A few more questions about my Delhezi Bichir...

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PaiLum92

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 18, 2010
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Fort Collins
Sorry to everyone if your getting tired/pissed off about my constant posts and questions, im just trying to make sure everything is ok and well with my new Bichir, im not new to fish keeping, but I am to keeping Poly's, so i want to make sure I have all the inof i need to make them happy...

So i got a 4-5 inch Delhezi about 2-3 ays ago. I discoverd that it is very shy when anyone approaches the tank, but when ileave to sit down or watch tv across the room, it swims around like crazy, especially near the top (I know they need to get some breaths of air, but he swimms around the top a lot, not even getting air..)... Is that normal in all Bichirs, or is this just his unique personality?

Also, i am wondering what kind of cleaner fish i should get that would go along/get along well with him? I noticed hes a very messy eater. He will eat about half of the food i give him, then the other half he chews up and then spits out, and saves for later. Problem his when he pits it outit s huge mess floating around and clousing up the aquarium. So, what kind of fish should i get that can go along the bottom cleaning up? I have been told Raphaels work fine, and some loaches, but im afraid he will eat the loach once he grows a little. And i have been told numerous times to stay away from Plecos and Chinese Algea Eaters...

So, any input?

Thanks..
 
Its normal behaviour. Juvenile bichirs like to stay near the top.

Cohazard;4890611; said:
In nature:
To understand how this behavior helps young polypterus survive, it helps to know about their natural habitat. Bichirs come from lakes and river systems in Africa, some with quick moving water and all with plenty of vegetation along the banks.

This vegetation acts as a nursery for young bichirs, who remain where the water is calm, and hide amongst the leaves. Because bichirs need to breathe atmospheric air, baby bichirs and ropes cannot afford to venture too deep, and must remain relatively close to the surface. By floating, they have easy access to breathe air, easy prey such as insects and their larvae, and remain relatively sheltered from predators.
Click to expand...

He probably thinks you are a predator and dashed for cover when you are around. Give it time, it would soon learn that you are not a threat to it. As for your other question, apple snails make great cleanup crew in a bichir tank, as long as it isn't planted.
 
Would a couple 'mystery' snails work? My PS doesnt have apple snails, not sure about my oter fish specialty shop though..
 
PaiLum92;4902815;4902815 said:
Sorry to everyone if your getting tired/pissed off about my constant posts and questions, im just trying to make sure everything is ok and well with my new Bichir, im not new to fish keeping, but I am to keeping Poly's, so i want to make sure I have all the inof i need to make them happy...

So i got a 4-5 inch Delhezi about 2-3 ays ago. I discoverd that it is very shy when anyone approaches the tank, but when ileave to sit down or watch tv across the room, it swims around like crazy, especially near the top (I know they need to get some breaths of air, but he swimms around the top a lot, not even getting air..)... Is that normal in all Bichirs, or is this just his unique personality?

Also, i am wondering what kind of cleaner fish i should get that would go along/get along well with him? I noticed hes a very messy eater. He will eat about half of the food i give him, then the other half he chews up and then spits out, and saves for later. Problem his when he pits it outit s huge mess floating around and clousing up the aquarium. So, what kind of fish should i get that can go along the bottom cleaning up? I have been told Raphaels work fine, and some loaches, but im afraid he will eat the loach once he grows a little. And i have been told numerous times to stay away from Plecos and Chinese Algea Eaters...

So, any input?

Thanks..
Click to expand...
usually cleaner fish will cause one problem to another getting
1-bigger cleaner fish ends up gettin your polyies being bullied(i.e.-pleco-sucks the slime coat off polyies)
2-smaller cleaner fish will end up inside ur bichir's stomach :) (learned the lesson thru money off my pocket...)

anywayz i've seen blogs where they say snails would work... hmm.. but just a warning though, a snail infestation is one of the worse battle to bear in your aquarium...

my personal best advice-get a better filtration system that circulate the water well and fetch left over out of your tank once the bichir lose interest in it... im feeding pellets if you are planing on feeding live feeders its another story...
 
I feed pellets right now, when he grows ill switch to meats, shrimp, fish, etc... Like i said though, he only eats half then chews up the rest and spits the little tiny pieces out all over the tank.

Would rapheals work though? My local fish shop has some spotted ones that are about 3-4 inches. They are too big to fit in the bichirs mouth, right now at least.. would they work?

(I would just vacuum the sand, but ive tried to vacuum the sand before and ended up with a lot of sand missing from my tank, not sure if its the sand i use, or what...)
 
I have three raphaels with my bichirs. No problems between the two fish, but the raphaels eat a TON of food. Their bellies will actually swell to almost their length. I usually drop in pellets for the cats to swell, and then put in the shrimp for the bichirs.
Synodontiis catfish work quite well also, and are much more attractive than the raphs.
 
You could try giving your delhezi some more hiding spaces and not keeping the lights on all day. When i first had bichirs, I just had a few plants and a couple rocks for them. But then I added caves (2 rocks and a piece of slate over them) and the bichirs hid there until they felt safe. I also had them in barebottom, but then I added sand.

I think once they feel safe with some hiding spots and aren't scared by lights when they're still new in your tank, they'll be more comfortable and will come out more. Mine became more active doing this.
 
anything that fits in his mouth goes... does the ghost shrimp fits in his mouth?
yes- ok to eat :) i think ghost shrimps is one of bichir's favourite food...
 
I got several snails to clean my tank. They help some, but arent as affective as plecos.
btw, some plecos suck on the fish's slime coat and some dont.
 
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