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FAQs on Bichirs, Family Polypteridae
Systems
Related Articles: Bichirs,
Related FAQs: Bichirs
1, & Bichir Identification,
Bichir Behavior,
Bichir Compatibility,
Bichir Selection,
Bichir Feeding,
Bichir Disease,
Bichir Reproduction, & FAQs on: Ropefish 1,
Ropefish 2, &
Ropefish ID, Ropefish Behavior,
Ropefish Compatibility,
Ropefish Selection,
Ropefish Systems,
Ropefish Feeding,
Ropefish Health,
Ropefish Reproduction,
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Polypterus senegalus, sys, comp. 9/5/08
Hi all,
<Ave,>
I have a question regarding Polypterus senegalus; I've been doing my research
and am getting some mixed reports and as always I like to talk to someone in the
know!
<We'll do our best.>
I recently saw a trio of albino Polypterus senegalus in my LFS and have fallen
in love - I've been wanting some for a while now and at only 4" I would love to
have one to grow on. I intend to get a set-up for them (hopefully an African
style one with either some reedfish/dwarf spiny eel - I know they're Asian!
<There are Spiny Eels in Africa, both the rivers and the lakes, so you're not
really cheating!>
but fire eels and tyre tracks are way too big - an African butterfly, a bush
fish or three - get mixed reports about these guys in groups too - any
suggestions? - and maybe some Congo tetras).
<All should be fine; P. senegalus is relatively peaceful.>
Now the problem is this; my boyfriend has promised to make me a set-up (well
build the cabinet so I can house a couple of tanks in one unit) for the species.
Because I'm so excited and the senegalus are small, I was going to keep them in a
two foot for a few weeks - a quarantine if you will - while the new set-up is
created. I had intended a 4'x18"x18" tank for them. I also wanted 2 senegalus;
is this unwise and should I get only the one? Or will 2 be ok?
<Two youngsters will be fine in that take for some months.>
I've read of people mixing different poly species together, but not sure what
sizes etc these are being kept in.
<Polypterus are snappy about their caves, so each fish needs its hiding place.
But they're not otherwise known for being aggressive.>
Will 2 senegalus cause chaos?? What is the ideal tank size, and I'll attempt
some negotiations!
<You should be fine; if the ultimate tank is going to be fairly large, I'd
actually get three specimens: there's less chance of bullying, because no one
fish can be picked on all the time.>
Thanks
Jo
<Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Ornate Bichir; diet, social
behaviour... comp., sys. 8/8/08
Hello again, sorry for sending so many e-mails...
<Getting used to it!>
You mentioned in the previous e-mail that Oscars are good companions, yet when I
read the FAQ and profile section for the Oscar, they seem to be rather
aggressive. The Ornate Bichir is hardy, but I'm not sure if the Oscar will
constantly pester the Bichir, as it is slow compared to the Cichlid. I'm also
not sure if the 120 litre tank can hold the Oscar when it grows larger (not sure
how fast they grow).
<Oscars are territorial and aggressive when spawning. And by community fish
standards, they're entirely unsuitable for maintenance with, say, Angelfish! But
for a big fish they are relatively docile and work perfectly well with anything
they don't view as either food or a rival. They mix well with large, peaceful
Polypterus spp.>
Also:-
<Hmm...?>
"Oversized and tough are by-words here. Oscars are messy fishes to put it
gently... and destructive toward objects like siphons and tubing in their
systems. Outside power filters (more than one) are fine IF they are of the type
that pull water into their boxes (versus gravity fed siphons), and even these
are better retrofitted with suction cups on their in-tank parts. Canister
filters of good design are fine, but must be regularly (as in weekly) removed
for cleaning. Ideal arrangements for Oscar systems include outside sump type
filtration fitted with external pumps and internal overflows and returns.
Whatever mechanical means you set upon, make the filtration easy to maintain and
over-size in terms of capacity and flow."
<All pretty accurate.>
"Heaters, filter parts, tubing... are all just play things to Oscars. Hide,
remote, attach with suction cups... anything you want to stay in place... for a
while."
<Yep.>
From the article on your website, they seem to cause problems with the filter
equipment. The 120 litre tank I have is run by the "bubblelator" and box filter
system with a UV light attachment, that means the Oscar will/might disturb my
filter system right?
<Oscars will move/uproot/destroy anything they can. Partly its territorial, and
partly its curiosity. In any case you need to use robust equipment and put as
much as you can *outside* the tank. For example external heaters that you add to
the external canister filter return tube works better than sticking a glass
heater inside the tank.>
Also you mentioned medium sized Severums would be good as well, Heros Severus is
quite peaceful from the article and it seems relatively well sized as well as pH
range, good to keep with Ornate Bichir?
<Would be ideal. Other Heros species likewise, such as the amazing 'Rotkeil' (or
"red head") Heros appendiculatus if you can find it. Traded but expensive here
in England. But stunning fish.>
Thanks.
- Gene
<Cheers, Neale.>
Gravel in Polypterus Tank 2/19/07
Hi,
I am setting up a new 75 gallon for my 7" Bichir (Polypterus delhezi).
