Ok so after all this info I still find myself asking 1 question. If I were to grow a WC polypterus out with a CB polypterus which one would grow larger? I would pick the WC. I jut feel like weather it be owner care or LFS and breeder's fault that WC polypterus will grow bigger than CB if in the same conditions.
WC / CB MAX SIZE COMPARISON
- Thread starter wilsonhuweishen
- Start date
What your method of caring for both fish? Try to document it and see after 5-6 years.
Even WC started from small can get stunted too. Grow both WC and CB endli started the very 4-6" in a 10-30g tank. Do the same usual care of many bichirs keepers. Let it gradute at 8-10"+ and introduce to the main tank. Again do the usual care. WC may grow faster and reach closer to 20" in 2-3 years. However in the long run 5-6 years or more I bet both fish will be under 20" and not growing anymore. Regardless if WC or CB.
Unless you do more effort. Do more water changes. Give them the best variety quality foods you can give them. House them in a bigger tank. Not give them a lot of stress. Invest more. Yes this hobby is expensive, if you want to have the best monster size bichir you can own.
BTW how many bichir keeprs here grow out their WC bichirs closer to it's max potential size? I'm certain not many and only few of them grow them to mosnter sizes. I'm pretty sure most of them are under 20" for lower jaw bichirs and under 12" for upper jaw bichirs. Besides the ornate, tueg and weeksii I bet most of their upper jaw bichirs are 9"-10" long and not growing anymore. And for the ornate, tueg especilly weeksii, probally at 14-18" and not growing anymore. For the ropefish I bet many are at 13" and not growing anymore.
I don't think that the last part is fair I think that there have been more hobbyist enter the poly world recently and haven't had their polys long enough to actually grow them to full size yet. My opinion is that WC would get larger than CB in today's world if you were to grow out WC and CB. That's just my view I just don't think that the CB polys have the same capability to grow to their WC size any more. Some do, but a lot more don't. You don't have to believe what I'm saying, but thats what I think.
Just like I said, document it and post again 6 years from now and just do what many bichir keepers do. The forum will always be here. Both CB and WC can attain monster size if cared for properly. This is base on my own experience and some of the people I know here in North America especially in Asia. In Asia many are CB but yet they are monster size. Since they can invest more as equipments are cheaper. Compare here in North American that many people are concern about the heat and the space, thus many CB are small as they dont wanna invest more. Then blame it on the bichir genetic because it CB. It can happen in WC bichirs too if grew out from small size. It's not always WC will attain monster size if you dont do more effort. It will be just a waste of time and in the long run a disappoinment when you realize the bichir is not growing anymore when you expect from the start that WC bichirs will grow much bigger. Many new to bichir makes this repeated mistakes, as someone tells them that WC will grow much more bigger and they just do what many noobs does. Then complain later and ask why his/her bichir is not growing. What I'm saying here regardless if it's a CB or WC always give your bichir or any fish the proper care that they need to insure good health and attain the monster size you expect it to grow. If you can get a WC bichir that's good. However don't slack off and be lazy since someone told you that it will get big since it's a WC. With CB getting it to monster size, you just need to do more effort.
I agree with much of what you are saying King El, there is no doubt that captivity is a limiting factor to max potential size. Therefore it stands to reason that the closer someone mimics their natural conditions, be it through tank size, Water changes, diet and stocking levels. The larger potential for their bichirs to get.
You do need to be careful with your statements however, you appear to be painting almost everyone in the hobby other than your self and a select group in asia with the same brush. There is no doubt you are an amazing fish keeper, there are others here as well that take outstanding care of their fish and have grown them to monster size.
You have a lot of great information but I fear many will not see it do to the delivery.
I do recall you yourself posting in threads about poor cb genetics limiting max size of bichirs.
I apologize if I took your post the wrong way.
I may have taken your post the wrong way. Your message is sound. Don't take the easy way out and blame genetics. Give the best possible care possible and take ownership for the results of your grow outs
Pretty good guidance
Well I did post about that bad genetics were to blames I think is was 2008-2010. However only this recent unexpected growth on my CB bichirs made me think other wise and that was only on 2013. Just like I said in when I got free senegals bichirs that where in a petstore for a long that where stunted and suddenly grew fast in my tank all of a sudden. Then I thought about other peoples who grew their fish close max potential monster size and mostly most of them are CB. That's what changed my mind that it's not just genetics alone. Before I was busy with other stuff, limit my equipments and water changes as I was living with my parents before to save up electric bills. Now that I have my own place I can do what I want. Also before I have a JDM setup which the fish produce too much pheromones due too many fish in the tank. I changed all that. Compare to what I do before and I do now, definitely I pay more attention to my fish now. After all, we all learn and discovering things whats best for us and for our fish as we get older. Hopefully we discover more good things and we can share them.
That's what Im trying to say. Sorry for taking most of the credits. I did not mean to.
Your experience is golden, I am interested in your observations with the different set ups. Your example of taking cb fish that had stop growing only to see a growth spurt in a bigger tank is powerful
Presents a compelling arguement against the old style Bichir carpet tanks if max size is the ultimate goal
i think every people having different in caring and growing polypterus experience, i had a example here recently, WC combo with CB, in the end CB pee take over whole tank become dominant and the rest all WC all slimmer and not growing in the tank, it can be alot of issue? but what i can hear from you guys were, WC definitely grow faster and larger if given proper care compare to CB, BUT it doesnt mean CB cant grow to its potential and max size right? one of the answer from you guys, WC 20%- 80% per week, 80% might stuned the fish? i dont know, but im doing it 20% per week first when i was keeping but i dont know anythg about pheromone, haha. second, variety of food, of course "LOAD" live food the best so far? thirdly, about setup, alot of keeper here share their experience that, size of the tank doesnt matter to polypsterus? what is that suppose to mean? i thought the larger the tank for the fish better? they said limit of space wont stop polyps growing?
