Bichir
- Thread starter dmarinko
- Start date
depends on type, probadly a senegalese so they get about a foot, and as long as fish are bigger they will be straight, but reccomend an upgrade un your tank size for the future maybe to 100g+ because you will get the bichir fever and start buying more.
Assuming, its a senegalus,...
You have to know for sure, what You want:
Variant one:
You want to breed bichirs (senegalus has reproduced quite successfully), so You should buy at least a pair or maybe 3 to 5 of them. You can combine them with any type of larger algaefeeder (Acanticus, Hypostomus, Plecostomus or whatever, but it should be at least 8-10" long). Don't put any other fish in this tank (except feederfish), furnish the tank good with gravel, lots of stones (caves) and roots, a part of the tank should be densely planted (prefered with finefingerd plants). The tank should have at least 80 gallons, 120 would be comfortable.
Variant two:
You want to have a fun tank, where You have lots of different curious fish. You can combine a bichir with any fish You like, but the fish should not be smaller than half the size of the bichir. Otherwise it is food. Very delicate fish, like Xenthodon or pipefish should not be combined with bichirs. They can kill them by just biting them in half. For a bichir to feel really comfortable, You should not offer them a clear spring surrounding, but rather the athmosphere of a slow meandering flatland river, which can be a little bit muddy and which is densely planted. The size depends on the fish, You want to combine it, but I would propose 100 gallon as a minimum. Don't keep a single bichir, at least in pairs.
Variant three:
You want to have a single bichir in a clean tank, just to show it and to watch it.
PLEASE don't do that. There is no natural behavior possible for the fish, and it will go crazy!
BG
Thomas
You have to know for sure, what You want:
Variant one:
You want to breed bichirs (senegalus has reproduced quite successfully), so You should buy at least a pair or maybe 3 to 5 of them. You can combine them with any type of larger algaefeeder (Acanticus, Hypostomus, Plecostomus or whatever, but it should be at least 8-10" long). Don't put any other fish in this tank (except feederfish), furnish the tank good with gravel, lots of stones (caves) and roots, a part of the tank should be densely planted (prefered with finefingerd plants). The tank should have at least 80 gallons, 120 would be comfortable.
Variant two:
You want to have a fun tank, where You have lots of different curious fish. You can combine a bichir with any fish You like, but the fish should not be smaller than half the size of the bichir. Otherwise it is food. Very delicate fish, like Xenthodon or pipefish should not be combined with bichirs. They can kill them by just biting them in half. For a bichir to feel really comfortable, You should not offer them a clear spring surrounding, but rather the athmosphere of a slow meandering flatland river, which can be a little bit muddy and which is densely planted. The size depends on the fish, You want to combine it, but I would propose 100 gallon as a minimum. Don't keep a single bichir, at least in pairs.
Variant three:
You want to have a single bichir in a clean tank, just to show it and to watch it.
PLEASE don't do that. There is no natural behavior possible for the fish, and it will go crazy!
BG
Thomas
Tank set up
Bichirs are low light loving fish as many are nocturnal and some dinural . The tank
needs a secure top or lid with any opening plugged as some species are escape
artists and others can jump well.The water level needs to be 2-3 inches below normal
as bichirs need to breathe air from time to time. The substrate should be sand or finely
crushed gravel. driftwood with short bushy plants.attached or anchored under it.
In general I find it hard to have live plants as bichirs tend to uproot them searching
for food, floating plants are a good option though ,I silicone silk plants to nylon needlepoint
canvas and bury it in the substrate in one square foot sections makes it easier to
remove to clean and rebury in the substrate. One last point no sharp edges
bichirs tend to move close to things and sharp edges remove slimecoat
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BICHIR BIOTOPES
African River
West and Central Africa are full of rivers. Within each of these river systems are
numerous biotopes -- this description will focus on species found in slow-moving
sections and side streams.
WATER:
pH 6.9-7.2,
3-8 dH,
temp;75-81F (24-27 C)
TANK:
The tank should be furnished with wood for hiding places, and fine gravel or sand for a substrate.
The lighting should be muted, and the water should have a slight current.
PLANTS:
Bolbitis heudelotii , Anubias, Vallisneria, Eleocharis.
FISH:
African tetras, Mormyrids, African tetras African Knifefish, African Butterfly fish,
Synodontis, Hemichromis, Pelvicachromis,
African Swamp
The waters support a variety of species and vigorous plant growth making it an ideal subject for a biotope aquarium.
Reedy plants line the shores of waterwaysWATER:
pH 7.2-7.8,
2-8 dH, 7
Temp:70-75F(21-24 C)
TANK:
The tank should have fine gravel, sand, or clay for a substrate.
Dense vegetation and floating plants help recreate the natural setting.
