Hi all,
I recently came across a Juvenile Ornate at my LFS yesterday and the deal was too good to resist ($13).
However, this Ornate is still far too small for my main aquarium, which is housed with some American Cichlids, an Endlichiri, Senegal, and Delhezi. These bichirs range from about 6-7 inches.
The Ornate, being about 2.5 inches is currently being housed in a 2.5 gallon plastic aquarium that I have placed within my main tank. The lid allows some water to flow in and out, but is too narrow for the Ornate to crawl out of. The other half of it is exposed to the surface, so the Bichir can go up for air if need be. (Ill just post a pic when I can).
I do have an empty 30 gallon aquarium, but ideally, I would like to avoid setting it up, purchasing a filter, heater etc..
So my question is this: As Bichirs tend to grow in spurts, will the 2.5 gallon (U.S) be acceptable for the Ornate if it is in my main aquarium until the Ornate grows an additional inch or so?
Of course, most people reading this are going to think and say (NO WAY, a 2.5 IS WAY TOO SMALL). However, assuming the tank receives decent enough filtration being in the larger aquarium, my goal is to simply care for him in the 2.5 until he grows another inch or so (so he doesn't get instantly swallowed by the fellow Bichirs). I think another inch in length and a little width will allow him to get by with the "big boys".
Anyway please lend your thoughts, I am fine setting up the 30gallon everyone feels that it is absolutely necessary for him to grow properly, ive just seen this done with other fish in the past and wondered if this could work.
I recently came across a Juvenile Ornate at my LFS yesterday and the deal was too good to resist ($13).
However, this Ornate is still far too small for my main aquarium, which is housed with some American Cichlids, an Endlichiri, Senegal, and Delhezi. These bichirs range from about 6-7 inches.
The Ornate, being about 2.5 inches is currently being housed in a 2.5 gallon plastic aquarium that I have placed within my main tank. The lid allows some water to flow in and out, but is too narrow for the Ornate to crawl out of. The other half of it is exposed to the surface, so the Bichir can go up for air if need be. (Ill just post a pic when I can).
I do have an empty 30 gallon aquarium, but ideally, I would like to avoid setting it up, purchasing a filter, heater etc..
So my question is this: As Bichirs tend to grow in spurts, will the 2.5 gallon (U.S) be acceptable for the Ornate if it is in my main aquarium until the Ornate grows an additional inch or so?
Of course, most people reading this are going to think and say (NO WAY, a 2.5 IS WAY TOO SMALL). However, assuming the tank receives decent enough filtration being in the larger aquarium, my goal is to simply care for him in the 2.5 until he grows another inch or so (so he doesn't get instantly swallowed by the fellow Bichirs). I think another inch in length and a little width will allow him to get by with the "big boys".
Anyway please lend your thoughts, I am fine setting up the 30gallon everyone feels that it is absolutely necessary for him to grow properly, ive just seen this done with other fish in the past and wondered if this could work.
