Do your Bichirs dig?

[BCherdingthefish]

I have two cute little Delhezi's that I've had for...I think a couple months now? Best guess is that the smaller one is 4.5" and the bigger one is 5". They are buddies, and during the day are almost always by each other.
They're not as interestingly marked as a lot of Delhezi's are, but I still love them!



There are plenty of hiding spots in my tank(which is where they retreat to when I'm doing a water change) however they don't use them during the day. They dig up my substrate by using their nose and thrashing around. They have dug up the front and back right corners of the tank, and that's where they always are during daylight hours.



I researched these guys before I bought them, and never heard anything about them digging. Is this a normal behavior? Do yours do it?


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[probassfisher010]

Some Polys even completely burry themselves with pretty much just their eyes poking out (usually endlis) but dels have also been known to dig in the sand... Mine don't though

One of my dels has similar patterns, it's cause of our white sand, on black sand they would get more stripes.


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[Egon]

My dels completely dig so just their eyes show. I will post some pocs when i get home

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[benzjamin13]

Polys will dig from time to time. It's normal behavior.

 

[Dr.B]

In the wild polypterus will dig through the substrate to find under water life such as worms or inverts. and obviously they won't cover there holes like dogs. another reason is that they might just want to make their own hiding place. i heard you say they like to hide in it at some times. well like little kids maybe they just want to make one? and the corners seem the most secure. cause if you were a fish would you build a house in the middle of traffic or at the end of the street? ( i really don't know how to make a metaphoric term for it lol) but i think you get what i'm trying to say.

 

[Egon]

One Del kinda hiding

 

[BCherdingthefish]

One Del kinda hiding

Oh how cute!!!!

Well I'm glad to know there's not something wrong with them lol last night I came into my room and turned on the aquarium light(at about 2 AM) and one of the Bichirs had his whole front end burried...eyes/head included. I think he's still getting the hang of it

That is one nice looking Bichir. I have been wanting to change my substrate to black sand but to be honest I just don't have the money, and have more important things to save for, like a new powerhead! I think a darker substrate would also make my eartheaters color up a lot.


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[MFK Ivan]

Mine does not dig.It just wags it's tail and 'swish'.
All the substrates end up at a corner like what the OP posted.
And it ticks me off sometimes cause when he does it some of my plants will float on the surface and I'll have to put em back again.

 

[BCherdingthefish]

Mine does not dig.It just wags it's tail and 'swish'.
All the substrates end up at a corner like what the OP posted.
And it ticks me off sometimes cause when he does it some of my plants will float on the surface and I'll have to put em back again.

Be happy you can have plants My group of Geo's uproot any plant, including ones that had a pile of rocks at the base of it!


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[Gar88]

Hahah I noticed my 3" Endli have a go at digging for the first time this morning.... Kinda cool the way he was trying to bury his head...

Try sandblast supply store... They have sand which can be used for aquaria... Comes in diff colors... And way too inexpensive....


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