How come my bichirs never friggin grow!!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
will my bichirs eat after a huge WC??

normally, I feed them the next day cuz i believed that they may of gotten stressed out from the cold water and chlorine (added stress zye and coat).
 
lix.ma14 said:
will my bichirs eat after a huge WC??

normally, I feed them the next day cuz i believed that they may of gotten stressed out from the cold water and chlorine (added stress zye and coat).
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cold water and chlorine you need to use ro water its less trouble and no need to add chemicals you might also use beef heart and silver sides also a couple of more aggressive fish like your bass might work angelfish aren't aggressive enough im surprised one of your hungry bichir hasn't tried to take one out yet ,bichirs feeding frenzies are also triggered by other fish feeding too eventually you can get em to eat anything that hits the water just because of competition
 
Fish has their own growth spurt. Especially ones that arent wild. If you really feel as if they dont grow quick or they arent growing, then play with their food a little. Yes, Pellets from Hikari and NLS do have the additive nutrition that keeps fish healthy and should make them grow, but vary the diet. Im sure you are varying the diet, but what i mean is vary the nutrition. Like start feeding it like massive amounts of protein such as Beef Heart. If you arent satisfied, start putting in mealworms. What i like to do is get a bunch of meal worms, put it in a cage or container, and feed them hikari pellets of fish flakes. after they are full from eating start feeding the whole worm to the fish. That is a technique i like to use.
 
Of buy those supplemental liquids thay you can pour into the tanks. its like those vitamin liquids you can find in a local petstore if you seriously feel if that would help
 
As most people have said, large water changes and protein are important.
I don't feed mine any pellets and I get very good growth. I feed fish (live cichlids and frozen), worms (live), crayfish (live), prawn (frozen). I feed smaller poly's daily and larger ones every 2-3 days. Make sure not to overfeed; it ruins water quality, and I think in some cases they are eating too much and pooing before their bodies have a chance to fully take in the nutrition.
 
If you want to get your bichirs to eat I suggest you just get some Minnows. they are 18 cents or so in most LFS. I always buy about 20 of them and put them in the tank. that way if the bichirs aren't feeling hungry for pellets or other foods their natural instinct will tell them to take down small fish for food. I have a datnoid and irwini catfish in with my bichirs, 20 minnows went down to 8 over night.
 
bichirs still aren't interested in food. I just don't feel like feeding live to them. LOL

What would be the reasons why these bichirs never seem interested in food?? I just remembered that a few months ago, my weeksi ate 2 of my clown loach. Could the spines of the loaches somehow raptured something?? No visiable injuries. Just a thought.

Come to think of it, my weeksi and retro never really seem interested in food when i got them. I've never seen them fat or chunky!!

HOW CAN I CHANGE THAT?? Even if I did feed them alot of hikiri and talapia, there will be tons left over!
 
Like I said in the wild they don't hunt pellets they hunt fish. the fish is programmed to react to food sized fish by eating them. thats why I always have live food for them at least once a week. it might just take them a while to get the food but they will get it eventually. If you do get worried and want to make sure they aren't starving then I suggest some minnow feeders.

have you tried ripping prawn into small pieces and scattering it? mine go mad for it
 
Rafini said:
Like I said in the wild they don't hunt pellets they hunt fish. the fish is programmed to react to food sized fish by eating them. thats why I always have live food for them at least once a week. it might just take them a while to get the food but they will get it eventually. If you do get worried and want to make sure they aren't starving then I suggest some minnow feeders.

have you tried ripping prawn into small pieces and scattering it? mine go mad for it
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i always rip my shrimp and talapia in small chunks. they don't go for it.
 
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