Use submerged wood to provide hiding places.
The lighting should be bright and the water should be clear.
PLANTS:
Bolbitis heudelotii, Ammannia, Marsilea, Eleocharis, Anubias, Nymphaea, Water
Lettuce
*FISH:
Mormyrids, African tetras, barbs, spiny eels, Haplochromines, Tilapia, Hemichromis, Synodontis,
Bichirs are low light loving fish as many are nocturnal and some dinural . The tank
needs a secure top or lid with any opening plugged as some species are escape
artists and others can jump well.The water level needs to be 2-3 inches below normal
as bichirs need to breathe air from time to time. The substrate should be sand or finely
crushed gravel. driftwood with short bushy plants.attached or anchored under it.
In general I find it hard to have live plants as bichirs tend to uproot them searching
for food, floating plants are a good option though ,I silicone silk plants to nylon needlepoint
canvas and bury it in the substrate in one square foot sections makes it easier to
remove to clean and rebury in the substrate. One last point no sharp edges
bichirs tend to move close to things and sharp edges remove slimecoat
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BICHIR BIOTOPES
African River
West and Central Africa are full of rivers. Within each of these river systems are
numerous biotopes -- this description will focus on species found in slow-moving
sections and side streams.
WATER:
pH 6.9-7.2,
3-8 dH,
temp;75-81F (24-27 C)
TANK:
The tank should be furnished with wood for hiding places, and fine gravel or sand for a substrate.
The lighting should be muted, and the water should have a slight current.
PLANTS:
Bolbitis heudelotii , Anubias, Vallisneria, Eleocharis.
FISH:
African tetras, Mormyrids, African tetras African Knifefish, African Butterfly fish,
Synodontis, Hemichromis, Pelvicachromis,
African Swamp
The waters support a variety of species and vigorous plant growth making it an ideal subject for a biotope aquarium.
Reedy plants line the shores of waterwaysWATER:
pH 7.2-7.8,
2-8 dH, 7
Temp:70-75F(21-24 C)
TANK:
The tank should have fine gravel, sand, or clay for a substrate.
Dense vegetation and floating plants help recreate the natural setting.
Use submerged wood to provide hiding places.
The lighting should be bright and the water should be clear.
PLANTS:
Bolbitis heudelotii, Ammannia, Marsilea, Eleocharis, Anubias, Nymphaea, Water
Lettuce
*FISH:
Mormyrids, African tetras, barbs, spiny eels, Haplochromines, Tilapia, Hemichromis, Synodontis,
The size of the tank depends on the species of bichir and possible tankmates normaly
the bigger the tank the better.This also depends on how much room you have for a tank
Tank size
Bichirs do not need a great deal of water depth in their tanks 8 to 12 inches is actually
sufficient for any of the species.The minimum tank size for a single small species of
bichir is a tank with a footprint of 36''x12''x16'' your standard 30 gallon tank.however
bigger is almost always better so if you're looking to primaraly house bichrs listed below are
some tank sizes to consider for the smaller species.
30 gallon 36''x12''x16'' (this is the minimum size for 1 smaller species bichir)
30 gallon Breeder 36x18x12''
33 gallon Long 48x13x12
40 Gallon Breeder 36x18x16
40 gallon Long 48x13x16
50 Gallon 36x18x18
75 Gallon 48x18x20
125 Gallon 72x18x22*See note
150 Gallon 72x18x28 *See note
for the bigger species
120 Gallon 48x24x24
180 Gallon 72x24x24
The above are fairly standard sized tanks and should be available thru your local stores
*note The difference here is in the depth of the tank 6'' unless you feel the need for the
extra depth the 125 is the better/cheaper choice.-Anne
the bigger the tank the better.This also depends on how much room you have for a tank
Tank size
Bichirs do not need a great deal of water depth in their tanks 8 to 12 inches is actually
sufficient for any of the species.The minimum tank size for a single small species of
bichir is a tank with a footprint of 36''x12''x16'' your standard 30 gallon tank.however
bigger is almost always better so if you're looking to primaraly house bichrs listed below are
some tank sizes to consider for the smaller species.
30 gallon 36''x12''x16'' (this is the minimum size for 1 smaller species bichir)
30 gallon Breeder 36x18x12''
33 gallon Long 48x13x12
40 Gallon Breeder 36x18x16
40 gallon Long 48x13x16
50 Gallon 36x18x18
75 Gallon 48x18x20
125 Gallon 72x18x22*See note
150 Gallon 72x18x28 *See note
for the bigger species
120 Gallon 48x24x24
180 Gallon 72x24x24
The above are fairly standard sized tanks and should be available thru your local stores
*note The difference here is in the depth of the tank 6'' unless you feel the need for the
extra depth the 125 is the better/cheaper choice.-Anne