Size of Ornate Bichir?

[DannyLee94]

I have recently bought an Ornate Bichir having being told by the dealer that it was a channa ornatipinnis.
I would like to know how big this bichir will most likely max out at:confused:

Thanks,
Danny

[Hao]

CB get too 18" and max size 24" or so

[dogofwar]

A monster ornate bichir is about 20" or so. And thick.

I grew out a couple in ponds for over 5 years... one got to 20" and the other only got to about 16". I'm sure that there are reports of them pushing 24" for really old or well fed ones :)

[Hao]

and big tanks

[DannyLee94]

thanks for your help anyway hes too big for me and his temp range doesnt match hat of my snakeheads, ive taken him back to the shop.

[ewurm]

I've had one that hit 18".

[uting]

18'' but sometimes in rare cases 20''+

[SFury]

My WC female has stopped growing at 17-18". She may have stunted her own growth by being stubborn and eating frozen shrimp, and not much of it, for the first year I had her.

My other upper jaw bichirs who started out smaller than her ate like hogs and grew at a decent rate. The palmas polli I bought with her was 2" shorter than her at purchase, and outgrew her in about six months.

Once she began to eat heartily, whe went from 7" to 12" in a few months. First year, she went from 5" to 7". That's my Princess. A stubborn obstinate ornate that does what she wants to, when she wants to. She's good looking for a fish so I can't complain.

[David R]

My WC female has stopped growing at 17-18".

How long has it been that size for?

[uwe]

Hello,

i'm knowing the question about the size an Ornate will reach very well ...
And i know the reason why the situation is sooo disturbed!

In fish-related literature it's quite common that one author is copying another author - the silly fact: It seems that there is no reason to actualize knowledge! This is realy non-scientific in any matter ... !
So we can read 48cm (18,9 inches) final lenght of Polypterus ornatipinnis in the most books related to fish - and even in the internet! Look at Wikipedia or Fishbase ...
I've made some pics of an Ornate who is much more than 20 inches long - here is one of these pics:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff123/fup/Polypterus%20ornatipinnis/orni15.jpg

[SFury]

How long has it been that size for?
I've had her for over four years now. She's been that size for the last 18 months or so. If she is growing, it's really slow going at this point.

[SUNFLOWER]

I have 2 they are 20 inches 6 years I do not think they will grow much more they have been this size for over 2 years .

[shenzhenluohan]

I've seen them reach some big sizes around22-25"

[David R]

I've had her for over four years now. She's been that size for the last 18 months or so. If she is growing, it's really slow going at this point.
It probably has slowed down a lot, to the point where you don't even notice it. I know I thought my ornate hadn't grown much until I measured it recently...

[MsMassPoly]

mine is 22 inches..

[uwe]

Hello,

if discussing the size a Ornate could reach one have to have in mind that Polypterids are able to get very very old! Most bichirs are growing fast from larvae to sub-adult, then they tend to let it go somewhat slower.
The big species like P.e.endlicheri, P.e.congicus or in this case P.ornatipinnis grow fast 'til they are over 12-15 inches long - then the growth rate slow down. The bigger the bichir the slower the growth. We do know that also from the most other big fish ...

Greetings
Uwe

[snow]

20" is around max for one in a tank.

[David R]

I agree with Uwe, and I think tank size may also play a part in determining the size the growth starts to slow. Polypterus can live for 20+ years, maybe a lot more, so to say that a 3 year old bichir has stopped growing is a little premature IMO.