Best SMALL Bichir???

[dennisdeng2002]

Basically all cichlids and any fish that doesn't only swim in the top section of the tank (ie arowanas) can help clean up any leftovers, loaches and catfish are also very proficient.

 

[zackxf]

While we're on the subject of small bichirs,

Can you stunt their growth by keeping in a smaller tank first?

That is really unhealthy for the fish.

I came across a better deal on a 60 gal and its in my living room!!!

Of the "small" bichirs... I want 'em all, especially the Palmas!!!
But I can't find anyone carrying Palmas bichirs in san diego so...

Thinking about doing: 3 polys (1 sen, 1 albino sen, 1 del), 1 bg knife,
and later add 3 or 4 chiclids (1 jack dempsey, 2 or 3 geophagus to sift sand).

Will that work??? would adding a fire eel be too much?

That is too many big fish for that size of tank. The knife and JD will get too big for that tank just by themselves.

 

[FSM]

If you have lots of leftover food after feeding your bichirs, you are overfeeding them. Eartheaters aren't going to fix that, they're just going to add more waste to the tank.

 

[Savier808]

If you have lots of leftover food after feeding your bichirs, you are overfeeding them. Eartheaters aren't going to fix that, they're just going to add more waste to the tank.

That makes a lot of sense actually... I'll have to rethink my strategy!

Any opinions on the best substrate for the little bichirs?

I like the look of the black sand but I've heard it's really difficult to clean with gravel vac... suggestions?

 

[Cholly]

Just don't get really fine sand, I made that mistake with my first sand substrate.(Crayola playsand, green. Looked great, but what a PITA!) The really fine stuff is what causes filter problems by getting sucked into impellers. It gets stirred up too easily.

 

[Savier808]

Talked to one of the senior workers at Pet Kingdom and he said the black sand was VERY difficult to clean initially, made the water dirty, and takes about two weeks to settle!!!

Does this sound right???

 

[voldemort]

Talked to one of the senior workers at Pet Kingdom and he said the black sand was VERY difficult to clean initially, made the water dirty, and takes about two weeks to settle!!!

Does this sound right???

that sounds a real PITA!!! imagine playing hide and seek for two \weeks?

 

[Armored_delhezi]

Hmmm... Just pay more time in cleaning your sand in a bucket small part after small part... It will be OK...

 

[abarilot]

Id go with the natural sand they have at Pet Kingdom cuz it doesnt look bad, not that hard to clean, and will be fine on the bichirs skin. You can also use pool filter sand from Home Depot or from another home improvement store.

 

[FSM]

Pool filter sand is cheap and clean. Don't use a gravel vacuum, just skim all the waste off the surface with the siphon tube. Everything sits on top so a gravel vac is pointless anyway.