Anyone here have experience keeping bichirs in hard, alkaline water for a long time (>5 years) (specifically Senegal bichirs)

[Pearl Danio]

I live in southern California so my tap water is pretty alkaline with a good amount of minerals and I’ve heard recently from someone who keeps south american cichlids that since bichirs naturally come from soft water, their kidneys are not equipped to handle hard water and once they reach maturity, their health and immune system gradually decline which leads to dying a premature death. Can anyone who’s kept Bichirs for a long time in hard water attest to this? Did they live their full life spans, were they more prone to disease? Also if anyone would happen to have experience with leopard ctenopomas in hard water, that knowledge would also be appreciated .

 

[tlindsey]

I live in southern California so my tap water is pretty alkaline with a good amount of minerals and I’ve heard recently from someone who keeps south american cichlids that since bichirs naturally come from soft water, their kidneys are not equipped to handle hard water and once they reach maturity, their health and immune system gradually decline which leads to dying a premature death. Can anyone who’s kept Bichirs for a long time in hard water attest to this? Did they live their full life spans, were they more prone to disease? Also if anyone would happen to have experience with leopard ctenopomas in hard water, that knowledge would also be appreciated .

Welcome aboard
Captive bred especially albino senegal have poor genetics. I have a 5 year old captive bred regular senegal. I might be wrong but I believe the Ornate may come from softer less alkaline water. My water from the tap is a high 7 ph. I've raised a few bichirs in the same water.