Question regarding Senegal bichirs

[Rhovann]

Hey guys this is my first time posting and I have been looking for answer to this and i cannot find one. I am relatively new to aquariums and bichirs. So I will just get into it. i have a 55g tank and put a bichir i got from petsmart in there about 3 months ago. along with it went a female paradise fish, a three-spot gourami(i think female), and a birstlenose pleco which i read were okay to go with bichirs. everything was going great by bichir was out and pretty active. fast forward to 2 weeks ago. i decided to get him a buddy and i got an albino to go with him. the albino is smaller than he was but after adding the albino it changed the how he acted. they both hide while the lights on and do not come out. they still eat and come out once the lights go out. i would not be concerned except for one thing as i understand things can change except it appears that they are both looking like they are breathing heavy and i have no idea why. I just need to know if i should be concerned about it or just let it be.
my water parameters are ammonia - 0, nitrite - 0 nitrates - 10 ph - 7.4

oh and i have not seen any aggression to any fish that is to say i do not know what happens once i go to bed.

 

[tlindsey]

Hey guys this is my first time posting and I have been looking for answer to this and i cannot find one. I am relatively new to aquariums and bichirs. So I will just get into it. i have a 55g tank and put a bichir i got from petsmart in there about 3 months ago. along with it went a female paradise fish, a three-spot gourami(i think female), and a birstlenose pleco which i read were okay to go with bichirs. everything was going great by bichir was out and pretty active. fast forward to 2 weeks ago. i decided to get him a buddy and i got an albino to go with him. the albino is smaller than he was but after adding the albino it changed the how he acted. they both hide while the lights on and do not come out. they still eat and come out once the lights go out. i would not be concerned except for one thing as i understand things can change except it appears that they are both looking like they are breathing heavy and i have no idea why. I just need to know if i should be concerned about it or just let it be.
my water parameters are ammonia - 0, nitrite - 0 nitrates - 10 ph - 7.4

oh and i have not seen any aggression to any fish that is to say i do not know what happens once i go to bed.

Welcome aboard
Possibly being harrassed keep your eye on the Gourami.

 

[Rhovann]

Welcome aboard
Possibly being harrassed keep your eye on the Gourami.

Will do! that is kinda what i was thinking as well it just did not start until i added the new bichir which through me off.
Thank you for the fast respose.

 

[thefredpit]

you also may try upping the aeration, are any other fish breathing hard?

 

[clm08k]

Welcome to the forum!

Water quality looks good. Do you have a heater on the tank? What is your water temperature?

Perhaps take a video or picture of the tank. Paradise fish can also be jerks, so I'm hoping they aren't pestering the polys. When you purchased the albino senegal was it active?

 

[Polyaddict86]

Thats why its recommended to have 3 or more poly, two wont cut it. Not saying to over stock them but one will always dominate the other.

 

[Hendre]

Gouramis can be mean. My paradise fish ignored the bichirs completely, but also maybe the polys are having a go at each other. You should watch them carefully.

Got photos or video of their behaviour maybe? Could help

 

[Rhovann]

you also may try upping the aeration, are any other fish breathing hard?

i am pretty sure my aeration is good plenty of surface movement and some live plants.

Welcome to the forum!

Water quality looks good. Do you have a heater on the tank? What is your water temperature?

Perhaps take a video or picture of the tank. Paradise fish can also be jerks, so I'm hoping they aren't pestering the polys. When you purchased the albino senegal was it active?

yes i have a heater i found condensation on the inside of it yesterday and got a new one. temp is approx 78-80. the albino seemed active when i got him.

i have not caught the bichirs chasing/nipping etc at each other or the paradise and gourami towards the bichirs. i have seen the gourami chase the paradise.

 

[clm08k]

Are the polys still hiding all the time? What about during the evening?

I do agree with what Polyaddict86 posted above about keeping more than 2 at a time. Not saying go get 80 polys .... but having 3 or so helps with the social dynamics.

 

[Rhovann]

Are the polys still hiding all the time? What about during the evening?

I do agree with what Polyaddict86 posted above about keeping more than 2 at a time. Not saying go get 80 polys .... but having 3 or so helps with the social dynamics.

hey so i did go and get another senegal making three. I also rearranged my tank to kinda open up the hiding places(still have areas to hide) the new one seems to be very active during the day which made the other two come out for a little bit nothing to long. but they do come out once the light is off and the senegal that was hiding becomes very active and the albino comes out and forages. I also removed a 10 inch bubble bar so they have a calm area to chill if they want.