How Many Bichirs Can I Keep in a 70 gallon?

[Oldmano]

I plan on getting a 70 gallon triangle tank in January of next year and plan to make it a mostly Bichir oriented tank. I plan on putting my Ornate polypterus in it as well as two Senegal bichirs, a Fire Eel, a Palmas Polli and Delhezi Polypterus in it. I'm going to try to make it a planted aquarium. Will this work out? I'm mostly concerned with the amount of space all these fish will use up when full grown, how they will get along and whether or not there will destroy all my plants. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Oldmano]

Sorry for the double post but I just verified that the tank is in fact an 80 gallon, not 70 gallon.

 

[Delhezi222]

Should be okay, but watch if one poly is bigger than the others.

 

[Oldmano]

Will plants be okay in there, because I'm not entirely sure but I vaguely remmeber hearing Fire Eels and plants are not a good mix.

 

[beblondie]

Ornate polypterus-18-24''
Senegal bichir-10-12''
palmas polli-10-12''
delhezi -10-12''

Consider floating plants or planting the tank a month or so before introducing the bichir
giving the roots a chance spread out some

 

[smpage]

sounds like a tight fit for the ornate but they're slow growers.

 

[Oldmano]

Don't fire eels grow even larger than Ornates?

 

[channarox]

tire eels have smaller mouths and are quite a bit more flexible.
the ornates get larger than the others like anne has mentioned.
just a thought depepnding on the diameters or your tank.

 

[David R]

Don't fire eels grow even larger than Ornates?

Yup. Could out-grow that tank in under 4 years if fed well.

 

[Druu]

I say the ornate picks off its smaller tank mates when it reaches maturity...