polypterus feeding

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Candiru
MFK Member
Aug 30, 2004
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michigan
i just picked up a polypterus at about 2-3" inches what should i feed him?
 
Start it off on bloodworms then as it grows you can add things taking the polypterus's size into account .
Feeding
Live foods : guppies , rosey red minnows, ghost shrimp, earthworms
frozen: bloodworms, mysis shrimp,brine shrimp , krill, squid and frozen silversides
some will take pellets, lean meaty foods such as beefheart are good too
but you need to balance their diet for nutrition so vary the diet, not just one
thing.How much to feed them ? Feed them until their belly bows slightly.
and skipping a meal will not hurt them once they are past 7-8 inches remember in the wild food is not always available.A nice round bichir is a happy bichir -Anne
 
what is the growth rate for a polypterus? I just bought a small one (tank raised) about 3in and i was just wondering how fast they grow, ive never own a bircher before

like beblondie said, mine likes bloodworms, crushed up pieces of krill, typically any carnivorous frozen foods
 
Depending on the species they go thru a huge growth spurt till they reach 7-8 inches when it slows.With a normal senegalus you should see an inch to an inch and a half growth per month.-Anne
 
ive been feeding my polypterus bloodworms but the african cichlids eat alot of them before the polypterus has a chance. what can i do to make sure the polypterus gets enough food?
 
At 2-3 inches I'd isolate him in a 10gallon tank a grow it out before putting it in a big tank -Anne
1. a temporary tank divider and fence off the other fish when you feed the bichir 2. feed the bichir after the tank lights are off for a while
3.makea feeding tube and put the bloodworms right down in front of the bichir
 
actually 10-12'' is more the norm with females usually being the larger.You might see 1/4 to 1/2 an inch per month -Anne
 
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