Delhezi and...

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ChilliPepper

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 6, 2010
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UK
Just wondered what people's thought are.

I have a 168g 36x36x30 tank, so loads of floor space and turning space for Polys.

I have a Delhezi at the moment who is a cool little chap. He's eating well on pellets now, and has a bit of whatever else goes in there, but pellets are his staple.

What else could I have to go with him?
 
since you have a big space, then..
here, add them all ( from the stickies)

Species and sizes
maximum known sizes often smaller in captivity
Upper Jaw Species-Upper jaw protrudes past lower jaw
P. palmas palmas ('palmas' bichir)- 13"
(subspecies)P. palmas polli ('marbled bichir)- 14"
(subspecies) P. palmas buettikoferi ('buettikoferi' bichir)- 13"
P. ornatipinnis ('ornate' bichir)- 27"
P. delhezi ('armoured' or 'delhez's' bichir)- 14"
P. senegalus senegalus ('Senegal' or 'Cuiver's' bichir)- 12"
(possible subspecies)P. senegalus meridionalis- 12"+
There is, Also the possibility of a third member of the Polypterus senegalus
group that is found in the Nile River
P. retropinnis ('retropinnis' bichir)- 14"
P .mokelembembe
P. weeksi ('week's' bichir)- 20"
P.teugelsi (found only in the Cross river)-16.75''
E. calabaricus ('Ropefish')- 15"-30" (Closer to 15''-20'' in captivity)

Lower Jaw Species-Lower protrudes past upper jaw
P. endlicheri endlicheri ('saddled' or 'red' bichir)- 32", possibly more
(subspecies)P. endlicheri congicus ('giant' or 'congo' bichir)- 39"
P. Bichir lapradei ('Lapradei' bichir)- 24"
P. bichir bichir-30+ ''
P.ansorgii-28-30+''

There are a couple of as-yet-undescribed (scientifically) Polypterids

Variations
There are variations of the above including
short bodied:
longfinned:
albinoism:Albino Polypterids have a pink/ white body with red eyes if they are a species with pronounced markings
these are often yellowish in color
leustic:Leustic (platinum) are silver/whitish bodies with black eyes.
 
yes, but be careful if there are big differences in size among them, the big one may eat the small one, it has happened and the chances are still there...
cheers
 
My Delhezi was sold to me as an Ornate. No matter as I am happy with him, but would like an Ornate too. Also know of a shop that sells them. Not much selection of polys around me, and I'd prefer to choose one myself rather than buy online.
I'm not keen on the Senegals, but like most other ones.

Would an Ornate be OK?
 
Yeah an Ornate would be just fine. I have one in my tank as well as 2 Delhezi. My Ornate did grow MUCH faster than the rest of my bichirs and has eaten the following...

1. (1) 8.5" ropefish
2. (2) 6.5" hujenta gars
3. (1) 6" needlenose gar
4. (2) 6" endlicheri bichirs
5. (1) 5" delhezi
6. (1) 5" senegal bichir
7. (1) 6" red tail barracuda

This is all that I can remember at the moment and has been over a period of a few years, but he is a BEAST in every sense of the word. As long as your Delhezi and anything else you have in your tank is large enough not to eat then you'll be fine. Just keep on mind that your Ornate will most likely grow at a faster rate than your Delhezi will even if you get them at the same size initially they most likely won't stay that way for long.
 
Bichirs4life;4269364; said:
Yeah an Ornate would be just fine. I have one in my tank as well as 2 Delhezi. My Ornate did grow MUCH faster than the rest of my bichirs and has eaten the following...

1. (1) 8.5" ropefish
2. (2) 6.5" hujenta gars
3. (1) 6" needlenose gar
4. (2) 6" endlicheri bichirs
5. (1) 5" delhezi
6. (1) 5" senegal bichir
7. (1) 6" red tail barracuda

This is all that I can remember at the moment and has been over a period of a few years, but he is a BEAST in every sense of the word. As long as your Delhezi and anything else you have in your tank is large enough not to eat then you'll be fine. Just keep on mind that your Ornate will most likely grow at a faster rate than your Delhezi will even if you get them at the same size initially they most likely won't stay that way for long.
Click to expand...

OK thanks. My Del is about 5" at the moment I think, so still a baby. I am thinking of maybe getting an Ornate later in the year, will wait until my Del has gained a couple more inches first, as I'd hate for him to be eaten.

What about an Endlicherli? Also like these a lot, and think they had some of these for sale as well. Are they fast growers?

Someone on another forum said I could have several Polys in my tank. How is their bioload? They don't seem very messy.
 
Endlicheri are like Ornates in that they tend to grow pretty fast and will eat smaller bichirs. It just depends on the bichir I guess. There are bichirs in my tank that are small enough for him to eat and have been for over a year and he doesn't bother them. It's just new bichirs and fish he tends to eat. Anyways if you grow bichirs up together I think that increases the likelihood that they won't eat them so long as you keep them well fed but it's not an exact science.

As for bio-load bichirs aren't as messy as other fish so as long as you have a good filter and do regular water changes you will be ok. I have a 130 gallon tank that has 11 bichirs currently in it so you should be fine to put plenty of bichirs in your 160 gallon tank.
 
Bichirs4life;4269990; said:
Endlicheri are like Ornates in that they tend to grow pretty fast and will eat smaller bichirs. It just depends on the bichir I guess. There are bichirs in my tank that are small enough for him to eat and have been for over a year and he doesn't bother them. It's just new bichirs and fish he tends to eat. Anyways if you grow bichirs up together I think that increases the likelihood that they won't eat them so long as you keep them well fed but it's not an exact science.

As for bio-load bichirs aren't as messy as other fish so as long as you have a good filter and do regular water changes you will be ok. I have a 130 gallon tank that has 11 bichirs currently in it so you should be fine to put plenty of bichirs in your 160 gallon tank.
Click to expand...

Thanks. If I can find an Ornate or Endli smaller than my Del would that be OK?

He has juvenile cichlids in with him - a quick growing lump of an Oscar, two Severum and a Convict.

The tank is well filtered and I do 50% w/c weekly.

I think 3 or 4 Polys would be OK in my tank. I will most probably get something else for the top as well, but the Polys have the bottom to themselves.
 
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