Bichir tank planning

[Arkeon]

Hello,

I am currently getting a 180 gal tank(72X24X24) made and was thinking I would get a bichir.

I saw this post:
Https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/basic-information.62809/page-2

I was debating on doing an ornate bichir and going from there. So far what I have planned for the tank is a bichir and white pool filter sand for the substrate. I'll be using a canister filter for now till I find a cheap sump since the tank will be getting made with the future plans for the sump.
Also wanting to go with live plants and was debating if I should eventually get a co2 system and make it more of a high tech tank.

I was reading other places and it said that Roseline could be put in the same tank add the bichir, but I'm guessing that because of the size of the one I would like to get it's probably going to eat the Roseline. So kind of the question is, what else would work in this tank idea?

Liner of thinking of doing the tank so I have something in the bottom, another for the middle, and maybe the top.

Thanks for any help.

 

[tlindsey]

Hello,

I am currently getting a 180 gal tank(72X24X24) made and was thinking I would get a bichir.

I saw this post:
Https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/basic-information.62809/page-2

I was debating on doing an ornate bichir and going from there. So far what I have planned for the tank is a bichir and white pool filter sand for the substrate. I'll be using a canister filter for now till I find a cheap sump since the tank will be getting made with the future plans for the sump.
Also wanting to go with live plants and was debating if I should eventually get a co2 system and make it more of a high tech tank.

I was reading other places and it said that Roseline could be put in the same tank add the bichir, but I'm guessing that because of the size of the one I would like to get it's probably going to eat the Roseline. So kind of the question is, what else would work in this tank idea?

Liner of thinking of doing the tank so I have something in the bottom, another for the middle, and maybe the top.

Thanks for any help.

J jaws7777 clm08k twentyleagues Polyaddict86 Hendre DMD123 Hao
Vancouver_98683
Angelphish

 

[tlindsey]

J jaws7777 clm08k twentyleagues Polyaddict86 Hendre DMD123 Hao
Vancouver_98683
Angelphish

T thefredpit Cohazard B BichirMohawk

 

[twentyleagues]

Guess I'm first well really second on the scene tlindsey .
So ornate get big and yes eventually Denisonii will be on the menu. Also any other smaller Bichir could be as well. Ornates are one of the largest upper jaw polys most keep them with lower jaws because they share a common size. Unfortunately that puts a lot of other fish on the menu also. You are looking at a planted tank? You will probably regret getting any barbs as any could decimate your plant population. I got filamented barbs (side note when full grown would be a good size for your tank even with ornate) its not common for them to eat plants well mine destroyed everything even anubias. My filamented barbs are not welcome in my 180, they are going to a friend. Denisonii are along the same lines same body shape and not a known plant eater but I have heard they they will, typically they stay smaller though and in a tank with an 18-24" poly probably gonna become poly snacks. 180 would be the smallest tank id keep an ornate in long term. With ornate you could keep some other larger upper jaws but keep in mind 180 looks big but when full grown these will make it look a lot smaller, teugelsi, weeksi, delhezi. Id stay away from the other upper jaws don't want them to become snacks. As for non poly tank mates larger south American cichlids just be cautious as a lot of sa cichlids can be territorial to each other and sometimes anything else in the tank too. Most other fish leave polys alone if it cant fit in their mouths. Back to the plant problem a lot of cichlids are known plant eaters and or destroyers.
Its a difficult thing you ask. I'm struggling with a very near same issue you are, as a lot are. My Delhezi are big enough to eat moderately sized fish so a lot of things id put in the tank to provide mid upper water interest can or will become snacks. Main reason I didn't get an ornate. But I got a teug and they get large just not typically a heavy body poly. Once he gets big its going to be even harder to keep "dither" fish.
I'm sure since a "call to arms" has been sent you'll get a lot more useful info from the rest of the poly gang.....one of us......one of us. lol

 

[Angelphish]

Hello,

I am currently getting a 180 gal tank(72X24X24) made and was thinking I would get a bichir.

