My first Bichirs....

[SIC]

UPDATE:

Well, it's only been a few days but my senegalus are now acting like they're feeling much more at home in their tank. This morning when I gave them their AM meal of frozen bloodworms, two of the three came out and swam right to the top of the tank in apparent anticipation of food. It was a really cool experience, too. I went so far as to stick my finger in the water near them, and they swam right over to me. They checked me out from a few inches back before swimming right to my finger! Of course my angels and Mastecembelus eels will eat from my hand, but I never thought a fish as shy and skittish as these were (just the other day) would do that! I intend to try hand-feeding them tonight!

Again, thank you all for the helpul info. This is a great forum with equally great members, and I hope to be of as much help to the next noob as you've all been to me!

---SIC---

 

[rkc772]

i can't answer all of them but my experience is from my ornate and delhenzi bichirs.

1. growth has been 1" a month... slowed down after 8" (maybe because i'm not power feeding them since they are in my 180 gal tank already)

2. Food... i provide them with market shrimp, live black worm, frozen blood worm, feeders (when they were in the 10 gal tank-not anymore), hikari sinking pellets, and beef heart.

i love my bichirs...they are very very active in my 180 gal tank. some people told me they will be shy and not swim at all... maybe it all depends on the fish's attitude to swim. oh.. my bichir size are from 5"-10"

 

[Bichirs man]

I bought mine at about 5 inches a long time ago. He's reached up to six, and REALLY slowed down in growth!!

 

[Red Devil]

I am repeating myself but i am thrilled that i purchased my first bicher {albino} ..they are absolutely adorable and even though i have only had mine a couple of weeks i have found i enjoy him more then fish i have had for years..don't get me wrong i love them all..but he is a real character..Good luck with yours....

 

[Keeper of the Ropes]

About the growth rate... I'm learning it depends a lot on the individual fish. Someone posted on the first page about their ornate growing much quicker than their senegal, and I'm experiencing the exact opposite. Also, I have a pair of palmas polli and a pair of mokeleme(oh good lord!)... mokelembembe. I couldn't tell them apart (the polli from the polli, not polli from the mokie lol) when I bought them because their size and coloration were identical, but now one of each species has been upgraded to the "teen tank" from the "baby tank" because of a huge difference in size. Keep in mind they were on the same diet.

Welcome to bichirs, and like it was said earlier, you'll need more tanks, and bigger tanks. I had one, then I bought my first senegal, and now I have eight, with a total of 19 bichirs. Good luck and HAVE FUN!

 

[ghost]

in my experience bro
1. they grow at least an inch in a month
2. P. senegal 12in max size
3. my staple food is high protein sinking pellets, and i give them guppy every weekends.
4. yes ...
5. about 10-15 years.

 

[SIC]

Okay, first of all I'd like to thank you all again! I've learned more about neotropical cichlids and bichirs in the last month on this site than I did in my years of fishkeeping before I found it!

Secondly, not only are my senegals doing exceptionally well, but yesterday I ordered an ornate to join them! I shopped around, too. Having a basic point of reference on which to base my decision proved invaluable, and I got this 5 incher ordered for $28!!!! Major score.

 

[Red Devil]

Okay, first of all I'd like to thank you all again! I've learned more about neotropical cichlids and bichirs in the last month on this site than I did in my years of fishkeeping before I found it!

Secondly, not only are my senegals doing exceptionally well, but yesterday I ordered an ornate to join them! I shopped around, too. Having a basic point of reference on which to base my decision proved invaluable, and I got this 5 incher ordered for $28!!!! Major score.

Good for you ...post some pictures when you can..

 

[SIC]

Will do.

 

[ninoe]

and again, im sure this won't be your last bichir purchase