Much ado is made in some forums about Bichirs and ropes needing to be on sand,
other references say fine gravel will do.
<Both can/do>
Your website says dull gravel is okay for these fish.
<Yes... color-wise I think this shows them off best>
My question is about gravel size. The Bichir is currently on 1-2 mm gravel. I
would really like to use larger gravel in his new tank. This would be easier to
vacuum.
<Ahh. Yes>
Are the dangers from gravel blockages in these fish exaggerated?
<Mmm, I do think so... "this too shall pass" generally>
It rather seems that bigger gravel would be spit out and smaller gravel pass
through and the danger might be from mid-sized stuff. I have on hand some 3-4 mm
gravel and some 5-10 mm gravel. Would either of these be okay to use?
<IMO/E, yes>
I don't want to find out the answer by losing the fish! I was also thinking of
feeding him on a plant saucer so he wouldn't be picking his food out of the
substrate.
<Good idea, technique.>
Some foods would drift out but heavier stuff like pellets would stay in. I
really like this fish and don't want do endanger him.
Thanks.
Tamera
<Are neat animals... Bob Fenner>
Polypterus
Dear Mr. Fenner:
I'm very interested to acquire some Polypterus but I don't know where can I
found some photos of them biotope, because I love the "biotopical aquariums". I
have a 450 Liter aquarium, a 2500 liter/hour external filter. How many
Polypterus can I breed in ??
Thank you for advanced:
Xavi
Well... if really interested... would encourage you to do something in the way
of a scientific literature search. You're welcome to the input about such
searches posted on the site: Home Page ...
Otherwise, an old, but still valuable source is Gunther Sterba's works on
freshwater fishes. Do a look-see through the "used" book sources on the net for
these.
Bob Fenner
Polypterus
I have a few questions on the ornate Bichir. What kinds of foods do you
recommend feeding them?
How long is there lifespan? How large do they grow? What the water temperature
should be and the PH?
Thanks,
MIKE >
Meaty foods of appropriate (mouth) size. The Polypterus I used to keep I mainly
fed larval beetles (meal worms etc.), earthworms (Oligochaete), and cut meat
like cubes of beef heart.
This species (and others) live several years... the biggest ornatissimus I've
seen is about eighteen inches. Some other Polypterids grow to more than two feet
in length. Low seventies to low eighties F. is about right temperature. pH about
neutral is best in my opinion as their water tends to go acid (which it is in
the wild) with aging.
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>
Senegal Bichirs problems
Hi all, I have / had 2 Polypterus senegalus 1 may have committed suicide.
<Senegal Bichirs usually are survivors given the proper living conditions.
Though they are known for jumping out of a poorly sealed tank. They need quite a
large tank to keep them happy.>
I know they go after anything they can fit in their mouth but, would that also
include one of their own if it is smaller then the remaining 1 thanks.
<Senegal Bichirs are carnivorous critters. They feed on live foods and dead
meaty foods such as earthworms, mussels and silversides. They do show
aggression to their own species, especially if you don't give each fish a cave
or something they can hide in and call their own. It's not out of the question
for one of them to attack and kill a competitor... Though, none of the ones I
have worked with in the past had killed and eaten another Senegal Bichir.>
Dave
<Hope that helped.-Magnus>
Packin' In The Polypterids - 08/24/2005
Hi
<Hello.>
I've just acquired the two fish above,
<Polypterus ornatipinnis and P. lapradei>
both are approximately 9" and healthy looking specimens. They are in a 48 x 15 x
18 tank
<I assume this is in inches? This is FAR too small a tank for multiple
Polypterus, even small, without severe territoriality/aggression....>
with a few catfish and a school of 8 convict cichlids as well as 2 small (4-5")
senegalus.
<Four Polypterids.... in 55 gallons.... Not a great plan.
All the fish are healthy, greedy eaters, apart from the two new Polys. I've not
seen them eat yet after being in the tank for almost a week,
<Were these two quarantined prior to introduction?>
the senegalus are greedy eaters, constantly looking like a bag of marbles and I
was assured the ornate and lap where greedy too.
<Likely they are being prevented food by the existing P. senegalus, despite the
difference in size.... Possibly fighting/getting stressed after dark....>
I've tried offering lance fish, live earth worms, blood worm, prawns and catfish
pellets, I've offered food in the day and at night when the lights are out as
they are nocturnal fish, but I've still not seen them eat.
<There is serious conflict here; these animals very likely will not coexist with
any semblance of peace.... One or all may end up killed as they age/grow.>
Any suggestions on what to do?
<Remove the two newcomers, and when the two P. senegalus (still quite small)
begin to grow and show aggression toward each other, remove one. The only
Polypterus species I've heard regular accounts of peaceful groups is P.
palmas.... and even still, ALL Polypterids get too large in the long run for a
55g tank. Much to think about, here, I fear.... I do hate being the bearer of
bad news. Please read here for more: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/polypterids.htm
.>
Kind regards, Ashley Etchell
<Wishing you and your fishes well, -Sabrina>
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