Ornate Bichir

[Dirty Old Man]

I've had my ornate for close to 3 months and it has grown maybe an inch in total length (4"-5") I've heard they grow fast (my senegals [Albino and Normal] doubled in size in the same time frame.) How fast should I expect it to grow?

Also, what size should I expect him to hit? I have heard total lengths that range from 13" to 25". And will it be ok to keep him in the same tank as all my other bichirs? They're currently in an 80 gal and there are 2 senegals, 1 albino senegal, 1 ornate, a needlenose gar, and a snake/rope/reed fish. Will the tank be too small when they're all full grown?

 

[is300zx]

Max size for an ornate is around 24" but it may or may not reach that size depending on your bichir. I hear their growth tend to slow down aroud 12" or so and they could take a couple of years to reach max size. I've only had mine for 7 months and it has grown roughly around 4" in length but its girth is nearly twice that of a similar length senegal. As for tankmates, it would depend on the size of your ornate and the tankmates. It would depend on wether they would fit the ornates mouth or not. You might want to seperate the needlenose gar and ropefish since they would easily fit and ornates mouth. Maybe not now but eventually they will. I think you might want to buy another tank for your ornate in the future since 80 gallon would be too small. You would want the tank to be at least as wide as the total length of the ornate. The senegals would probably be alright in there. It really depends on the dimensions of your tank.

 

[Jox]

I have heard many times that ornates max out at around two feet but when i went to disneys animal kingdom I saw an ornate definetely bigger than 24''. If any thing I would say it was around 30''.

 

[deangelo]

u got any pics of that monster jox?

 

[arlo]

yea pics would be cool =)