I was planning I could use sand..probably play sand since its inexpensive and probably looks good. But id like to see your ideas..can you even use gravel?
Bichir Substrate?
- Thread starter Yellow_Perch
- Start date
I went out and sifted my own fine grain gravel. Found a nice colored deposit out in the mountains and went and sifted about 12 gallons worth. It is fine enough (1/3 size grain of rice) not to cause any ingestion worries but still large enough that I can gravel vac.
There's always the possibility of your bichir eating some substrate because they have really poor vision. If it's small enough they can pass it(sand), no worries. If they're small and it's gravel, most often they can't pass it and becomes a fatal blockage.
It doesn't always happen, but it happens enough to be a concern.
After almost forty years of gravel, I'm a recent sand convert. It takes a little more prep than gravel, but once properly prepped, it's no harder to clean, just a little different. I like the look too, it's really striking, especially in a bigger tank for some reason.(To me, anyhow!)
It doesn't always happen, but it happens enough to be a concern.
After almost forty years of gravel, I'm a recent sand convert. It takes a little more prep than gravel, but once properly prepped, it's no harder to clean, just a little different. I like the look too, it's really striking, especially in a bigger tank for some reason.(To me, anyhow!)
I use sand in all my tanks with bichirs in,I think they prefer it too.
Go get that sand,also red/brown to bring out the best colour too,I mix my own between a graphite kind of colour and a dirty white,looks nice when mixed,not too light and not too dark either.
Go get that sand,also red/brown to bring out the best colour too,I mix my own between a graphite kind of colour and a dirty white,looks nice when mixed,not too light and not too dark either.
(Many threads on this you can search.) They hunt by smell, and wouldn't mistake gravel for food. I think bichirs would eat gravel from being spooked and having it get in their mouth that way. Me personally, have never kept a bichir in sand, I use gravel and don't have issues.
sand is safer. with gravel, a grown bichir might swallow it and choak to death, and can damage fins if a skittish bichir swims around franticly on the gravel somewhat sharp edges.