I have 7 platies, a pleco, and 3 hillstream loaches and a female betta with my senegal birchir who's roughtly 4" long right now in a 20. I recently added 5 of the platys the other day did a water change and moved my java ferns around and now i think my birchir digs a hole in the sand in one corner. Is this normal behaviour for him? he's been much more active since these changes. I did cover up the hole once but it came back, so i've left it and he's been in the hole pretty often.
Behaviour of a senegal?
- Thread starter caoder
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Yup its normal... Bichir tend to burrow. Reason is not really clear as to why they burrow.
Here is my endli burrowing
Here is my endli burrowing
It's pretty normal for Polys to dig into sand. I'll be honest though...I've never seen this behavior with Sens though. I'm pretty sure it's fine.
its not burrowing, but it kind of pushed all of the sand out of the corner.. kinda like what my crawfishes did but they're gone. But, thanks for the replies. 
n the platys will be moved out before he'll get that big... surprisingly he's only grown maybe 1.5 - 2 inches in about 2 - 3 months. and he's not big enough to eat the platys although i think he might starting to hunt/ stalk them a bit.
n the platys will be moved out before he'll get that big... surprisingly he's only grown maybe 1.5 - 2 inches in about 2 - 3 months. and he's not big enough to eat the platys although i think he might starting to hunt/ stalk them a bit.It's very suprising what a bichir will try to fit down its maw.
They have been know to choke to death on prey that is too large.
They have been know to choke to death on prey that is too large.
Bichirs burrowing is an ambushing technique.
It is also a defensive measure when they are stressed or feel threatened.
It is also a defensive measure when they are stressed or feel threatened.
Ever since moving my dels into a sand substrate they burrow anytime they aren't out and about. As soon as they stop swimming, they plow into the sand. They're both the biggest fish in the tank at 10", so their behaviour seems to suggest a rather natural state for them. Whether for evasion or ambush I can't say though.