My First Breeding Project Platinum Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus)

[neoprodigy]

I recently aquired couple Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus). im ready to breed these babies in about 1 year... any tips or suggestions?

[WckedMidas]

YOU WANT A TIP POST SOME PICS YOU BASTARD I WANA SEE IT COME ON POST PICS PICS PICS PICS IMA ROB YOUR HOUSE JUST SO I CAN TAKE PICS OF YOUR FISH. AINT GONNA TAKE NOTHING BUT PICS

[piranha45]

i gotta 2nd that, id like to see what a platinum bichir looks like

[Caveman]

Cool dont hear about to many people attempting to breed Bichir. Good luck my fellow monster fish keeper.

[neoprodigy]

YOU WANT A TIP POST SOME PICS YOU BASTARD I WANA SEE IT COME ON POST PICS PICS PICS PICS IMA ROB YOUR HOUSE JUST SO I CAN TAKE PICS OF YOUR FISH. AINT GONNA TAKE NOTHING BUT PICS
LOL.... soon bro soon... just got the last half couple days ago... let them settle abit then i will take some pix

[WckedMidas]

:mad: :mad: :mad: :

[rayman45]

good luck

[oldfish]

I recently aquired couple Senegal bichir (Polypterus senegalus). im ready to breed these babies in about 1 year... any tips or suggestions?
I have found tha when my ornate polypterus would spawn they would often knock off the lid of their tank and end up on the floor.So I would recomend straping down the lid and lowering the water level if your tank is deep enough.Heavy feeding fallowed by a large water change always seemed to get mine in the mood.I would remove the eggs to small bare tank to hatch and feed micro worms.Keep them full and they won't eat eachother so much.....Good luck

[neoprodigy]

I have found tha when my ornate polypterus would spawn they would often knock off the lid of their tank and end up on the floor.So I would recomend straping down the lid and lowering the water level if your tank is deep enough.Heavy feeding fallowed by a large water change always seemed to get mine in the mood.I would remove the eggs to small bare tank to hatch and feed micro worms.Keep them full and they won't eat eachother so much.....Good luck
thanks... i will keep in mind

[The TRUST]

I have seen a Japanese video of breeding Senagalus. they were in a tank that had substrate and they use plants as a place for the pair to deposit the eggs. The eggs were so tiny so it is best that they not be moved. so be prepared to add a sponge or filter floss to wrap around your power filter intake.

[Aimhigher38]

Good luck on the breeding project..... save me one when they have babies.... :D

[neoprodigy]

Good luck on the breeding project..... save me one when they have babies.... :D
yes... i got you bro

[Vitaliy]

From what I know the breeding symptoms are about the same as other basic fish with male bumping the female and her finding a suitable spot and laying eggs. I have heard that it is a good idea to remove the fry from the parents... and with time from each other as they will end up eating one another. Also they seem to love to lay eggs in heavily planted places, heavy bushy plants.

[fishing4exotics]

Interesting choice of fish for someone that is starting to breed fish. I wish you the best of luck.

I have never bred bichers before, but I have a young group of albino senegal bichers that are about 1 year old. I wonder how long does it take for senegal bichers to mature? Mine are still under 8" after 1 year. The males seem to grow slower than the female. Has anyone else observed this kind of growth rate with their senegal bichers?

[PhullTank57]

I have seen a Japanese video of breeding Senagalus. they were in a tank that had substrate and they use plants as a place for the pair to deposit the eggs. The eggs were so tiny so it is best that they not be moved. so be prepared to add a sponge or filter floss to wrap around your power filter intake.

Planted tank, varied diet, and lotsa lotsa time?!! :thumbsup: GL w/ the project, neo!

[Amano wanabe]

Good luck with that. That's one of the many species on my list that I would like to breed sometime in my life.

Chris

[beblondie]

BICHIR BREEDING

Breeding seasons in the wild
Of species I could find listed on fishbase.org

Polypterus senegalus senegalus
June and July -CHAD,-- basin
August, thru Oct. -Gambia,-- gambia river
Aug. thru Nov. -Senegal,-- lower senegal river
June thru Nov. -CHAD ,--no location given
May and June, --upper white nile river
there seems to be no mating from Dec. thru April in the wild or at least not reported or
recorded.

