Bichirs and Spiny Eels

[Sundew]

How would Polys get along with a Fire or Tiretrack Eel of similar size? They both seem pretty sedate, both are somewhat or mostly nocturnal and I already have an escape proof tank (so far) with lots of rocks pipes and hiding places. One possible problem is diet. The Polys eat sinking shrimp pellets, freeze dried krill, and algae wafers. I think the eels prefer worms and I don't know if they will eat prepared foods (never kept one) and I hate to add another different food requirement to the growing list. They do seem to be really cool fish though. Anyone kept them together?

Sundew

 

[Razman]

as usual, it depends on the personality of the fish. if its nice then they should be fine. but my friend has a brute of a bichir that slrped his peacock up like a noddle. (ok maybe he just ate him normally)

 

[dark_knights_99]

How would Polys get along with a Fire or Tiretrack Eel of similar size? They both seem pretty sedate, both are somewhat or mostly nocturnal and I already have an escape proof tank (so far) with lots of rocks pipes and hiding places. One possible problem is diet. The Polys eat sinking shrimp pellets, freeze dried krill, and algae wafers. I think the eels prefer worms and I don't know if they will eat prepared foods (never kept one) and I hate to add another different food requirement to the growing list. They do seem to be really cool fish though. Anyone kept them together?

Sundew

How big is your tank?

 

[Sundew]

How big is your tank?

Sorry, the tank is a 135. It contains:

2 P. ornatipinnis 12" & 10"
4 P. delhezi 11", 10", 10" & 8"
1 Ropefish 14"
1 Common Pleco 6"
5 Bala Sharks about 7" (originally had eight, the small ones seem to have vanished!)

Was thinking of 1 Tiretrack Eel. 10-12"

Sundew

 

[Razman]

how long have you had the pleco in there? how is it getting along with the bichirs?

 

[Zeppelin3k]

i have a fire eel, tire track eel with a seneguls and ornate, they dont bother eachother

 

[marvinbaker]

I've got a 20"+ fire eel with 6 endli's, congicus, ornate, del and some senegals. absolutely fine, in terms of eating my fire eel will only eat live food the majority of the time which i hand feed him (worms mostly or live river shrimp which i just chuck in for him to hunt).

although not my most expensive fish by any stretch of my imagination he's close to being my favourite as he comes up for petting and feeding every time i get anywhere near the tank and has massive personality.

be warned when you get one that getting them to eat is the most important thing as they are very prone to starving to death (thanks to stotty if he's reading this for helping me with mine!). I fed mine with worms held in tongs right in front of his nose and gradually dragged him to the surface by pulling the tongs away slightly each time over about 3 weeks to teach him to come to the surface to hand feed.

here's a couple of old pics before i rearranged my tank about 3months ago, the 2nd pic is him dancing for food! must get some new ones soon!

 

[Sundew]

how long have you had the pleco in there? how is it getting along with the bichirs?

Probably been in there 1-1 1/2 year. I am uncertain how he gets along. I started with 6 common and 1 rhino Pleco. They were all killed except this one. Only I don't know who killed them. The bichirs seem to leave them alone, but the pleco were constantly fighting among themselves. Now obviously they don't have the teeth of the bichir, but constant stress and possibly not getting enough food because of aggression may have done them in. All I know is the last remaining one seem to do just fine with them, perhaps he found a really good hiding place to spend the night?

Sundew

 

[Sundew]

I've got a 20"+ fire eel with 6 endli's, congicus, ornate, del and some senegals. absolutely fine, in terms of eating my fire eel will only eat live food the majority of the time which i hand feed him (worms mostly or live river shrimp which i just chuck in for him to hunt).

although not my most expensive fish by any stretch of my imagination he's close to being my favourite as he comes up for petting and feeding every time i get anywhere near the tank and has massive personality.

be warned when you get one that getting them to eat is the most important thing as they are very prone to starving to death (thanks to stotty if he's reading this for helping me with mine!). I fed mine with worms held in tongs right in front of his nose and gradually dragged him to the surface by pulling the tongs away slightly each time over about 3 weeks to teach him to come to the surface to hand feed.

here's a couple of old pics before i rearranged my tank about 3months ago, the 2nd pic is him dancing for food! must get some new ones soon!

Hey nice eel and pix thereof! Have you ever tried freeze dried krill to get him to eat prepared food? I have gotten a Silver Arowana and several Datnoids to eat it and do not feed them live food (except the rare cricket or cicada with the Aro). That has been my only concern, getting a new fish that has to have a new diet.

Sundew

 

[marvinbaker]

Hey nice eel and pix thereof! Have you ever tried freeze dried krill to get him to eat prepared food? I have gotten a Silver Arowana and several Datnoids to eat it and do not feed them live food (except the rare cricket or cicada with the Aro). That has been my only concern, getting a new fish that has to have a new diet.

Sundew

maybe in time he will take krill, my arowana loves krill but my dats and eel ignore it. for a few months he would only take worms and you shouldn't push other things on the eels like you can for some fish as they will just become more and more timid and starve. he now takes the river shrimp but for months he ignored them and sometimes he'll eat frozen supermarket prawns but he'll always always eat worms!