Are bichirs poisonous?

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Crustman

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 20, 2006
618
14
18
Mobile, Alabama
I have a small ornate bichir in my 120 with 2 clown knives, a Florida gar and an aro. I watch the clown knives come up and sniff it but they have never tried to eat it. The gar ignores it also even though it could easily eat it. It seems like the ornate has warning colors or it just tastes bad. I keep the other fish well fed on shrimp and scallops.
 
Taste it and find out!
 
no, bichirs are not poisonous. in fact people eat bichirs in africa. you may want to grow out the ornate in a seperate tank if you are concerned about the size differece. it would be a shame and an expensive meal :(
 
No. Bichirs will eat each other if hungry enough. There used to be a picture floating around of an Asian hobbyist's congicus or endlicheri (I can't remember which) eating a lapradei that was two-thirds the size of the larger bichir.
 
wow i'd love to see that pic...
would be cool if they were poisonous. Maybe your fish aren't hungry enough or the ornate doesnt look inviting enough a meal.
 
Thanks, the plan was to keep it in my 55 gallon with a little jar but I couldn't trust the bichir from eating my 2.5 inch jar. He had to go in with the big boys. I know, poor planning on my part.
 
Just give the fella plenty of hiding spots and keep the big boys well fed and hopefully, it'll catch up in size.
 
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