Bichir bichir March thru November in-CHAD

P.lapradeiJuly thru Sept in- GAMBIA
P.lapradei July thru Oct -- senegal river

P.delhezi - no reports

P.endlicheri--May thru Aug --cotre d'lvoire- Bandama river
P.endlicheri--Sept-Oct -Chad-Chad basin
P.endlicheri--July-Aug-Sudan --White nile river, Khartoum
P.endlicheri--July-Nov-Chad
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COURTSHIP
I have seen this courtship behavior in P. polli and P. delhezi and P. senegalus I find this the most interesting part of the the mating ritual as it is shared by most members of the Polypteridae family. Courtship begins by the male breaching the surface from once to several times.followed by him arching his body putting up his dorsal finlets in full display and slowly descending through the water to the female. Coming up from behind her he gently nudges her sideways with a series of headbutts and gentle nips while the female remains motionless as the male gently caress'sthe females ovipositor area with his anal fin till eggs are released .He uses his anal fins which are now shaped like a cup to capture the eggs, fertilizes them and releases them then the process begin again.This may go on for several days.
THE FISH - Sexually mature male and female.While bichirs can be sexed at 7-8 inches.It may take a year to six years to reach full sexual maturity depending on the species this is shown on the males by a greatly swollen anal fin and on some species a dark border on the anal fins margin.On the females which are generaly larger than the males you hould notice a swelling of the abdomen.this is caused by the eggs of which there can be be over 300.Those species found sexually mature at 1-2 years include P.senegalus, P. polli others such as P.ornatipinnis and P.endlicheri at 4-6 years of age.
THE TANKS-One should have a soft sandy substrate and several low bushy plants such as
Java fern (Microsorium pteropus)This is the breeding tank.This is where the eggs will be laid (hopefully) and a good secure cover (see courtship above). The second tank for hatching and raising the fry. This tank should have no substrate and use sponge flters.
THERE IS NO GUARANTEE this will work on a consistent basis.large breeders on fish farms often use hormones to induce breeding.
THE PROCESS- I've seen courtship behavior after a regular water change. However lets try and simulate more natural enviroment .I could just have frisky fish, during the dry season the water temps are in the high 60's to low 70's with a PH value avg. 6.0. But come the rainy season temperatures increase to as much as 84 to 86 degrees with the PH increasing to to closer to 7.0 and the water softness increases,So in order to try to duplicate this we add softer water (distilled) and raise the tempurature to mid 80's that should start the mating process providing all parties are ready and willing there was a mention of adding several drops of saltwater adding trace elements which encourages breeding .
THE HATCHING TANK-When the mating is concluded remove the plants with the eggs or any eggs you may find scattered about as quickly as possible and place them in the hatching tankThis tank should be kept at 82 degrees with a PH value between 6.5 and 7.0.If things have gone well you should see hatching within 60 hours . The young resemble tadpoles and will adhere to
plants and rocks , and live off yolk sacs for approx 6-7 days after which they will need feeding.
Foods include
baby brine shrimp
finely chopped bloodworms
mysis shrimp .
It is sadly at this time death rates increase do to fighting and canibalism if possible the fry should be seperated in individual containers for several weeks or raised in a tank with lots of
Java fern (Microsorium pteropus)to hide from eachother . Once they reach approx.4 cm the odds of survival increase -Anne

Sources include
jurassic fish--Kodera et al
aqualog Polypterus--Frank Schafer
fishbase.org

[neoprodigy]

thanks for the info! pix is coming up soon!

[guppy]

You scare me.

[beblondie]

Who scares you ?

[piranha45]

anything with any size at all will gladly prey upon hapless guppies

[guppy]

there is no such thing as a hapledd guppy, Put one in with any eggs.

[piranha45]

foiled again!

i think...

otherwise, ill stick with "i have no idea what hes rambling about"

[guppy]

foiled again!

i think...

otherwise, ill stick with "i have no idea what hes rambling about"
Arch an is kilts were in soo dis aray

[neoprodigy]

here are the pix... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=712

[xTHExHOUZx]

Bichirs are some of my favorite fish, and Platinum Senegalis are like the pimps of the family. Good luck.

[rayman45]

so neo how are they?

[Loubard]

Any luck yet Li?

I want some.....:)

[Bud_Man_Jr]

what do they look like?

[Kuda]

good luck neo i hope it works out for you, update asap

[Kuda]

good luck neo i hope it works out for you, update asap

[rottbo]

i want to buy some neo when you have them... thanx buddy

[Asura]

How's the breeding coming along ?

[devder1]

update?