poly help

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Davey_8313

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 17, 2007
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With Wife & Kids in Stafford
Hi everybody, are their any special water conditions or anything that a Polypterus ornatipinnis might require? I've never had one before, but I'm thinking about getting one? Or should I get a different one, any help is appreciated, thanks.
 
From the primer in the sticky section
Water chemistry
In their natural occuring range West and Central African rivers,lakes and swamps
bichirs are found in water conditions varying in pH values between 6.5 to almost 9.0.
And water hardness varying between2dH to almost 20dH.
And tempuratures ranging from mid 70'sF to mid 80'sF
with a dissolved oxygen content between 3.3 parts per 1000 by volume
and 2.50 parts per 1000 by volume.
3.3 parts per 1000 by volume is common in aqauria kept at 75 F
These water parameters will flucuate thruought the year as dry season gives
way to the rainy season and rivers rise and swamps flood often lowering water temps
for short peroids of time.As you can see they are tolerant of a wide range of water
conditions.
Brackish bichirs?
Bichirs are freshwater fish and, though some are found in rivers near where they empty into the ocean, the water they inhabit is fully fresh.
Polypterus ornatipinnis and Polypterus e.congicus are sometimes found in Lake Tanganyika which has hard, alkaline water but are rarely, if ever, found in the lake itself. Instead, they inhabit the swampy areas where river water empties into the lake proper.-Anne
 
Davey_8313;1073655; said:
Alright, thank you. Anybody have suggestions on which one I should get?

what size tank? which ones do you have available? which ones do you like the looks of?

the primer in the pinned area is very helpful. there is a section on max size and typical tank dimensions for keeping bichirs.
 
an ornate should be fine in a standard 75gallon. whats the width?
tankmates? interested in upper or lower jaw bichirs?
 
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