IM CONFUSED ABOUT BICHIRS HELP ME!

[BlueTailCatfish]

I have a 225 gallon with 3 wild caught 16 inch bichirs a enderlicheri koloton and i think ansorgii???? I have white sand androcks wood silk plants etc.

My bichirs alway bury under sand and are so easily frightened! They are so skittish and hide!

HOW DO THE PEOPLE ON HERE MANAGE A BARE TANK!?!?! I mean the tanks with red sand and NO decorations. Dont bichirs like to hide?


Also i have VERY bright lights.


What can i do to make it better for them?



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[Runitis]

Turn down the lights?:

 

[BlueTailCatfish]

Turn down the lights?:

Idk how to "dim them". What bulbs would you recommend. Also what is a good red sand to use. (Best for colors) mine are SOOOOO faded


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[rodger]

How long have you had them? Maybe they just need time to settle in. What kind of lights do you have? Wattage? Length? What tankmates?

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[castro1212]

For your light prob try adding real/fake floating plants


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[Dr.B]

Well they bury because thats what they sometimes naturally do so thats not really an odd behavior and are they extremely skittish like they'll just randomly be rushing around the tank every 5 minutes? or does something like the lights come on/off, someone closes a door, you bump something near the tank, they tank vibrates? If they only do it a couple times a day I wouldn't worry. Just try to dim the lights a little and reduce any vibrations that may be reaching the tank. Also like rodger said if they were newly introduced even up to a month or so they might still be a little skittish. Did you add any new tank mates? Also for the sand I would suggest red garnet it seems that a good amount of the LJ keeper on here use it with good results. they seemed washed because thats what white sand does to polys. I know from personally experience when I switched from white to black my polys looked WAY better compared to when they were on white.

 

[TRSickler]

Where would you get that red Garnet sand? I've searched for it before but could only find 5 pound bags of it.

 

[Dr.B]

Well if you try and go to a local sand blasting place they might have it. I know that's where I am looking and am finding tons of potential sellers, but finding it in a manageable amount to buy is the trick. I have found some places that would be perfect but only sell it in bulk like by tons so it's hard to find a manageable amount to buy once you find a place to buy a manageable amount it's pretty easy to buy and put in the tank

 

[swrdply400mrelay]

I have a light fixture that uses four T5 bulbs, however I only installed one light. Plants seem to grow fine as well.

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[JamesF]

All of my bichirs are very relaxed and very active. The key is a fully planted aquarium. It makes them very comfortable so they act much more naturally.