New to the bichir scene need have some questions

[Juxtaroberto]

my lfs has some ornate's also would they be cool to put in the mix

Ornates are one of the fastest growing bichirs, and they are also reckless eaters. There's a thread somewhere on this site about an ornate that tried to eat a senegal almost the same size as itself. Needless to say, both fish died. If you're going to do ornates, you might not want to put them with senegals. Also, they can reach about 20 inches.

 

[Divasen]

my lfs has some ornate's also would they be cool to put in the mix

I have a 40cm ornate and she is in my tank with other polys that will be a snack for her but she is the sweetest poly and does'nt do the others anything. Some of them do get crazy however. With fish you will never no if it will until it happens.
They will out grow a 40gal in a few months, they are very fast grows

 

[asianmick]

so if i do throw ornate's in the mix be careful cause they might eat my other ones. but how about the cichlids will the bichirs mess with them and the clown loaches?

 

[stevezx2002]

When I bought my Ornate it was 4" within a month an a half it had grown to 6.5" so it would out grow a 40B very quickly. When it was 4.5" it tried eating a 3" Clown Loach, not sure if this is common, but I wouldnt mix Clowns and Polys. I have had my Polys in with Blood Parrots, Severums, Blue Acaras, and Angels with no problems.

 

[Laticauda]

I wouldn't get clown loaches at all. There are many different species of loach that stay smaller, and look good in small schools.

I also wouldn't get an ornate if you want other poly's, I'm just the type of person who doesn't want to tempt fate. Delhezi are some of the best looking poly's IMO, and do well with senegals.

Have you considered a school of ropefish?
Erpetoichthys calabaricus

I am trying very hard to locate these guys, I think it would be a nice addition to one of my bigger tanks.

 

[msjinkzd]

i wouldn't mix the loaches with polys either. The loaches are much slower growing and they have spines which would get stuck should the polys try to inhale them.

 

[asianmick]

could i mix the rope fish with the other polys besides the ornate's and thanks for the help guys this is a big help

 

[zippybomb]

Ornates get pretty big and there are a lot of story's of them eating other polys. Rope fish are probably fine to mix but watch out they'll get out competed for food very easily so I would recommend a feeding tube for them.

 

[Divasen]

could i mix the rope fish with the other polys besides the ornate's and thanks for the help guys this is a big help

Rope fish are ok with polys, i had a few rope fish with my polys before. Please make sure that ur tank is covered well with ropefish and poly as them are very good escape artist.

 

[spwd]

Id get 5 or 6 bichirs possibly a few more in a 150,which when you buy it make sure the dimensions are good for floor space as height isnt as important,the types id get would be sens,delz,p polli,retro etc,basically any of the smaller upper jaw species and i wouldnt get an ornate if you want to keep any of the above for life,and welcome to the addiction.



Steve