errggg...anyone?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
You have to understand that what bichirs do is HIDE! That's their first priority. If you're looking for the kind of fish that is always out and swimming and active, then bichirs are not a good choice! I have friends that come over and want to see my fish, so I ask them how much time do they have. I show them a picture unless they have a few hrs to sit in front of my tanks and wait! I would feed your bichir several hrs after the others and leave it over night! If your tank is getting dirty as fast as you make it sound, you've got other problems. Bichirs just don't react quickly, it's like it takes them forever to think about moving or going to the surface for air. They're very deliberate beings! Feed late-clean up in the morning! Should be fine! :)
 
okay i never knew they took so long will try that thanks for all your help man
 
You're welcome! Just understanding that bichirs have different needs is half the battle! Good luck! Let us know how it goes. Johnathan ;)
 
Let him be...bichirs will not starve themselves to death. Their first instinct is to eat when they're comfortable with the surrounding..

My lapradei did not eat in the QT tank for 2 months...put him in the main tank and never seen him eat and will not eat..for months

1 day out of nowhere he grabbed a piece of smelt like a lil kid munching down on candy cane...

stan
 
Okay, here's my take on it.

Bichirs are not as simple as their low-diversity would suggest. They vary greatly in their 'personalities'.

Some will get too stressed out from a move and go on a hunger strike. I've had lapradei go months without eating, but eventually, they all started eating pellets.

Like dbcb314 said in his article about bichirs not eating 'First Off, CALM DOWN'


Now, bichirs do like to have low-lighting and cover to feel secure, but they are in no way cryptic like a lot of catfish are. They do swim around quite a bit, and love hanging around wide open spaces of the tank as well as occasionally under driftwood, in plants, etc...

If a bichir is hiding constantly, it doesn't feel secure in it's environment, and some just never will be compatible with certain setups (such as bare bottom with few driftwood and bright lighting) but others will.

The key here is to simply give it more time to settle in. A month is nothing for a bichir. When I got my delhezi back from a friend I sold it to, it took him two months now before he started eating well again. I was never worried, I just kept feeding the fish every day and when I noticed that he was eating better, I adjusted how much I fed to make sure everyone got enough.

Wish you the best.
 
mine did the same thing it was about 6 weeks before he fed he now dines on every thing in sight. there were and still only Polys, in with him lower jaws. time will tell
 
have you tried worms tahts something that no fish can resist hehehe
 
yeah ive tried worms.....i wil just keep that lights off and maybe give him some more places to hide
 
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