Anyone have "problem bichirs"?

[Keeper of the Ropes]

I was just curious here... Does anyone have any bichirs that refuse to play nice? Thought maybe we could find similarities and figure out if there is a pattern to it - be it gender, age, size or species.

For me, it's all my Endlis. And all of them are female. 7'' Bizzy is relatively new, only having problems with a 6'' ornate female. She *does* live in peace with a 5'' retropinnis though. Izzy, a 9'' volta variant, won't play nicely with any other lower jaws but is fine with the upper jaws. Dizzy, an (about) 8'' and my newest specimen from Nigeria, does not get along with my lapradeis, but was victimized by Izzy. Indy, my 12'' beauty queen, is very solitary, and has claimed 1/3rd of the tank as her own. She gets along with everyone as long as they stay out of her territory... Otherwise she chases them down and punishes them. Medusa, the big Cong, doesn't really get along with the new Koliba but has not been in any major battles yet. I tried to keep her with Indy, and Indy ended up bloody and had to be moved. As for the Endlis being kept with each other... it doesn't go well. Medusa beats up Indy, Indy abuses Izzy, Izzy beats up Dizzy... They are all kept separate for their own good. All my other species behave nicely and are best buddies.


*edited to add... Hands down, the biggest problem fish of them all is Izzy, the Volta variant. She wins my "Problem Fish Award".

So... who's YOUR problem fish?

 

[XRAYZ]

sounds like you got your hands full... damn kids

i am begining to think i am very fortunate that my bichirs get along. i have 10 of them now. the only problem i had in the past is my weeksii ate a 10" rope fish when she was 11". and a few months later she ate a 7" senegal

 

[Kenta]

I've had one problem bichir,

It was a psychotic 15" male volta endlicheri who tormented its tankmates for fun. It would start from one end of the tank and bite fins, tails, bodies of any fish in its way (and sometimes would go out of its way to bite a fish) and make its way to the other side.

I constantly had to deal with shredded tails, missing fins, huge chunks of missing fin and super stressed tankmates. The damage would never have time to heal before it was injured again in the same spot. Sometimes so bad that literally there was no tail, just a stub.

He had a really fast growth rate and was super thick, but i had to sell him. Now everyone gets along just fine.
BUT, i still keep in contact with the new owner so i see him periodically.

 

[beblondie]

Meet ''pickles'' my old P.lap he hated everything in HIS tank filter intakes,plants and especially tankmates (except his pet guppy) those fish not eaten were severly wounded
(except his damned guppy) heaters were dragged about,filter intakes were attacked at will
he was justa joy.Tank maintanence was done with a net between my hand and the him-Anne

 

[jconley]

Meet ''pickles'' my old P.lap he hated everything in HIS tank filter intakes,plants and especially tankmates (except his pet guppy) those fish not eaten were severly wounded
(except his damned guppy) heaters were dragged about,filter intakes were attacked at will
he was justa joy.Tank maintanence was done with a net between my hand and the him-Anne

I used to have an oscar that was the EXACT same way right down to the guppy! All of my bichirs get along great though.

 

[marvinbaker]

I stay away from laps as they just can't be trusted! My polys are fine together but my lower jaws stay on the bottom while my upper jaws sit in this large plant keeping out their way so maybe thats why they get along

 

[Keeper of the Ropes]

So what's with me and the female endis??? LOL Lil Brats!!!

 

[Taz2478]

what is it with laps and guppies lol

All I have is 1 male lap (looking for a female). He's eaten all my smaller tangies and a syno. didnt swallow the syno but held it long enough for it to be dead. got some guppies but never touched em. luvs shrimp and rosies, doesnt touch anything else (except small tangies)...