How many bichir in a 180*65*65 tank?

[beblondie]

yeppers means yes

personaly that tank has enough in it you need to consider adult sizes.That tank is going to have the potential for 80+ inches of fish already and while they laps are small when you get them and the tank looks empty it really isn't -Anne

And with 4 you better hope they are mellow bichirs.My old Lap was certain the tank was HIS and HIS alone and he didn't share even when he was 7-8''

 

[Loubard]

Okey, thanks for the advice ! The P. bichir lapradei's are in a tank with 10 other bichir's of several species at the shop, so I hope all gow's well. Will keep y'all up-to-date .

 

[Mr_Fantasy]

Heres the problem I forsee the P.laps get 20+ inches,the P.pollis 10-12 inches,the p.delhezis 12-14 inches.Size difference could be a problem.You should either keep bigger species or smaller species not the best idea to mix them like you plan on doing -Anne

70''x24''x24''= roughly 174 gallons

Size difference is not a problem for bichirs, unless it is really extreme. My 6" Polli co-exists with my 20" Endy perfectly.

If you get your bichirs small, say 6, 7"..most probably they will not grow to their expected sizes in a home auqarium, regardless size of tank. From my experience, the Lap will max out around 20", Polli 9", Delhezi 12", and Senegals 11"--if you get lucky. This is based on a diet of constant live feed. Pellets will limit their growth. Those huge bichirs that you see in aquariums are wild caught; they were already at that size when they were caught.

 

[Loubard]

So your saying it will be able to keep diffrent size bichir with eatchother. The P. bichir lapradei are +/- 20 cm/8". So that would be good right?

 

[Jesse]

Good luck with your bichirs. BTW, 65 cm is nearly 26 inches wide, so you should have plenty of room for all but the largest of bichirs. (Unfortunately, the P. bichir complex are among the largest of bichirs, although P. b. lapradei specimens of 74 cm, as reported by fishbase.org, are rather rare.)

I would caution against having too great of a size disparity among bichirs. Bichirs can swallow other bichirs up to 2/3 their length. I once had a 12" P. weeksii swallow an 8" Boulengerella maculata. It looked like one of those pig in a python pictures.

 

[Loubard]

Okay thanks for the answere's. I guess I am going to play it safe and get 4 P. bichir lapradei only.

I will make shure to post some pictures when it's all done.

 

[Mr_Fantasy]

So your saying it will be able to keep diffrent size bichir with eatchother. The P. bichir lapradei are +/- 20 cm/8". So that would be good right?

huh? the LAp will reach close to 20", not 20cm. Generally if u pump up a bichir in an aquarium environment, chances r the bichirs will b veri thick & beefy; but the growth may not translate into length. Most probaBL u should be more concerened about overcrowding in a bichir tank, rather than size differences.

 

[Loubard]

huh? the LAp will reach close to 20", not 20cm. Generally if u pump up a bichir in an aquarium environment, chances r the bichirs will b veri thick & beefy; but the growth may not translate into length. Most probaBL u should be more concerened about overcrowding in a bichir tank, rather than size differences.

That was about what size the bichir are now, in the shop. Seeing that you said that the best bet was to get them young, because they don't grow huge in captivity. I am concurned about overcrowding the tank, just what beblonde said too. That's why I am only gonna get 4 P. bichir lapradei.

 

[Loubard]

Could a tankmate be a Datnoides pulcher??

 

[beblondie]

Yes it could,but remember it will depend on the individual personalities involved -Anne