Mixing two big ornates...

[David R]

I'm shopping for a new tank, and a friend has offered me his large ornate to go with mine once the bigger tank is set up. Mine is around 12", his is more like 14-16", mine is male, not sure about his [see pic]. Neither one has ever been kept with other bichirs. The tank I'm looking at is [probably] going to be 6'x30"x24".
Good idea, bad idea? Any advice/suggestions?

 

[Infblue]

generally bichirs get along with each other, but in your case its hard to know for sure beforehand since you'll only have two, and neither has been kept with bichirs so you don't know what their temperament is like towards other bichirs.

from the pic i believe its a male, but a pic from the side of the anal fin region would be better.

 

[L Aquatics]

Should work fine i believe, but then again you neverknow. I have my big 20" female in with smaller bichirs, a few that are in the 9" range and so far no aggression.

 

[Jackskeletonzero]

I have an ornate bichir that is about 13". Would it be possible to sex it at this size? I have seen senegal bichirs of both sexes, but not ornates. The ornate has a slightly cupped anal fin about 1.5". The anal fin folds to the side when its resting. Thanks.

 

[beblondie]

If you can sex a sene you can sex an ornate its pretty much the same with all Polypterids the males anal fin is approx twice the width of the females