I saw this post:
Https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/basic-information.62809/page-2

I was debating on doing an ornate bichir and going from there. So far what I have planned for the tank is a bichir and white pool filter sand for the substrate. I'll be using a canister filter for now till I find a cheap sump since the tank will be getting made with the future plans for the sump.
Also wanting to go with live plants and was debating if I should eventually get a co2 system and make it more of a high tech tank.

I was reading other places and it said that Roseline could be put in the same tank add the bichir, but I'm guessing that because of the size of the one I would like to get it's probably going to eat the Roseline. So kind of the question is, what else would work in this tank idea?

Liner of thinking of doing the tank so I have something in the bottom, another for the middle, and maybe the top.

Thanks for any help.

180 is a good tank for Polypterus. It's big enough to keep all species. An ornate should work, but I wouldn't recommend them with plants, as they get large and would likely uproot them. Fake plants would work best because they cost less and won't die.

Red Garnet sand is best for Polypterus. Polypterus' color is determined by the color of the substrate, and Red Garnet is the perfect color, not to dark or too light.

I keep fish in my 210 ranging from 1-13 inches, and I don't have problems with fish eating/attacking eachother. My largest Polypterus is an Ornate at 10", and my smallest Polypterus is a Senegalus at 2.5", and I don't have any problems with them. My Vieja Guttlatus is even smaller at 1", and he's doing fine. I wouldn't recommend keeping fish this small with Polypterus, but you can depending on which section of the tank they swim in. Most fish you keep should be fine, but I wouldn't do anything under 5-6" just to be safe.

Good tankmates are larger sa/ca cichlids like vieja, cichlasoma, esophagus, Hoplarchus psittacus (a favorite of mine), etc...

 

[jaws7777]

180 is a great poly tank. I wouldnt do the roselines tho...do.you mean denisen barbs ? If so they would eventually end up in someones belly.


Opinions on stocking will vary but my take is less is more. The problem with polys is resisting the urge to overstock. For the most part they arent aggressive and are very addictive lol so essentially you could cram a ton of them in one tank but once they put on some size they are just like every other fish and put out a decent bioload....maintenance/wc's are my limiting factor.

If it were my tank i would put 6 or 7 of some combination of larger growing upper jaws and lower jaws.

Look into the following
Lower jaws - Congicus, lapradei, endlicheri, koloton (lapradei), ansorgii that come to mind also PBB (polypterus bichir bichir) but they are hard to find. some of these have more than one catch location and will differ slightly from the same species

Upper jaws that grow large would be teugelsi, ornates, and weeksii.

Check out the polypterus section amd browse through the various threads

 

[jaws7777]

+1 on the red garnet sand. Makes the patterns pop a little more.

 

[tlindsey]

J jaws7777 clm08k twentyleagues Polyaddict86 Hendre DMD123 Hao
Vancouver_98683
Angelphish

magpie

 

[magpie]

You mention only getting one bichir, and if that's the case you have a lot of options for other tank mates. The plants do make it a bit more challenging, but I think worth it IMO as I also do live plants.

Are you interested in cichlids? If so, there are some options for plants.

If not, I like rainbowfish as they grow fairly large and are colorful.

Jaws has a great poly list for you. If you wanted multiple polys and you defintely want an ornate you shouldn't choose any of the smaller lower jaw species for long term. (Ornate, Teugelsi, Weeksii as jaws mentioned are the larger upper jaws.)

Some basic info on the poly species here, with eventual sizes:
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/all-bichir-polypterus-species-updated.684410/

And loads more info in the poly subsection.

 

[magpie]

Also, if you are doing an ornate I bet it would be fine to have black or a natural brown substrate like peace river. White does tend to wash out polys IMO. The garnet is great for lower jaws but I've seen striking upper jaws on other substrates.

Agree or disagree, poly gang? Esp. an ornate - on black it might make it more dark vs. washing out as it grew...