Bichir eating gravel???

[David R]

I've recently moved my 7" P. palmas into a new tank, and I've noticed him eating gravel recently! Occasionally I've seen him take a mouthful of a few stones and spit them back out. This morning before I turned the lights on I noticed him doing that 'thing' they do when trying to swallow a large piece of meat, even tho I hadn't fed them since last night, and as best I could see it looked like he was actually swallowing a piece of gravel! (with 4 clownloaches, a chocolate talking cat and a bristlenose I doubt there was any food left)
He looks a little fat (strange considering he hasnt been eating that much since he was moved) but otherwise healthy. Any suggestions?????

 

[dovii88]

well if hes eating it watch out he should poop it out and i would change over to..... sand as soon as possible for his health....

 

[mcblack]

how big is the gravel? I sure your bichir is hungry, try to find food, but take caution there were some cases that bichir choke in gravel, so its better to use sand

 

[David R]

Yeah it's about 3-8mm gravel. I wish I had found out about this a couple of weeks ago because I just moved and had to set the tank up again, so I don't really want to pull it apart to replace the substrate. I guess I'll have to if this is going to be a problem, I feel sorry for the poor bugger having to poop it out if it he did swallow some, it looked like quite a big piece

 

[mcblack]

try to change it if you can either to sand or bigger pebbles that can't fit the bichir's mouth

 

[David R]

I've taken all thge gravel out, will replace it with sand this weekend. Will pool filter sand be ok? I've used it before and can get it for free. I want to leave the tank bare for a few days to see is any gravel 'appears' from anywhere.....

 

[mcblack]

as for the sand as long as its fine, just be sure to clean it well before placing it in the tank, or if you want just leave it bare

 

[vanimate]

Pool filter sand will be fine. I think bichers like sand better than gravel anway.

 

[cmersits]

**** I payed almost $100 for flourite subsrate, I don't want to take it out!

 

[rasdbo]

mine sucks in the sand and then spits it out, they leave the small rocks alone but dig in the sand.