Putting small bichir into deep tank?

[Omrit]

I ordered several bichir, and they arrived at around 3 to 4 inches which is a bit smaller than I expected The tank is around 28 inches deep which has me worried for their air breathing needs.

I have them in a 20 gallon for now with some catfish that also came in at incredibly small sizes.


Part of me thinks they must live in far deeper water in the wild so it should be fine? It just looks like a long way for them to swim though?

Should I let them grow a couple inches in the 20 then move them over or is this even worth being concerned about?

 

[tlindsey]

It just looks like a long way for them to swim though?

If possible lower water level until they grow larger or add floating plants.

 

[asian arowana]

grow them out a bit. also what type of bichir do you have

 

[Omrit]

If possible lower water level until they grow larger or add floating plants.

Not an option, the tank has a sump so lowering the water level will just lower the sumps level. It has fake floating plants(I have herbivores so no real plants) and some driftwood that is waiting to sink floating at the surface.

grow them out a bit. also what type of bichir do you have

I am not sure if this matters given they are all small but Ornate, delhezi, and senegalis.

 

[asian arowana]

ornate will probably grow pretty fast (talking from experience) the one I have was 2 inches but grew to 7 inches in 3 months so keep the big tank ready

 

[tlindsey]

fake floating plants(I have herbivores so no real plants) and some driftwood that is waiting to sink floating at the surface.

That will definitely help.

 

[Omrit]

ornate will probably grow pretty fast (talking from experience) the one I have was 2 inches but grew to 7 inches in 3 months so keep the big tank ready

The ornate is the smallest so I sure hope it grows fast. Bichir typically do grow fast though so not that worried about it.

Definitely wish I had a 55 or something to put them in. It is either a 300 gallon or a 20 gallon right now though so :l


I will see how they are in a couple months. At 5+ inches I would feel better about adding them to the 300 anyway.

 

[abominus]

My Senegal bichir 4 inch is kept in the same tank depth for months no issues he is super active frequently comes to top of tank

 

[mikee870]

Truth is they just dart all the way up really fast to get some air, some just stays on the middle part of the tank surface. Totally ok