I've never had the chance to start and all bicher tank. I actually have an empty 75 gallon, that I was thinking of putting some bichers into. How are these fish like? Are they very personable? Mostly bottom dwellers that seek refuge/hide? I have seen some nice tank set ups here and look forward towards setting up on of my own. As far as tankmates go, what does everyone usually go with? Some dithers? Cichlids? Plecos? The filtration will probably be an xp3 and two ac110s. What I have also noticed is a lot of the tanks I've seen are planted. . . Is that a must? Or a plus for them, to mimic a more natural habitat? Thanks in advance!
New to Bichers
- Thread starter tapeworm
- Start date
Planted tank is not a must.
As for bichir behavior and activity. Read this thread.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86339
For substrate they prefer sand but it's not a must.
Your filter setup plan of xp3 and two ac110 should be adequate filtration.
These are slow eaters and like sinking food so avoid fin nippers and larger cichlids.
As for bichir behavior and activity. Read this thread.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86339
For substrate they prefer sand but it's not a must.
Your filter setup plan of xp3 and two ac110 should be adequate filtration.
These are slow eaters and like sinking food so avoid fin nippers and larger cichlids.
tapeworm;1154096; said:
you are clearly new to BIRCHIRS haha. dude honeslty polys are so easy. i have 2 p.sen. and 1 p. ornatipinnis. they have plenty of places to hide, but the seem to like to be in the spotlight. as far as the plants, i think people mostly do plants because you can. most polys wont pull out plants or bother them for any reason. with plecos be VERY CAREFUL! i bought a mustard pleco lda-31 and it ate slimecoat of my big p. sen. the worst part is, is mustard plecs arent even suppose to be that mean. i thought maybe it was just him until i realized my common and my whiptail were doing the same thing. i know larger species can deal with smaller cichlids, like keyholes and cichlids in that category. btw they are suppppppperrrrr personable. my big p. sen. lets me pick him up and he eats out of my fingers. they are not skittish at all!!!!
Only my delhezis are not skittish. The rest seem like they were traumatized by human. They go and hide when they see me in front of the tank.andyourblueblood;1154165; said:
Tapeworm read the primer in the sticky section it should provide you with a bunch of information-Anne
tapeworm;1154857; said:I was also thinking, what about sickness? Are they prone to sickness as any other fish kept in unfit conditions? More likely? Less likely?
Great question! They can get skin flukes and when I researched external parasites I learned that there is one in particular that is adapted to bichirs, albeit it's fairly rare to run into.
My bichirs got this out of the blue, and I noticed their behavior changed as they were irritated and rubbed their pectorals against their bodies trying to swipe away the small parasites that made the bichirs look fuzzy if you looked closely.
Luckily, it was easily treated with Jungle Labs "Parasite Clear" with one treatment.
Unlikely you'll run into that though, but keep an eye out.
HTH
Parasites particular to Polypterids
While generally hardy fish, bichirs can get many of the normal standard fish
dieases however there are some specific to bichirs and those are the focus
of this post.
Digenetic trematodes ( internal flukes)
Callodistmum diaphaannum- may be found in Polypterus bichir (gall bladder)
The adult form of these flukes can inhabit any part of the body diagnosis of these
worms is usually not possible and treatment is not warranted
Monogenetic trematodes(skin and gill flukes)
Macrogyrodactylus polypter-malmberg
Macrogyrodactylus polypteri- may be found in wildcaught P.senegalus form Gambia
These resemble fine hairs or very fine pieces of thread,they are visible to the naked
eye as symptons include rubbing and rolling its body and thrashing it can be cured
usually by using Jungle labs Parasite guard at 3/4 dose.(this is the most comon
parasite i have seen)
Proteocephalus (tapeworms)
Proteocephalus pentastoma -may be found in P. bichir wildcaught from the Sudan
Proteocephalus sulcatus- may be found in P. endilcheri wildcaught from the sudan
Polyoncobothrium polypteri- may be found in P.bichir wildcaught in Egypt
Camallanus polypteri n. sp-.is described from Polypterus bichir in Lake Tingrela, Burkina Faso.
The adults lie in the intestines of it host as it sheds its eggsthey are pushed down
the intestines and eventually into the water.Most if not all need an intermediate
host .ie.the eggs are eaten by a small crustacean it in turn is eaten by a small
fish which in turn is eaten by a bigger fish.A starving host may expell its tapeworm .
Lernaeidae (parasitic crustaceans)
Lernaea haplocephala - May be found on any wildcaught polypterid
This is a species of anchor worm i'd suggest parasite guard 3/4 dose
So you can see along with the more common parasites.We have some
species specific ones.Here i cannot help but bring up the importence
the practice of quartine is, especially with bichirs as many are wild-
caught .And the risk of contamination is to high.All new specimens really
need to be quaratineed for 4 weeks
While generally hardy fish, bichirs can get many of the normal standard fish
dieases however there are some specific to bichirs and those are the focus
of this post.
Digenetic trematodes ( internal flukes)
Callodistmum diaphaannum- may be found in Polypterus bichir (gall bladder)
The adult form of these flukes can inhabit any part of the body diagnosis of these
worms is usually not possible and treatment is not warranted
Monogenetic trematodes(skin and gill flukes)
Macrogyrodactylus polypter-malmberg
Macrogyrodactylus polypteri- may be found in wildcaught P.senegalus form Gambia
These resemble fine hairs or very fine pieces of thread,they are visible to the naked
eye as symptons include rubbing and rolling its body and thrashing it can be cured
usually by using Jungle labs Parasite guard at 3/4 dose.(this is the most comon
parasite i have seen)
Proteocephalus (tapeworms)
Proteocephalus pentastoma -may be found in P. bichir wildcaught from the Sudan
Proteocephalus sulcatus- may be found in P. endilcheri wildcaught from the sudan
Polyoncobothrium polypteri- may be found in P.bichir wildcaught in Egypt
Camallanus polypteri n. sp-.is described from Polypterus bichir in Lake Tingrela, Burkina Faso.
The adults lie in the intestines of it host as it sheds its eggsthey are pushed down
the intestines and eventually into the water.Most if not all need an intermediate
host .ie.the eggs are eaten by a small crustacean it in turn is eaten by a small
fish which in turn is eaten by a bigger fish.A starving host may expell its tapeworm .
Lernaeidae (parasitic crustaceans)
Lernaea haplocephala - May be found on any wildcaught polypterid
This is a species of anchor worm i'd suggest parasite guard 3/4 dose
So you can see along with the more common parasites.We have some
species specific ones.Here i cannot help but bring up the importence
the practice of quartine is, especially with bichirs as many are wild-
caught .And the risk of contamination is to high.All new specimens really
need to be quaratineed for 4 weeks