Calling Buettikoferi Poly Owners

[BichirAddict]

Alright so I have a palmas buettikoferi currently at 5.5" but, super skinny because, it's outcompeted in food by clown loachs. He's grown about 1.5" in about 4 months which is sad compared to my ornate growing to 9" with same time period both starting at same size. Growout tank isn't possible as 20 gallon is being used for a community and, has very small neon tetra in it.

Questions I have are

1. Are palmas buettikoferi known to be slow growing?
2. Is it too small to go in with my other bichirs in 75 Gallon biggest is a 11" Delhezi?I have 2 albino senegals both at 4" in there but, don't go to the bottom very much.

 

[King-eL]

Well usually when they hit 10-12" and the growth rate slow down. My beut grew from 3-12" in a year then another 6 months and hit 14".

 

[RLHam3]

well it does make since if he's not getting enough food. but i dunno if i'd think it was that big of a deal though, polypterus ornatipinnis have a faster growth rates than most other bichirs which is probably why that one is so much larger.

what size tank are they both in right now?

 

[BichirAddict]

well it does make since if he's not getting enough food. but i dunno if i'd think it was that big of a deal though, polypterus ornatipinnis have a faster growth rates than most other bichirs which is probably why that one is so much larger.

what size tank are they both in right now?

The ornate has moved on to the 75 gallon while the buettikoferi is in a 55 gallon.

 

[Infblue]

i'd say they're pretty slow growing.

 

[Kohaku]

1. Are palmas buettikoferi known to be slow growing?
2. Is it too small to go in with my other bichirs in 75 Gallon biggest is a 11" Delhezi?I have 2 albino senegals both at 4" in there but, don't go to the bottom very much.

The answers to your questions is:

1) They are know to be slow growing, at least to me.
2) No it's not as I have placed a 4inch palmas buettikoferi with my other bichirs that are 15-20 inch, but remember to provide hidding space.

 

[Rockbass6]

Slow growing yes, if you want you can maybe hand feed smelt or beefheart in the area it hangs out and scare off the clown loaches. I always had to do this with my pig bichirs like delhezi, palmas palmas, teugulsi, and expecially senegal. Bichirs that don't eat as often palmasb, moke and retro needed to be hand fed. Ornates do grow extremely fast, probably one of the quickest growing species.