poly problem

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discuskent

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jul 21, 2010
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norfolk va
i just got a albino senegal and the problem is he cant go to the bottom of the tank he just floats is this a bladder problem and has anyone know how to fix it
 
From my observation, some bichirs have the tendency to float as they are waiting to prey on unsuspecting fish. I suggest monitoring first if it still persists, you might wanna try epsom salt :)
 
i just got a albino senegal and the problem is he cant go to the bottom of the tank he just floats is this a bladder problem and has anyone know how to fix it

Nah, not a bladder problem. Most likely stressed due to new environment, tank mates, etc. I bought a sb senegal about 2 months ago from a reputable MFKer who said it ate like a pig in his tank. Well it floated at the top due to being a bit stressed. It was two weeks before I saw it go down for food. Grabbed food, went back up. Took one whole month before I started seeing it cruise the lower & mid levels of the tank. Suffice it to say it is now the biggest eater in a tank of 20+ bichirs.

Moral of the story, give it some time to settle in. Give it hiding places if possible. Don't turn on the lights too often nor use bright lights -- give it time to transition to its new home. Also look at its tank mates -- aggressive? much larger fish in the tank? fast swimmers in the tank? high traffic area? had a 4" long finned sen with a 10" true parrot fish once (both in quarantine), and the sen floated on top for a month until it was taken out of quarantine & housed with fish of similar size.

albino sens are great!
 
it was doing it in the store aweek before we got him and got it mixed up with the one we wanted but i will give it some time and hope it worksout thanks
 
Sounds normal. I had a delhezi that did it for 2 or so months.

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normal. Juvinile bichirs have the behaviour to hang on the top motionless from long periods of times.
 
+1, normal for bichirs. My Sen even at 5-6" still floats in my top plants, as well as the slightly smaller Del. My palmas 7-8" will hang around the ground, so I'm hoping soon enough they'll keep to the ground. I've had the Sen/Del for 1yr/8mo respectively
 
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