Is my bichir stressed out?

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F

Freezekougra

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 18, 2009
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Brooklyn, NY
He keeps on hiding behind the current of the HOB filter, near the surface of the water most of the time. He eats raw market shrimp(and frozen bloodworms once) and can swim without a problem...but it's sort of strange to see if floating on the surface at night and when I wake up. He's in a 55g with 5 convicts and an oscar(only 3.5-4", not adult yet). Should I move the convicts or oscar into an empty tank? :screwy:
 
seaofdreams;3206860; said:
Have you checked your water parameters? He doesn't sound like a happy fish.
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Strange thing is, the convicts and oscars are fine. I had angels and ottos in there before I put them in and they were fine too :screwy:

I only have an ammonia and pH test kit :confused:
 
seaofdreams;3206902; said:
Hmm, have you had him for very long? Have you seen any evidence of the oscar or convicts being bullies?
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Only for 3 days :D
I just fed him some shrimp and he ate it immediately. He swims to the bottom inbetween rocks when he gets fed, but hes back up at the filter now.:screwy:

No evidence of bullying, do you think the bichir's intimidated by them? They're pretty active swimmers :screwy::screwy::screwy::screwy::screwy:
 
Provide more surface movement. You could not have enough oxygen in the tank for him. Do you see him taking in any air?
 
Sounds like it's trying to find a safe place to rest. Provide more hiding spots if you can. The Convicts and Oscar are probably the reason why it's up there. They may not be bullying it, but their size and aggression could come into play while you're not there.
 
Yeah, my bichir has done this since I've had him, except his spot is sitting on the top suction cup of the filter... the only other fish are 4 med. tiger barbs and 3 4-5" botia kubotai.. and I've never seen them bully him once. I've got red cabomba covering the back of the tank, some tall-ish swords in the middle, and banana plants/java moss up front with a few crypts, so theres plenty of cover for him to hide in if he wants to.

I think it could be: a) being bullied a little bit b) they like to have not only a hiding spot but also simultaneously a good vantage point so they can see everything going on around them, and c) when mine doesn't know I'm there, he's out and about. As soon as he notices me, up to the heater spot he goes (granted, he's pretty new and only 4"... my old one did the same thing until 7-8").

If he's new/smaller/younger, I'd think it's most likely you scaring him. If he's a big guy, then he shouldn't be scared of you anymore.. you might want to consider moving whoevers bullying him (EDIT- I interpreted "only for 3 days" as "the past 3 days".. if you mean "3 days since you got him," then I'd shoot for option B.. hiding places etc.
 
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