Polypterus jumping

[Giwrgos1991]

ok so the problem was nitrites... I couldn't spot them at the first place because the first time I measured them I had done a large water change previously and then I thought that nitrites should be ok and I only tested for ammonia, thinking that if ammonia is ok then nitrites should be ok too. Well I couldn't be more wrong. As it seems your tank could be cycled and have enough bacteria to turn ammonia to nitrites and not enough to turn nitrites to nitrates. I didn;t measured a very high value, but i think it was enough to annoy the bichir.

I added more biological media from my 220 and now everything back to normal. No more jumps and bichir back to its eating schedule.

 

[Giwrgos1991]

Would also suggest trying to move the fish to the 220 when possible. Though I understand that sometimes things can take longer than usual.

The way I like to think about it is that polypterus are bottom dwellers: they like to spend their time on the bottom of the tank- in addition to swimming. If the fish can't really swim anywhere, except straight up or to turn around, it is probably going to be stressed. The bucket might be better suited as a grow out for fish who like to swim in the middle part of the water column.

well I would like that too, but I think my motoro will definitely try to eat the bichir if I put it in the 220 now. I think 30 cm is the minimum length to put my bichir in there. 8-9 more cm to go...taking into account its current growth rate, maybe in 3 months..