Hello! I am new to polypterus and would be glad if you all could provide me with some basic information. Is it possible to keep a species of polypterus in a 55 gallon aquarium for their entire life, or would i need a bigger one? How frequent would I need to do water changes, and is a high dollar filtration system required? Any information would be great, thanks.
Basic Information?
- Thread starter Mtnbike719
- Start date
Mtnbike719;779764; said:
There are some species that can be kept in a 55 gallon for life. How frequent you need to change the water depends on your bioload. A partial water change of once a week is usually enough for a moderately stocked tank. Don't need a high dollar filtration system. You can use sponge filters or power filters if you wanted to.
What species would that be possible with? Would it be possible to keep two in a 55 gallon or would that be too much? So far, these seem easy to take care of.
Mtnbike719;779840; said:
senegalus, palmas, and delhezis. two would be fine in a 55 gal. very easy to take care of.
Oh, great! What is the most I could keep in a 55 gallon without making it overcrowded? Where did you buy your polypterus, at an LFS, or is there a site on the internet?
Mtnbike719;779868; said:
4 is probably the most I would go in a 55. The easiest place to find a senegalus is to go to petsmart. They're labeled as dinosaur eel/bichir. For the other species you can probably find them at your LFS or have it ordered for you. There are also online vendors on the buy and sell section of the forum that sells them.
yeah, you can get some smaller bichir species for your 55g.
here are the smaller species:
P. palmas palmas ('palmas' bichir)- 13"
P. palmas buettikoferi ('buettikoferi' bichir)- 13"
P. palmas polli ('marbled bichir)- 14"
P. delhezi ('armoured' or 'delhez's' bichir)- 14"
P. senegalus senegalus ('Senegal' or 'Cuiver's' bichir)- 12"
P. retropinnis retropinnis ('retropinnis' bichir)- 14"
here are the smaller species:
P. palmas palmas ('palmas' bichir)- 13"
P. palmas buettikoferi ('buettikoferi' bichir)- 13"
P. palmas polli ('marbled bichir)- 14"
P. delhezi ('armoured' or 'delhez's' bichir)- 14"
P. senegalus senegalus ('Senegal' or 'Cuiver's' bichir)- 12"
P. retropinnis retropinnis ('retropinnis' bichir)- 14"
also i would get some kind of upper water fish like an african butterfly just to kind of "even out" the tank strata a little bit.