so a short update...the endlicheri is jumping only during night, after lights are off... so I am thinking probably is not a water issue. I turned of the air pump and took the circulating pump out and tested for any electricity leakage (i put it in a bowl and tested with my hand, i had no other means of testing). also, since he has started jumping he is not eating (2 days now) so I think something bothers him but I really can't figure out what it is...
Polypterus jumping
- Thread starter Giwrgos1991
- Start date
that is very difficult but I will try to describe and take some photos.. it is 350 litres plastic bucket, inside there is black substrate, a big driftwood, some snails and a 2000 litres/hour pump which drives the water through a box with biological media....
I have purchased the bucket because in a few days I will have to move my 220 aquarium to another room so i need a place to house the fish for a day. and i thought i could use it also as a grow out for the polypterus.. it is supposed to be a bucket for food storage (wine and olive oil) so I think its proper to be used as a tank...
How long has it been in there?
If you just moved him from the other standard foot print tank this is the cause.
My guess is it's to small and cramped in the bucket and it wants out. These fish have and do live in areas where parts dry up and they jump and or walk to larger areas during the dry season. My guess is with the design of that bucket how it's tapered instinct is telling him his area is drying up.
If you just moved him from the other standard foot print tank this is the cause.
My guess is it's to small and cramped in the bucket and it wants out. These fish have and do live in areas where parts dry up and they jump and or walk to larger areas during the dry season. My guess is with the design of that bucket how it's tapered instinct is telling him his area is drying up.
No no it's not possible that this bucket is not big enough... It is 350 litres it's very big for a 20 cm bichir maybe in the picture seems small but it's huge
You are talking volume. Surface area is more important then the volume number. What's the diameter of the bottom of that bucket where it would spend the majority of it's time? It looks smaller then the top diameter. The top looks bigger but the whole thing is taller then it is wide so a lot of wasted space for a poly of an size. You asked why. This is my thinking on the matter. I have kept polys and ropefish for quite a few years and have done alot of research on their behaviors. I am by no means an expert or authority on any fish. I have no scientific degrees in biology or animal husbandry. I have an associate's degree in automotive technology which means diddly squat anywhere.
ok I respect your opinion and as a matter of fact this is what I think too. Not that the tank is small but something bothers him about it. Its diameter is 105 cm at the top and 90 cm at the bottom. I moved it there 10 days ago. Previously it was in a 40 gallon tank with some siamese algae eaters. At night I was hearing that something was jumping and hitting the lid but I never thought it was the bichir. I thought that the sae were spooked and were jumping. Maybe I was correct. Maybe the polypterus was jumping from the beginning. I don't know. Also I don't have any experience on endlicheris. I had some senegals a few years ago, but I have never witnessed any jumping.
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.
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.
if the behavior continues, perhaps trying to get a video of the fish might help?
