Decor Part II

[Charney]

I am in the planning stage of setting up my 180g polypterus tank. I while ago I asked everyone what they thought about leaving the tank bare or decorating it. It seems that popular opinion (and what I favor) is to decorate. I am going to have a mix of about 9 ten inch polypterus in the tank. I want to decorate with a few large plants and some drift wood. My question is do I need put down enough objects that each fish has its own potential hiding spot or can I just put down a few things? I want to set it up in a way to provide hiding spots but not hide the the whole tank. I want to see these guys some time. Thanks

 

[Kenta]

You could easily provide numerous hideouts for your bichirs and still see them all the time, you just have to position the decor properly.
If you provide just one hideout, they will either a) pile in that spot b) one will decide it doesn't want to share and you will see aggression
IMO barebottom is not a good idea with bichirs. I've tried the whole barebottom thing and the bichirs acted very different.

 

[fishnthings]

thats alot of polypterus for a tank... it ought to be a nice sight!!!

 

[Alien]

I would recommend 1,5 hideouts per polypterus. Sometimes, they don't like one spot, and want to have another. So it could come to fighting. That does not have to happen, as they tend to have very different personalities.

If they feel comfortabely with enough hideouts, You will see them a lot more often, than if You stress them with too few places.

When placing the hidingspots, always use protection from above: I have noticed, that their main concern are predators from above and not visual protection from the front. They like watching what happens in front of the aquarium.

BG
Thomas

 

[cmersits]

put some java moss in the driftwood and you should have plenty of potential hiding spots , also be sure to put some pics up when you set this tank up!!!

 

[messiner]

sounds great, DO IT

 

[XRAYZ]

i feel decoration is very important. not only will your aquarium have more eye appeal. it will add depth, dimension, and security when needed. it also is very fun to decorate. just think of it as an aquatic playground for the bichirs
bichirs are bottom dwellers but they will hang out in mid and top level if given the opportunity.

my decoration suggestions are...

1. large rocks and or drift wood. both are excellent to attach plants too. (java moss and java fern)

2. some floating plants. i bundled up some plants with a piece of string and attach the other end outside the aquarium to keep them from floating all over the place.

3. i also have a big plactic plant in the back. this is what i used before i figured out how to keep live plants in place.

4. i made 5 diy pvc caves. just glue some gravel or sand using aquarium silicone to blend them with your substrate.

there are no limits... be creative and have fun with it, i know they bichirs will

here are some pictures of my decorations.

 

[mcblack]

xrayz really nice hiding spots gave me lost of ideas, actually pvc pipes works well as hiding spots

 

[rasdbo]

pvc is great and xrays green bichir is awesome along with the delhzi