New bichir - hiding?

[Kiwi9467]

Hi all,

My first post. I just got a new ornate bichir for my 220g. But - I haven't seen him since about the second day. Do they hide a lot, or are they nocturnal? Can anyone recommend a good book.

I've had a rope fish for a long time and he does well. Just wondering about the bichir, if he hides or should I worry. Reading your threads, sounds like I should get rid of my pleco. Also, I have a red finned "shark." Read somewhere that they could be a problem - might also go after the slime coat.

Any answers/advice welcome. thanks in advance.

 

[rjmtx]

1st advice is post this in the bichir (Polypterus section), and yes, ornates tend to be kind of shy, but some people's are out all the time like delhezis or senegals. Just don't take away his hiding spaces, that's when trouble starts.

 

[Kiwi9467]

Thanks. Thought I was posting in ancient.../bichir section - sorry. I'll learn navigation by doing.

 

[richardhmc]

How long have you had it for? Maybe it is not yet accustomed to the tank yet

 

[ewurm]

Welcome to the forum to a fellow MN member. We'll move your thread to the Polypterus section

 

[Merbeast]

ornates are dusk/dawn feeders. Notice the dark colors on it. Yes, they LOVE to hide. Mine is out more now because I always feed it in the middle of the "day" in the tank (about 6-7pm). Since that is the only time I feed it, it is out around that time to get it's fair share of the grub. Good luck with your poly, and be warned that collecting them is addicting

 

[Cohazard]

Ornatipinnis is one of the more shy species that prefers to hide, along with weeksii and lapradei.

The good news is that this behavior can be modified with patience and logic. The conditions the fish were kept in before you acquired them, will mandate their behavior in your tank until you make changes.


For example, my female ornate would hide all day inside of a large piece of driftwood. I don't like my polys to hide, because I only feed during the day and she was not getting enough food.

So I stuffed plastic plants into the space. The only cover I allow is some shaded areas under the driftwood to calm them down if they get spooked. I picked out driftwood with this in mind.

It took a while (about 2 months) but now she has adjusted well to not hiding. She now has claimed the top of the driftwood and spends every day 'basking' in her spot and she's even territorial about it.

The male ornate I got wasn't used to a hiding spot at the LFS I found him at, other than a shaded area under some pieces of slate, similar to my setup.

So within a week, he was fully adjusted to my tank and is very active all day.

Hope that clears up some of your concern.