Ornate Birchir. Need Accurate Info...

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GEV83

GEV83

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jul 7, 2009
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LA County, California
I just saw 2 of these guys at my LFS. Ive never seen one in person before and well they looked cool. Despite how big the urge got to buy them I didnt cuz I didnt have enough info on them. Also dont got enough tank space currently. In the process of upgrading my tanks.

My problem is there in conflicting info on the net bout these guys. Also everywhere I looked though says they only need a 55gal tank minimum a few said 75gal. Is this true??? The sites says it gets like 16". Some of the other birchirs say they get like 2' but yet say the same size tank requirement. How is this possible with such a large fish?

Cichlids are more my comfort zone alone with pleco's from the Pterygoplichthys family just recently started learning bout Panaque's. So and info on Birchirs would be greatly appreciated. Personal experiences would be appreciated as well. Also seeing how these are bottom dwellers what are compatible tank mates.

Sorry for the long thread but in my younger years I would have rushed to buy it and that would of been a mistake. Now Ide like to know as much as possible before deciding if this is what I really wanna get into or not. Thanks in advance.
 
hmmm
ornates are a tad more aggressive than the other bichirs, theya re quite active, grow quite fast in the beginning slow down after hitting 10-14"

eat loads, outta the 4 i have, some of them are aggressive eaters, who also come to the surface to pick food, where as some are quite laid back and will wait for sinking foods.

one among the four i have is not only an aggressive eater, but is also aggressive to other fish, i mean he is the one who keeps taking bite size chunks of the other fish's fins. and this fella is the most active ornate among all, sometimes he keeps doing the glass dance just like my gars.

i have less issues of aggression as these are all in my 220g :D

These guys totally depend on smell, so preferably kept with out cichlids, with similar kinda fish as with cichlids there could be a possibility where they could get out-competed for food

Happy bichir keeping, u will always enjoy these fellas.
 
Check the Stickies.....

Ornates really require a 180gal or larger, growth rate really depends on food and water changes. They are one of the most aggressive polys out there but everyone has a different personallity and Ornate are one of the biggest reaching up to 27" long they'll average around 22" though....Other Bichirs and fish too big for them to eat are good tank mates but they will sometimes go after fish even if it's too big to eat....
 
I just put a 14+" ornate in a 180, and I can already tell the tank wont be big enough to house him for life. Just bought the 180 but already keeping an eye out for larger. I would agree that 180 is the absolute minimum for an adult ornate.

I currently have 3 ornates and they are very active, day/night. They range from 14 to 6 inches. They leave their tankmates alone including a 3 inch oscar and 4 inch tiger loach. There is a little aggression between the ornates. The two smaller ones are the heaviest eaters.

IMO if you have the tank space, and by that I don't mean the 180 minimum for an adult, As long as the tank is big enough for its current size and you can upgrade in the future then go for it. I love mine.


They have the potential to get twice this size.
DSC_0588.jpg
 
Oh wow they get big. I didnt see the bottom sticky. I was looking at the different species on there. A 180gal tank min for a full grown fish is to big for me to have right now. Currently im in the process of getting some 75gal tanks. After im done I wont have space for such a big tank.

I was looking at another species Polypterus palmas buettikoferi. From what im reading there alot hard to obtain then Ornate Birchirs or Senegal Birchirs but they stay smaller the Ornates and more colorful then Senegals.

I noticing alot of people have 2 or more birchirs per tank. Do they need to be in small groups or is there no real preference?
 
Either one or 4 there needs to be enough to spread aggression and you need heavy filtration 10-14 turnover rate IE 1800GPH for a 180gal....And Yes one of the Palmas Complex is a great alternative to Ornates If you cant fit a 180 now or within 6 months than I would not suggest keeping the Ornate....

PS. It is spelled Bichir not Birchir....
 
Oh sorry bout my spelling ive been searching for it on the net under birchir and it wasnt correcting my spelling like it normally does. Bichirs look cool and the ornate is a nice looking one but there is no way I can keep suck a big tank. The biggest tank foot print I can have right now is 4' by 18" which is the 75gal and 90gal.

Out of curiousity has anyone ever fed the Bichir's something to big to swallow whole forcing them to do a death roll like a crocodilian???
 
Awww thats something I wish I could see in person.

So the Palmas would be ok in a 75gal solo. Right? Like I could fit a second in there? How are Palmas temperment in general?
 
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