bichirs in native tanks

[inline4]

since they've been around for millions of years, I imagine they survived the big boom and can acclimate to colder water; lowest maybe 55-65 degrees in winter in my house. I know for a fact there is a living and breeding population of african tilapia in Lake Mead, where the temps get to about 45-50 for a normal winter, sometimes lower, and they make it alright year after year.

what are your thoughts? i'll probably be trying this out soon, with a small senegal, but if it looks like it's getting too stressed i'll have to buy a seperate tank and heater for it.

 

[dirtbikerider]

To be honest I would look more into heating a tank for the natives than making the bichirs adjust to coldwater. I have some of my native sunfish, caught here in Louisiana in a tank that stays in the 80's. I knew there would be no problem since our Louisiana water gets very warm during the summer and it only gets cold for maybe 2 months out of the year. Now depending on your location you may could do the same thing, but I wouldn't put a bichirs in an non heated tank, just my opinion

 

[King-eL]

Bichirs gets stress already at low 70's F in a long run and putting them in 60's and lower then they will just slowly die of stress. My bichirs gets pale color at temp at 74F which shows sign of stress.

 

[Full Metal Gundam]

there's a reason why they are only found in Africa cuz it's hot there!just because they have been around awhile doesn't mean they would be able to handle water that cold.

 

[Darth Scohin]

You'd be making the poly suffer considerably they do not bode well in cold water....If your looking for a pred get a pickrel or something....even a sculpin

 

[D12DetroitD12]

I remember my heater went out one day in my 20 gal about a year ago with my two sens in it and i almost lost them. They did not look very good and were moving very slow. Id say it was around 50 degrees. If i were you just raise it, most native fish deal with warm water too.

 

[inline4]

gahhh. i guess it's out of the picture. i'm trying to be energy smart and not use a heater. i've been fishing for small bowfins here in Wisconsin but have had no luck, so I thought I'd try bichirs for the native tank. right now I have a couple of 4 inch white bass and 3 sticklebacks which will eventually become dinner for the white bass if they roam too far out of their weedbed. i don't think the white bass will like a heated aquarium. there's just something about prehistoric predatory fish that catches my attention and makes me proud to own it.

 

[D12DetroitD12]

gahhh. i guess it's out of the picture. i'm trying to be energy smart and not use a heater. i've been fishing for small bowfins here in Wisconsin but have had no luck, so I thought I'd try bichirs for the native tank. right now I have a couple of 4 inch white bass and 3 sticklebacks which will eventually become dinner for the white bass if they roam too far out of their weedbed. i don't think the white bass will like a heated aquarium. there's just something about prehistoric predatory fish that catches my attention and makes me proud to own it.

I agree with you there, Prehistoric fish are my favorite too. Definitely the bowfin as my number one fish. Ive had mine since spring and i love him. Maybe try in the spring time when they are smaller fry you might have more luck or even try to look to buy them online in the spring.