Breeder Tank for Growout or Larger Community Tank For Growout?

FishGoneWild;1142862; said:

I was wonder which would be a better choice to use as a grow out tank for my Endlicheri. Would a 10gal be a good growout tank or a 5ft tank with other larger bichirs? The Endli is big enough not to be eaten if I were to put it in the larger tank but I was wonder if the competition for food in a larger community would slow the growth vs no competition for food in a 10gal breeder tank but limited swimming space. Let's hear your opinion or expertise.

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i would keep him in the 10 for a couple weeks depending on his size. just fatten him up so there he will have a better chance of getting food in the bigger tank.

I would definitely put him in the 10 gallon until he out grows it. Not only will he be getting more than his fair share of food, but his growth also wont be affected by the other bichirs growth stunting hormones in the water.

This is how I raise them certainly there are other
ways. I use the step up system in other words
small fish small tank as it grows I move it up
to bigger tank. Its a three step process I use
they start off in a 10 gallon tank with the water
level reduced to about half the tanks volume
fine gravel or sand for the substrate and silk
plants for cover and to float in.I use a sponge filter At this stage
they are fed bloodworms and baby brine shrimp
chopped squid and very small silversides
I feed small portions a few times a day.This
isn't possible for many but try feeding morning
and again at night, between now and 7" they
are undergoing their greatest growth and are
hungry constantly
When they reach approx. 5'' i add a small
power filter and raise the water level to approx
2 inches under the trim frame.At this size they are
bigger foods small feeder, ghostshrimp,bloodworms
earthworms etc .They stay in this tank till 7-8'' at which point
I move them to a 20 gallon long for final growout
These steps allow the bichir room to exercise
but still small enough so its easy to find/catch
food. Of course if I get a bigger specime
5-6'' they would go into the 10 gallon then move
up to the 20 long this gives me time to watch
for any signs of illness. Remember many bichirs
are wild caught quarantine is a good habit to get into-Anne

I've used the graduation method in the past, but recently, I could only find senegalus at half the size of my other bichirs, so I added one to the mix.

It's doing great and growing quickly.

I don't care where any of my fish come from they all go thru a period of quarantine.I have QT'd fish from my own family if for no other reason but to monitor their food intake and general health before introducing them to any occupied tank-Anne

amesbien;1144501; said:

but his growth also wont be affected by the other bichirs growth stunting hormones in the water.

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I've heard of other fish (discus) having growth-stunting hormones, but didn't know bichirs had them. I've got two 4" ornates in a 30g growing out to go in with my 12" one, how big do you think I should get them before mixing them?

Does that mean I should be growing the two smaller ones out seperatly so they dont stunt each others growth?