seems very high. But of course it all depends on local market conditions. Some people buy their fish via online auctions (such as Aquabid) or from mail order suppliers. These may be options. cheers, Neale>

Polypterus
I'm interested in raising Polypterus but they're one of those obscure species the folks at the pet store aren't able to tell me much about. I've been reading online for info and yr page has been incredibly helpful.
what I'm thinking about purchasing is either p. palmas or the armored Bichir, as both those are available to me. (the ropefish is a little too big for my tastes and personally, I don't like it aesthetically...) which is the smaller of the two and what would be the minimum tank size requirement if I were to just keep one specimen in the tank with no other fish?
<Polypterus palmas would be/is my choice. At a foot maximum length it is amongst the smallest of species of Bichirs. A twenty gallon long (30 inches long) would be the smallest of systems I'd suggest.>
also, since these are able to breathe air, am I able to get away with just a bubble stone and one of those small whisper aerators, or do I need an elaborate set up? 
<Not really elaborate, but more shallow and well-filtered nonetheless... The former to ease aerial access, the latter to account for their meaty foods, messy habits. I would utilize a good outside power filter (at least a large size hang on the back power type), and take pains to cover any/all spots where the animal might escape... The family is notorious at getting out of their glass houses.>
anything else you can tell me about the basic set up would be great. the food information on the page was informative as well as the community/conspecific interaction. 
thanks, -Ming >
<So much to say... Get hold of Gunther Sterba's freshwater aquarium and diversity books and read about the "many fins"...
Bob Fenner>

Polypterus palmas
do u know where I can buy a Polypterus palmas or Polypterus delhezi? and do u know how much they cost?
<These Bichirs ought to be available from your local livestock fish stores... maybe as special order items. These are amongst the more commonly readily available species. Otherwise, I would shop around the not-so local e-tailers WITH the input of actual hobbyist users opinions. Perhaps start with our chatforum: http://talk.wetwebfotos.com/
(ask where, reputation...) and the annotated list of suppliers on our Links Pages: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/links.htm
Cost for Palmas should be in the $30 U.S. range, Delhezi about ten, fifteen dollars more... plus shipping and handling if ordered distally. Bob Fenner>

Bichirs
Hi
I recently just found your site.  I had a few questions about Bichirs before I go out and buy them.  I currently own a 20 gallon freshwater tank.  The only current resident in that tank is a freshwater moray.  I have added some aquarium salt to the tank to alleviate any problems he's had with breathing.  I'm currently interested in turning this tank into a brackish water tank and was wondering if Bichirs can cope with brackish water.  Also, what is the most active Bichir you can recommend as I've heard the ornate Bichirs are very very shy.  Are there any other fish that would do well with these two species?  Oh and do you recommend any equipment for a brackish water tank?  Thanks for your time and I think your website is great. Peter Kim
<Hi Peter, Thank You for your comments on the site! I would encourage you to keep fish in conditions that they are evolved to.
Bichirs are freshwater tropical African fish.  FW Morays are a Freshwater/brackish/marine species.  I would also be concerned with keeping any of these species in a 20 gallon tank.  Please type in "freshwater moray" into the google search at WetWebMedia.com and also see: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/polypterids.htm to read about Bichirs.  Take note of the water chemistry warning!  Craig>  

Where to find Ropefish
Hi,
I work at a vet and there we had a Ropefish, it recently died. At my home we just recently got a 55 gallon tank.  I was wondering where is the best place to purchase another for work and for myself. We are located in New Jersey and no one at work seems to know. THANK YOU
<hi there, I would talk to you local fish store, they usually have them on their list of fish they can order for you.  They probably know the best place to find the Ropefish, and it would probably be less expensive then ordering them from online sources.  If you can't get one through your LFS, then LiveAquaria.com often times have Bichirs (Ropefish) for sale there. -Magnus>

Re: Ropefish
Hello,
I'm sorry, I just realized that I had typed "Bichirs" in your email... I must be staring at the screen to long.  I meant to say your LFS can find them under the name Reedfish or Lobed snakefish.  Their Latin name is Erpetoichthys calabaricus.
Also, I had found that these fish do best if kept in groups.  So, if you have a tank that can handle a couple of these monsters (30+ inches full grown) then I suggest you put them in together.
-Magnus