Baby Bichir Questions

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Fogs

Fogs

Exodon
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2013
58
23
23
Florida
Hello,

I just recently joined this site because when googling information i found that it came up a lot and the posts people had were very useful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcgekj1Im-U

This is my baby Marbled Bichir aka a Shortfin / Dinosaur Eel. I bought him yesterday at petco and they said he'd been there for about a month. I recently put him in my 10 gallon grow out tank where he is by himself. I don't think i will get many other fish MAYBE 1 or 2 but for the most part probably not. He alone is a fascinating enough fish to entertain me. He hasn't been eating any of the New Life Spectrum pellets ive dropped in there for him. Sometimes he moves around a lot in one small area, other times he just sits there and chills for up to an hour. I know they are hardy fish, but i just wanted to know if aged/water conditioned tap water would be fine for him. I'm not an expert on their behavior but i would just like some feedback. Is he breathing okay? What does it mean when he rapidly moves his front fins while stationary? I just want the best for him ;). The filter i have (Petco Power Filter 10) says the water level should be 1" from the top of the tank for the filter. I was just wondering if that would be too high of a water level for him because i know they are better off with a lower water level since they are air breathing fish. Any distinguishable physical characteristics between genders? And is no aeration fine for bichirs?

Thanks!
 
im not official about what he actually is, since stores get things wrong. but on the label it said he was a marbled.
 
Fogs said:
Hello,

I just recently joined this site because when googling information i found that it came up a lot and the posts people had were very useful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hcgekj1Im-U

This is my baby Marbled Bichir aka a Shortfin / Dinosaur Eel. I bought him yesterday at petco and they said he'd been there for about a month. I recently put him in my 10 gallon grow out tank where he is by himself. I don't think i will get many other fish MAYBE 1 or 2 but for the most part probably not. He alone is a fascinating enough fish to entertain me. He hasn't been eating any of the New Life Spectrum pellets ive dropped in there for him. Sometimes he moves around a lot in one small area, other times he just sits there and chills for up to an hour. I know they are hardy fish, but i just wanted to know if aged/water conditioned tap water would be fine for him. I'm not an expert on their behavior but i would just like some feedback. Is he breathing okay? What does it mean when he rapidly moves his front fins while stationary? I just want the best for him ;). The filter i have (Petco Power Filter 10) says the water level should be 1" from the top of the tank for the filter. I was just wondering if that would be too high of a water level for him because i know they are better off with a lower water level since they are air breathing fish. Any distinguishable physical characteristics between genders? And is no aeration fine for bichirs?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forums! Bichirs are definitely fascinating fish!

I'd like to point out that a 10 gallon aquarium will not be sufficient enough for him, as he grows. The bare minimum you should keep him in is a 55 gallon. Additionally, as these fish grow, they will consume nearly any fish that will fit in their mouths. If he hasn't been eating, try feeding him frozen blood worms, and brine shrimp. I've found that bichirs nearly always ignore pellet and flake foods. Generally, any water conditioner that you find at a pet store should be fine, as long as you use it as directed. I've also never seen a bichir rapidly move their front fins while stationary.

Generally, there aren't any distinguishable characteristics between bichirs. It's better to have aeration.

Upon watching the video, it seems to me that the bichir more resembles a Senegal Bichir; not a marble.
 
Yes, it looks like a Senegal.
Your fish is too small to sex, but it is easy with mature bichirs. The difference is the males anal fin is wider.
Aeration is not necessary, but could help with smaller bichirs that still have external gills. It is not needed at all once those gills are gone since they go to the surface to breathe.
 
okay, good to know. anyone know about the water filter water level like i talked about? i know the water level should be a little lower but is 1" from the top too much?
 
As long as they can get to the surface to breathe, more water the better. Just do not want the water level to be up against the lid preventing them from reaching the surface.
 
he seems more vibrant with the filter running, not sure if that is actually a factor. maybe he is just hungry
 
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