grass pickerel and ornate bichir??

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I

ivonko

Feeder Fish
Jan 9, 2013
2
0
0
Kelso WA
hi guys, ive downsized from my 125g tank to a 75 recently so i took most my fish to the local fish store,

i want to keep my ornate bichir though, i also want to order like a grass pickerel, i was curious what you guys think about them as tank mates

as far as water temps, my previous tank didnt have a heater so the bichir shouldnt have an issue with it too much.


im a little worried about the pickerel thinking the bichir is a giant worm and attempting to take a bite out of it, (bichir is about 6" long currently)


think it would be a safe combo?

thanks
 
I assume the Pickerel is a native, the ornate really should be in at least 74 to 76 degree water if not higher. He might have survived in colder but really should be in warmer water

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I have a northern pike with my ornate bichir currently in my 125 with no problems and I have had my pike in room temperature water before I moved him to the 125 with a heater and its pretty much the same water temp as his last tank I just put extra air stones in the tank to keep a good D.O level

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ivonko said:
hi guys, ive downsized from my 125g tank to a 75 recently so i took most my fish to the local fish store,

i want to keep my ornate bichir though, i also want to order like a grass pickerel, i was curious what you guys think about them as tank mates

as far as water temps, my previous tank didnt have a heater so the bichir shouldnt have an issue with it too much.


im a little worried about the pickerel thinking the bichir is a giant worm and attempting to take a bite out of it, (bichir is about 6" long currently)


think it would be a safe combo?

thanks
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I would not put a grass Pickeral in with a Ornate Bichir unless you eventually want to use the Pickeral as a feeder :(. Grass and Redfin Pickerals get about half the size of an Ornate Bichir, and even though they inhabit different parts of the water column, in a 75g Im sure they would eventually become food; a similar sized Chain Pickeral especially one from the South that has been acclimated to warmer temps would be your best bet.
 
Theyll be fine together. My friend has a 18 inch pickerel thats thicker than any ornate ive seen. Its about 2-3 years old.

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Siddons11 said:
Theyll be fine together. My friend has a 18 inch pickerel thats thicker than any ornate ive seen. Its about 2-3 years old.

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Im not trying to be a troll....but are you sure that its a Grass Pickeral, they usually don't get over 12 inches, and the biggest ive ever heard of before was 16 inches long ; my guess that at that size its a Chain Pickeral, http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/grass-pickerel, http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/chain-pickerel
 
Siddons11 said:
Yeah its a chain pickerel my bad lol

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Lol, its all good....hes a lucky guy to have such a native monster as a Chain Pickeral, theyre supposed to almost have as much attitude as a Northern Pike in a smaller package.
 
thanks guys i really appreciate all the input, ill see if i can get my hands on a chain pickerel,*and if not then ill just get an oscar, the 75 gallon is temporary, i had a 125 but had to sell it when i was moving, will be gettinga* 180 or 240 next, waiting to buy a house instead of renting.

Also is chain pickerel sold around the same time as grass and redfin? I contacted a breeder and was told to contact them around June because thats when they're sold
 
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