Bichir help!

[Deaths Sting]

whats the minimum size tank u could keep 1 of those bad boys in? i got a 120 with some pretty decent equipment. i don't want my stuff to go to waste. i got pics of my tank and equipment in my album on my profile. whats the largest common species of bichirs and what do they require. i.e.. tank space and water parameters?

Temperature: ?
pH:?
Hardness: ?

their rather cheap where i come from, i was thinking of getting one after my rays need to be removed..

 

[Delhezi222]

A large and common species of poly is the endli, Polypterus Endlicheri Endlicheri. They get up to around 24", maybe bigger, and a 120g would be good for a couple. They're not picky with params or pH, and their temp could be anywhere around 80 degrees.
Hope that helps!

 

[beblondie]

read the primer in the sticky section is my best advice -Anne

 

[Deaths Sting]

A large and common species of poly is the endli, Polypterus Endlicheri Endlicheri. They get up to around 24", maybe bigger, and a 120g would be good for a couple. They're not picky with params or pH, and their temp could be anywhere around 80 degrees.
Hope that helps!

thanks man yah that really helps! so when u say a 120 would be good for a couple are u referring to the endli, Polypterus Endlicheri Endlicheri?
if you were to see it in a store what would it be called? i was thinking of getting Ornates by the way.

thanks again man!

 

[Delhezi222]

thanks man yah that really helps! so when u say a 120 would be good for a couple are u referring to the endli, Polypterus Endlicheri Endlicheri?
if you were to see it in a store what would it be called? i was thinking of getting Ornates by the way.

thanks again man!

Yeah, the endlis. In a store, it could be called many things. Maybe a saddled bichir or tiger bichir, or maybe just an endlicheri bichir. Ornate bichirs would be great also if you prefer those. You could have a good number of ornates in a 120g. They get up to about two feet maximum size, usually a little smaller. Either bichir is fine, and there are a few more choices also, but you won't likely find them in stores. BTW, if you're getting into polys, there are a few things you should read. First, I highly recommend all of Anne's (beblondie's) stickies in the Polypterus forum. They're all packed with info. Here is a website you may also want to check out:
http://www.polypterus.info/index.htm- A good website, with species profiles for all the polypterus.
Let me know if you have any more questions, and have fun keeping polys!
Be careful: It's an addiction.

 

[David R]

read the primer in the sticky section is my best advice -Anne

 

[Cohazard]

A 120g is great for a collection of polys! Upperjaws would be best, since congicus and WC endli will outgrow it.

 

[Deaths Sting]

read the primer in the sticky section is my best advice -Anne

thanks so much for pointing that out! there's a lot of information there! i will defiantly read it a couple more times before i get my bichirs.

thanks again!

 

[Deaths Sting]

A 120g is great for a collection of polys! Upperjaws would be best, since congicus and WC endli will outgrow it.

oh i thought my tank was big enough for the large species too. whole bunch of people said it was.. my tank is 48X24X24'' in the sticky thread post thing at the top of the forum; it said my tank was good enough for the large species..

anyways would an Ornate be ok to you?

 

[Cohazard]

Ornates would work, but imagine trying to keep a 39"+? congicus in a 24"x48" lol the fish would be very miserable lol

I said wild caught endli, because those have potential to pass 30" too, CB one's however usually stay under 30", some even smaller than 24" depending on the body shape.

So you definitely could keep endli in a 120g, just be sure it's from captive bred stock. A wild caught one will more than likely out grow it, or become stunted.