my dad just bought me a bichir . what should i do ? O.O

[flowerhornfishman]

That's right. The cycle is a process and the fastest way to let the biofilter establish is to let it run its course; takes about a month. Water changes will delay the process because the tank is fluctuating in ammonia levels.

Water changes do not contribute to a cycle, they interrupt it. Helps the fish, but the fish shouldn't be there during the cycle anyway lol

Aquatic plants have beneficial bacteria on them and the plants them selves will consume ammonium. This will contribute to the cycle process by adding beneficial bacteria colonies that will help cycle the tank faster and protect the fish from harm. More beneficial than a water change.


I agree with Aqua Nero that established filter media is best if available. Most nooks are using cartridge filters though.


What type of filters are you using OP?

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hhmm, im kinda frustrated with no aquatics plants. it's just tht the fiskheeping hobby is not active in my place. soo, there is no lfs in my place. there is but it's about 40-70km from here.
im using a hanging filter on my 30g, i dont know if this is good though.

 

[flowerhornfishman]

Flowerhornfishman what type of filter do you have on the Oscars tank?

Is the water cloudy in that tank?

Posted with a Samsung Galaxy Note 3

im using top filter on tht tank, and no, the water is clear. i do about 70% water change weekly.

 

[flowerhornfishman]

You could order Dr tims and that will let you cycle within a couple days. Other option is to by a hatchery or something to keep little fish from getting eaten by big ones and put your birchir in it in your 65 until the cycle is complete. Test kits are going to be a necessity. Leave your lights on longer during the day and turn temp up to low 80's. This will speed up the process. Plants would be good as well as gravel from the 65. Oxygenation also boosts cycling so if you have an air pump run it. Maybe feed some tilapia fry to the Oscar to lighten the bioload lol.

i dont turn on the lights in the day, i'll let sunlight pass through it. becomes more natural to them so yeahh, sounds similar. lol im nver going to feed my oscar feeders especially my tilapia fries. the tilapias are doing the past weeks in tht 30. im using river sand on the 30. i didnt add any fish to it in a few days after setting it up, but i let the filter running.

 

[flowerhornfishman]

hey guys, this is my bichir, possible ID on this guy? it's listed as a Tiger Polypterus. i know nothing bout them lol


they feed it bloodworms in the lfs, but since it's unavailable, i tried earthworms, and he ate it. is it okay? i have live shrimps in supply but will he even chase them? i tried sinking pellets but no luck.

 

[dinhy34]

Weird looking body shape for a bichir, looks like lungfish or some sort. Bichirs usually have rounded head rather than pointed head. Looks like it dont got fins either but feelers like lungfish.

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[dazzapolypterusweeksii]

It's a polypterus endlicheri


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[dazzapolypterusweeksii]

Feed him at that age daily except for one day a week but don't worry if he doesn't feed they can go weeks without feeding and moving them about can cause them to go off there food,feed worms small chunks of white bait lance fish prawns liver beef heart and can be weened onto pellets.as he grows feed 3 times a week.great fish



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[flowerhornfishman]

Weird looking body shape for a bichir, looks like lungfish or some sort. Bichirs usually have rounded head rather than pointed head. Looks like it dont got fins either but feelers like lungfish.

Sent from my HTC HD2 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

lol, he didnt stood up his fins. he got lots of dorsal fins, just like wht bichirs have.

 

[flowerhornfishman]

Feed him at that age daily except for one day a week but don't worry if he doesn't feed they can go weeks without feeding and moving them about can cause them to go off there food,feed worms small chunks of white bait lance fish prawns liver beef heart and can be weened onto pellets.as he grows feed 3 times a week.great fish


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thanks for the ID.
hmm, as u can see in the pics, i threw some sinking pellets. he's not even interested. when i put a cut-off wriggling earthworm then he ates it. how do i get him to feed to feed pellets? im afraid tht he doesnt get the proper nutrition just by feeding him earthworms.

 

[dazzapolypterusweeksii]

Let him settle and feed on worms and occasionally other chunks of fish or meat once his settled you might have to be persistent if you want him on pellets as main diet and stop offering other foods till his so hungry he takes to them.if you got him feeding on worms his happy already and a diet solely on worms wouldn't do him any harm I had one weeksii polypterus that took years to get of worms and I still have a lot of polypterus that don't touch pellets especially the older ones.a varied diet on meaty foods is fine I done well on them and my oldest bichir is around 15 years old.


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